Drug Name

Cephalexin (Keflex, Keftabs, Biocef)

Drug Uses

Cephalexin is used to treat infections, caused by bacteria that are susceptible to the effects of cephalexin. Ordinary infections that are treated with cephalexin include infections of the middle ear, tonsils, throat, larynx (laryngitis), bronchi (bronchitis) as well as pneumonia. It as well as is used for treating urinary tract, skin as well as bone infections.

How Taken

The dose of cephalexin for adults is 1 to 4 grams in divided doses. Children are treated with 25-100 mg/kg/day in divided doses.

Drug Class as well as Mechanism

Cephalexin belongs to a class of antibiotics, called cephalosporins. They are similar to penicillin in action as well as side effects. They halt or unhurried the growth of bacterial cells by preventing bacteria from forming the cell wall that surrounds each cell. The cell wall protects bacteria from the external environment as well as keeps the contents of the cell together. Without a cell wall, bacteria are not capable to survive. Bacteria that are susceptible to cephalexin include Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, E. coli as well as several others.

Missed Dose

Do not miss any doses. Incase you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as likely. Incase it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose as well as go back to your normal dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Storage

Tablets as well as capsules should be stored at room temperature. Suspensions should be refrigerated as well as discarded after 14 days.

Warnings/Precautions

Do not take this medicine incase you possess had an allergic reaction to it or are allergic to any ingredient in this product. Incase you possess had a very bad allergic reaction to a cephalosporin antibiotic (such as Ceclor, Keflex, Ceftin, Duricef) or a penicillin antibiotic (such as amoxicillin or ampicillin), contact your doctor or pharmacist before using this medicine. A very bad reaction includes a very bad rash, hives, breathing difficulties, or dizziness. Incase you possess a question about whether you are allergic to this medicine, or incase a confident medicine is a cephalosporin or penicillin, contact your doctor or pharmacist. Incase you experience difficulty breathing or tightness of chest; swelling of eye-lids, face, or lips; or develop a rash or hives, tell your doctor immediately. Do not take any more of this medicine unless your doctor tells you to do so. Incase your symptoms do not improve within a few days, or incase they become worse, check with your doctor. This medicine may affect confident lab test results. Make sure laboratory personnel as well as your doctors know you take this medicine. This medicine may cause dizziness. Do not drive, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how you react to this medicine. Using this medicine alone with other medicines, or with alcohol may lessen your ability to drive or to perform other potentially dangerous tasks. Incase moderate to very bad diarrhea occurs during or after treatment with this medicine, check with your doctor or pharmacist. Do not treat it with non-prescription (over-the-counter) medicines. Before you begin using any recent medicine, either prescription or over-the-counter, check with your doctor or pharmacist. Caution should be used in the elderly since they may be more sensitive to the effects of this drug.For women: incase you plan on becoming pregnant, discuss with your doctor the benefits as well as risks of using this medicine during pregnancy. This medicine is excreted in breast milk. Incase you are or will be breast-feeding while you are using this medicine, check with your doctor or pharmacist to discuss the risks to your baby. Incase you possess diabetes, this medicine may cause incorrect test results with some urine glucose tests. Check with your doctor before you adjust the dose of your diabetes medicine or change your diet.

Likely Side Effects

Side effects that may occur while using this medicine include dizziness, tiredness, headache, mild diarrhea, or stomach upset. Incase they continue or are bothersome, check with your doctor. Check with your doctor as soon as likely incase you experience vaginal irritation or discharge, mood or mental changes, or joint pain. Contact your doctor immediately incase you experience seizures; yellowing of the eyes or skin; red, blistered, swollen or peeling skin; unusual bruising or bleeding; decreased urination; very bad stomach pain or cramps; confusion; or bloody or very bad diarrhea. An allergic reaction to this medicine is unlikely, but seek immediate health examination attention incase it occurs. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include rash, itching, swelling, very bad dizziness, or trouble breathing. Incase you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist.

More Information

Incase your symptoms do not improve within a few days, or incase they become worse, check with your doctor. Do not share this medicine with others for whom it was not prescribed. Do not take this medicine for other health conditions. Keep this medicine out of the reach of children.