CEPHALEXIN (Keflex®, Keftab®) is a cephalosporin antibiotic. It treats many kinds of infections including those of the skin, respiratory tract, bone, sinuses, ears, and urinary tract
Cephalaxin is a cephalosporin antibiotic. It is used to treat various bacterial infections. It weakens the cell wall, causing it to rupture, and kills the bacteria.
Tell your doctor if any of these apply to you:
you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
you are allergic to Cephalexin, any other medicine, foods, dyes, preservatives, or other substances
you are taking any presciption or nonprescription medicine, dietary supplement, or herbal preparation
you have stomach or bowel problems (eg, inflammation), blood clotting problems, kidney or liver problems, or poor nutrition
you have had severe allergic reaction to a penicillin (eg, amoxicillin) or other beta-lactam antibiotic (eg, imipenem)
How to use:
Strictly follow your doctor's instructions
Take Cephalexin by mouth with or without food
Don't stop taking Cephalexin until your doctor said so, even if you start to feel better
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember
Avoid taking double or extra doses
Safety issues:
Cephalexin may cause dizziness. These effects may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Cephalexin with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.
Cephalexin may decrease the ability of your blood to clot. Avoid activities that may cause bruising or injury. Tell your doctor if you have unusual bruising or bleeding. Tell your doctor if you have dark, tarry, or bloody stools.
Contact your doctor right away if stomach pain or cramps, severe diarrhea, or bloody stools occur. Do not treat diarrhea without first checking with your doctor.
Be sure to use Cephalexin for the full course of treatment. If you do not, the medicine may not clear up your infection completely. The bacteria could also become less sensitive to this or other medicines. This could make the infection harder to treat in the future.
Cephalexin only works against bacteria; it does not treat viral infections (eg, the common cold).
Long-term or repeated use of Cephalexin may cause a second infection. Tell your doctor if signs of a second infection occur. Your medicine may need to be changed to treat this.
Diabetes patients - Cephalexin may cause the results of some tests for urine glucose to be wrong. Ask your doctor before you change your diet or the dose of your diabetes medicine.
What medicines may interact with Cephalexin?
anticoagulants (eg, warfarin)
metformin
probenecid
Possible side effects:
If you experience these side effects, you should contact your doctor immediately:
yellowing of eyes or skin
severe allergic reactions (rash, hives, itching, tightness in the chest, difficulty breathing, swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue)
vaginal pain, odor, or discharge
agitation
confusion
unusual bruising or bleeding
dark urine
decreased urination
severe tiredness
fever
hallucinations
severe stomach pain
severe or blood diarrhea
red, swollen, or blistered skin
These side effects usually don't require medical attention (but you should contact your doctor if they continue or are bothersome):
tiredness
diarrhea
stomach pain
dizziness
joint pain
indigestion
What is the shelf life of the pills?
The expiry date is mentioned on each blister. It is different for different batches. The shelf life is 2 years from the date of manufacture and would differ from batch to batch depending on when they were manufactured.
What is a generic pill?
Generic drug (pl. generic drugs, short: generics) is a drug which is produced and distributed without a brand name. A generic must contain the same active ingredients as the original formulation. In most cases, it is considered bioequivalent to the brand name counterpart with respect to pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties.
