Cephalexin 250mg

Cephalexin, found under the brand name Keflex belongs to a class of antibiotics called cephalosporins. They have the same action and side effects as penicillin. They obstruct the development of bacterial cells by preventing bacteria from forming the surrounding cell wall. The external membrane separates bacteria from the environment and holds the cell contents together. Bacteria are not able to survive in the absence of a cell wall. Cephalexin-sensitive bacteria include Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, E. coli and several others. Cephalexin was approved by the Federal Drug Administration in January 1971.

It can be found in the form of tablets of 250 g, 500 mg and 1 g, capsules of 250, 333, 500 and 750 mg, as well as powder for suspensionof 125 and 250 mg/5 ml.

Suspensions should be stored in the refrigerator and thrown away after 14 days.

Adults are usually treated with 1 to 4 grams of cephalexin per day in divided doses, while children are treated with 25-100 mg/kg/day in divided doses. The most common dosing interval in adult treatment with Cephalexin 500 mg is 6 hours.

Cephalexin has not been studied enough in pregnant women, this is why it it is not safe to use during pregnancy.

Most common side effects include diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting, headaches, dizziness, skin rash, fever, abnormal liver tests and vaginitis. Individuals who have an allergy to penicillin may also be allergic to cephalexin. Another side effect of cephalexin and of almost all antibiotics may be pseudomembranous colitis, a mild to severe inflammation of the colon.

Cephalexin 250mg