Cephalexin Medical Information

• Cephalexin uses
• Cephalexin dosage
• Cephalexin side effects
• Warnings & precautions
• Drug interactions
• Missed dose
• Overdose

Common Brand Names: Biocef, Keflex, Keftab

Generic Name: Cephalexin

The following product information is not intended to replace the physician's or manufacturer's instructions.

Common Medical Uses:
Cephalexin is an antibiotic in a class of drugs called cephalosporins. Cephalexin fights bacteria in the body. Cephalexin is used to treat many different types of bacterial infections such as bronchitis, tonsillitis, ear infections, skin infections, and urinary tract infections.

How to Use Cephalexin:
Take this medication exactly as directed by your doctor. Take each dose with a full glass of water. Cephalexin can be taken on an empty stomach or with food or milk if it causes stomach upset. Take cephalexin at evenly spaced intervals to keep a constant level of drug in the body. It is important to take cephalexin regularly to get the most benefit. Take all of the cephalexin that has been prescribed for you even if you begin to feel better. Your symptoms may start to improve before the infection is completely treated. Not completing the full dosage schedule may decrease the drug's effectiveness and increase the chances that the bacteria may become resistant to Cephalexin and similar antibiotics.

Cephalexin Possible Side Effects:
Although side effects from cephalexin are not common, they can occur. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• upset stomach
• gas or heartburn
• diarrhea
• nausea
• vomiting

Some side effects can be serious. The following symptoms are uncommon, but if you experience any of them, call your doctor as soon as possible:

• severe skin rash, itching
• hives
• seizures (convulsions)
• difficulty breathing or swallowing
• unusual bleeding or bruising
• sore throat
• painful mouth or throat sores
• severe or watery diarrhea
• vaginal infection

Cephalexin Warnings & Precautions:

• Don't take if: you have ever had an allergic reaction to another cephalosporin or to a penicillin unless your doctor is aware of the allergy and monitors your therapy.
• Before taking Cephalexin, tell your doctor or/and pharmacist:
• if you have a kidney disease
• if you have a gastrointestinal (digestive) disease such as colitis or enteritis.
• Driving, piloting or hazardous work: No problems expected
• Pregnancy: Risk category B. Not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Avoid if possible. Consult you doctor.
• Breast feeding: Drug passesinto milk. Avoid drug or discontinue nursing until you finish medication. Consult doctor for advice on maintaining milk supply.
• Discontinuing: Don't discontinue without consulting doctor until you complete prescribed dose, even though symptoms diminish or disappear.

Drug Interactions:
The following drugs and foods may interact with Ciprofloxacin:

• Anticoagulants (increased anticoagulant effect)
• Nonsteroidal Ant-inflammatory drugs (NSAID's) (increased risk of peptic ulcer)
• Erythromycins (decreased antibiotic effect of cephalexin)
• Chloramphenicol (decreased antibiotic effect of cephalexin)
• Probenecid (increased cephalexin effect)
• Tetracyclines (decreased antibiotic effect of cephalexin)

Tell your health care professional about all other medicines you are taking, including non-prescription medicines, nutritional supplements, or herbal products.

Possible interactions with other substances:

• Alcohol - increased kidney toxicity, likelihood of disulfiram-like effect
• Foods - Slow absorption. Take with liquid 1 hour before or 2 hours after eating.

Missed Dose:
Take as soon as you remember. Don't double this dose.

Overdose:
If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. Symptoms: confusion and hallucinations, headache, abdominal pain, convulsions.

See also:

• Cephalexin
• How to buy Cephalexin without prescription