Keflex

Generic name: Cephalexin
Drug class: First generation cephalosporins

Usage of Keflex

Keflex is a cephalosporin (SEF a low spor in) antibiotic. It works by fighting bacteria in your body.

Keflex is used to treat infections caused by bacteria, including upper respiratory infections, ear infections, skin infections, urinary tract infections and bone infections.

Keflex is used to treat infections in adults and children who are at least 1 year old.

Keflex side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic Reaction to Keflex (hives, difficult breathing, swelling in your face or throat) or a severe skin reaction (fever, sore throat, burning eyes, skin pain, red or purple skin rash with blistering and peeling).

Call your doctor at once if you have:

severe stomach pain, diarrhea that is watery or bloody (even if it occurs months after your last dose);

unusual tiredness, feeling light-headed or short of breath;

easy bruising, unusual bleeding, purple or red spots under your skin;

a seizure;

pale skin, cold hands and feet;

yellowed skin, dark colored urine;

fever, weakness; or

pain in your side or lower back, painful urination.

Common Keflex side effects may include:

diarrhea;

nausea, vomiting;

indigestion, stomach pain; or

vaginal itching or discharge.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Keflex

To make sure Keflex is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had

an allergy to any drug (especially penicillin);

liver or kidney disease; or

intestinal problems, such as colitis.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.

Relate drugs

How to use Keflex

Take Keflex exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets.

Do not use Keflex to treat any condition that has not been checked by your doctor.

Use this medicine for the full prescribed length of time, even if your symptoms quickly improve. Skipping doses can increase your risk of infection that is resistant to medication. Cephalexin will not treat a viral infection such as the flu or a common cold.

Do not share Keflex with another person, even if they have the SAMe symptoms you have.

This medicine can affect the results of certain medical tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using this medicine.

Store the tablets and capsules at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.

Warnings

You should not use Keflex if you are allergic to cephalexin or to similar antibiotics, such as Ceftin, Cefzil, Omnicef, and others. Tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, especially penicillins or other antibiotics.

Tell your doctor if you have kidney disease, liver disease, a stomach or intestinal disorder such as colitis, or diabetes.

Take this medication for the entire length of time prescribed by your doctor. Your symptoms may get better before the infection is completely treated. Keflex will not treat a viral infection such as the common cold or flu.

What other drugs will affect Keflex

Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially:

metformin; or

probenecid.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with cephalexin, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.