Indications And Usage

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

Administration

Take this medication by mouth with or without food as directed by your doctor, usually once a day. In children, this medication may also be taken twice a day (every 12 hours.

Contraindications

Allergy to β-lactam medications warning: If you’re allergic to β-lactam medications, many of which are antibiotics, you shouldn’t take this drug. You could have a serious allergic reaction. Antibiotic-associated diarrhea warning: The use of almost all antibiotics, including cephalexin, can cause a reaction that leads to diarrhea. In addition to diarrhea, this reaction can cause severe inflammation of your colon. Severe cases of this reaction can be fatal (cause death). Call your doctor if you have diarrhea while taking or after taking this drug.

Precautions

Before taking cephalexin, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to penicillins or other cephalosporins; or if you have any other allergies. Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: kidney disease, intestinal disease (colitis). This medication should be used only when clearly needed during pregnancy. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor. This medication passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding

Adverse Reactions

include gastro-intestinal disturbances such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal discomfort. The most common of these effects is diarrhea, but this is rarely severe enough to warrant cessation of therapy. Dyspepsia has also occurred.

Pregnancy and lactation

Category B

Renal and liver Impairment

Cephalexin should be administered with caution in the presence of impaired renal function (creatinine clearance < 30 mL/min, with or without dialysis). Under such conditions, careful clinical observation and laboratory studies renal function monitoring should be conducted because safe dosage may be lower than that usually recommended.

Laboratory Tests