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Cephalexin Coupon - Cephalexin 500mg capsule

cephalexin

Generic Keflex
Used for Skin Infection, Ear Infection, Urinary Tract Infection, Bacterial Infection, Upper Respiratory Infection, Lower Respiratory Infection
Used for Skin Infection, Ear Infection, Urinary Tract Infection, Bacterial Infection, Upper Respiratory Infection, Lower Respiratory Infection

Cephalexin is a common antibiotic that's used to treat many different bacterial infections including urinary tract infections (UTIs), ear infections, and sinus infections, to name a few. Cephalexin is a cephalosporin antibiotic that kills bacteria to fight the infection. It's safe to use in people over the age of 1, and it's typically taken by mouth 2 to 4 times per day. This medication is available as a lower-cost generic capsule, tablet, and suspension; the brand name Keflex is no longer available. Side effects can include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Last reviewed on February 19, 2024
basics-icon

What is Cephalexin?

What is Cephalexin used for?

How Cephalexin works

Cephalexin is a cephalosporin antibiotic. It kills bacteria by preventing the bacteria from making a covering around themselves for protection.

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When does Cephalexin start working?
Time passed since treatment started:
HOURS
DAYS
WEEKS
MONTHS
Full effect

Drug Facts

Common BrandsKeflex (brand name no longer available)
Drug ClassCephalosporin antibiotic
Controlled Substance ClassificationNot a controlled medication
Generic StatusLower-cost generic available
AvailabilityPrescription only
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What are the side effects of Cephalexin?

The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.

Common Side Effects

  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Indigestion
  • Stomach pain

Other Side Effects

  • Dizziness
  • Fatigue
  • Headache
  • Confusion
  • Joint pain
  • Yeast infection

Serious Side Effects

Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
  • Allergic reactions: hives; rash; blisters; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; difficulty breathing
  • Infectious (C. difficile-related) diarrhea: foul-smelling diarrhea, fever, nausea, frequent bowel movements (up to 15 times per day)
When do Cephalexin possible side effects begin and end?
Time passed since treatment started:
MINUTES
HOURS
DAYS
WEEKS
MONTHS
Diarrhea
Nausea or vomiting
Indigestion
Stomach pain

Source: DailyMed

The following side effects have also been reported

Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):

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pros-and-cons

Pros and cons of Cephalexin

thumbs-up

Pros

Treats several common types of bacterial infections

Can use for adults and children over the age of 1

Available as a liquid for people who have trouble swallowing pills

Available as a lower-cost generic

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Cons

Usually need to take a few times per day

Might not be able to take if you're allergic to penicillins or other cephalosporin antibiotics

Not recommended for the cold or flu (these are viral illnesses, not bacterial infections)

pharmacist-tips

Pharmacist tips for Cephalexin

pharmacist
  • Take cephalexin exactly as prescribed. Make sure to finish your treatment course, even if you're feeling better. Stopping the medication earlier than prescribed can make your infection come back and become harder to treat.

    • If you're taking the cephalexin tablet or capsule, don't crush or chew it. This could damage the medication. Ask your prescriber to switch you to the cephalexin oral suspension (liquid) if you're having trouble swallowing pills.

      • Cephalexin can cause diarrhea, but it should go away when you stop taking it. Contact your healthcare team right away if you start to have watery or bloody diarrhea, fever, fatigue, or stomach cramps anytime during treatment or after stopping cephalexin. These might be signs of a type of infectious diarrhea, which needs to be treated right away.

        • Get medical attention as soon as possible if you have a rash, itchy skin, difficulty breathing, or swelling in your face or mouth. These could be signs of a severe allergic reaction.

          • Cephalexin is generally considered safe to take while pregnant. Based on available information in humans, this antibiotic doesn't appear to cause harm to unborn babies during pregnancy. Let your primary care provider or the urgent care team know that you're pregnant and discuss the risks and benefits of taking cephalexin.

            • Cephalexin is considered a safe antibiotic to take while breastfeeding. Low levels of the medication can be found in breast milk, but it's not expected to harm your baby. Tell the prescriber that you're nursing and discuss the risks and benefits of using cephalexin.

              For the cephalexin oral suspension (liquid)

              • Shake the cephalexin oral suspension bottle well before measuring out the dose.

                • Make sure to only use a medication dose cup or syringe from the pharmacy to measure out your cephalexin dose. Don't use household spoons because they aren't accurate and might cause you to take the wrong dose. Ask the pharmacy for extras.

                  • Store the cephalexin suspension in the refrigerator for up to 14 days. After 14 days, throw away the bottle, even if there's still some medication left.

                    More on Cephalexin tips

                    faqs

                    Frequently asked questions about Cephalexin

                    Is cephalexin a strong antibiotic?
                    Cephalexin treats many type of infections and covers many different organisms (bugs). It can fight against a wider range of bacteria than penicillin and amoxicillin, but this doesn't necessarily mean that cephalexin is the best choice for all infections. This is because having a wider range of bacteria that the antibiotic can fight against can raise the risk for resistance, leading to harder-to-treat infections. But cephalexin is a first-choice antibiotic to treat specific infections in certain people, like urinary tract infections (UTI) during pregnancy.
                    Is cephalexin a penicillin?
                    No. Cephalexin is a cephalosporin antibiotic. Cephalosporin and penicillin antibiotics have similar chemical structures, but they differ in terms of what bacteria they can fight against.
                    Can I take cephalexin if I'm allergic to penicillin?
                    Maybe. In general, the chance of having an allergic reaction to cephalexin if you're allergic to penicillin is low. Tell your primary care provider or the urgent care team if you have or think you've had an allergic reaction to penicillin in the past. They'll decide whether you can take cephalexin depending on what your reaction was like. For mild reactions to penicillin like rash or itchiness, you'll probably be able to take cephalexin and the prescriber might ask that you watch for any allergic reactions. But for severe reactions to penicillin like facial swelling or closing of the throat, it's possible that you'll get prescribed a different antibiotic to be safe.
                    Can you drink alcohol while taking cephalexin?
                    There's no direct interaction between cephalexin and alcohol, but they can cause similar side effects like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. In general, it's best to avoid drinking alcohol when you have an infection. Drinking alcohol can make it harder for your immune system to fight off the infection.
                    What can you not take with cephalexin?
                    Cephalexin might interact with a few medications and potentially raise your risk of side effects. When it's taken with a common diabetes medication called metformin, cephalexin can raise the levels of metformin in the blood. This might affect your risk of having side effects from metformin. Additionally, the gout medication probenecid can affect how well your body gets rid of cephalexin. This might raise your risk of side effects from cephalexin. Tell your healthcare team if you're taking either of these medications before you start cephalexin.
                    Can I take cephalexin whenever I feel like I might be sick?
                    No. Don't take cephalexin or any other antibiotics you might have at home until you speak to a healthcare professional first. There might be a more appropriate antibiotic you should be taking for your particular infection. Taking cephalexin when you don't need it can cause side effects. It can also raise the risk for bacteria to become resistant to antibiotics. This means that bacteria can develop a defense against antibiotics so that the antibiotics no longer work to fight against the infection. This can make the infection become severe (sometimes life-threatening) and hard to treat. Schedule a visit with your primary care provider or urgent care if you feel sick so that you can be prescribed proper treatment, if needed.
                    Does cephalexin treat strep?
                    Although cephalexin isn't the go-to antibiotic for strep throat, it's a good option for people who have a mild penicillin allergy and can't take penicillin or amoxicillin for strep. Tell your primary care provider or the urgent care team about allergies to any antibiotics. They'll decide which antibiotic is right for you for strep.
                    Is cephalexin a sulfa drug?
                    No. Cephalexin isn't a sulfa drug; it's a cephalosporin antibiotic. You can safely take cephalexin if you have a sulfa allergy because it belongs to a different class of antibiotics.
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                    What are the risks and warnings for Cephalexin?

                    Cephalexin can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.

                    risk-warning

                    Allergic reactions

                    • Risk factors: Allergy to penicillin or other cephalosporin antibiotics

                      Allergic reactions to cephalexin are possible, including rash, hives, or more seriously, life-threatening reactions like facial swelling and anaphylaxis (closing of the throat). Let your healthcare team know if you have an allergy to antibiotics, especially penicillin or other cephalosporin antibiotics. Get medical attention immediately if you notice rash, hives, red skin, swelling of the lips or tongue, or difficulty breathing after you take cephalexin.

                      risk-warning

                      Diarrhea from Clostridioides difficile infection

                      Antibiotics, including cephalexin, raise your risk of getting infected with a bacteria called Clostridioides difficile (C. diff). Antibiotics change the amount of normal bacteria in your stomach and intestines. This can cause C. diff to overgrow in your gut and lead to an infection. And C. diff infection can cause diarrhea that can sometimes be life-threatening.

                      It's important to recognize the difference between diarrhea as a side effect of cephalexin and this type of infectious diarrhea. C. diff-related diarrhea can cause rapid heart rate, foul-smelling diarrhea, fever, nausea, and frequent bowel movements (even up to 15 times per day) and is an emergency. Get medical attention right away if you experience any of these symptoms so you can get tested for C. diff infection and get appropriate treatment.

                      risk-warning

                      Development of drug-resistant bacteria

                      Take cephalexin exactly as prescribed. Using cephalexin for any shorter or longer periods of time or taking the antibiotic for other illnesses can raise your risk for developing infections caused by drug-resistant bacteria. This raises your risk for severe and life-threatening infections that might be difficult to treat.

                      risk-warning

                      Seizures

                      • Risk factors: Kidney problems | Taking high doses of cephalexin

                        Cephalexin might raise your risk of seizures, especially when the antibiotic is used at doses that are too high. You also might be at risk for seizures if you have kidney problems and the dose of cephalexin wasn't appropriately lowered to adjust for the fact that your kidneys can't help get rid of the medication from your body as well. Discuss with your primary care provider or the urgent care team if you've had a seizure before or if you have kidney problems to make sure cephalexin is safe for you.

                        risk-warning

                        Higher risk of bleeding

                        • Risk factors: Kidney problems | Liver problems | Poor nutrition | Taking blood-thinning medications

                          Cephalexin might raise your risk of bleeding. You're at a higher risk if you have kidney problems, liver problems, or poor nutrition or if you're taking an anticoagulant (blood thinner). Discuss your risk for bleeding with your primary care provider or the urgent care team, and watch out for signs of too much bleeding (e.g., unexplained bruising, blood in your urine or stool). If you're taking a blood-thinning medication, the prescriber might recommend that you follow up with the specialist who's monitoring your blood-thinning medication for blood testing or dose adjustments.

                          dosage

                          Cephalexin dosage forms

                          bottle of oral suspension
                          Bottle of oral suspension
                          DosageAs low as
                          100ml of 125mg/5ml$8.75 for 1 bottle
                          200ml of 125mg/5ml$14.16 for 1 bottle
                          100ml of 250mg/5ml$9.92 for 1 bottle
                          200ml of 250mg/5ml$16.98 for 1 bottle
                          capsule
                          Capsule
                          DosageAs low as
                          250mg$6.22 for 28 capsules
                          500mg$9.33 for 28 capsules
                          750mg$36.97 for 14 capsules
                          tablet
                          Tablet
                          DosageAs low as
                          250mg$22.42 for 30 tablets
                          500mg$28.48 for 14 tablets

                          Typical dosing for Cephalexin

                          Cephalexin is available as capsules, tablets, and liquid suspensions.

                          • Adults and children 15 years of age or older: The typical dose is 250 mg by mouth every 6 hours. An alternative dose is 500 mg by mouth every 12 hours. You'll typically need to take cephalexin for 7 to 14 days. For more severe infections, you might need a higher dose (up to 4 grams total per day).

                          • Children age 1 to up to 15 years: The dose is based on your child's body weight. The typical total daily dose is 25 mg/kg to 50 mg/kg of body weight by mouth. This total dose is split up into smaller doses throughout the day, as directed by the prescriber. Your child will typically need to take cephalexin for 7 to 14 days. For more severe infections, such as an ear infection, your child might need a higher dose of up to 100 mg/kg per day.

                          Your dose might differ if you have kidney problems.

                          More on Cephalexin dosage forms

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                          contraindications-icon

                          Cephalexin contraindications

                          Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Cephalexin will not be safe for you to take.
                          alternatives

                          What are alternatives to Cephalexin?

                          There are a number of medications that your doctor can prescribe in place of Cephalexin. Compare a few possible alternatives below.
                          Cephalexin
                          Used for:
                          $9.33 Lowest GoodRx priceView Prices
                          Used for:
                          • Urinary tract infections (bladder infections)

                          • Skin infections

                          • Throat infections (strep throat)

                          • Tonsil infections (tonsillitis)

                          $7.04 Lowest GoodRx priceView Prices
                          latest news

                          What is the latest news about Cephalexin?

                          images

                          Cephalexin images

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                          References

                          Best studies we found

                          American Health Packaging. (2023). Cephalexin capsule [package insert]. DailyMed.

                          Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020). Spoons are for soup, milliliters are for medicine.

                          Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). Pharyngitis (strep throat).

                          View All References (7)

                          Chaudhry, S. B., et al. (2019). Cephalosporins: A focus on side chains and β-lactam cross-reactivity. Pharmacy: A Journal of Pharmacy Education and Practice.

                          Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed). (2021). Cephalexin. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

                          Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (2022). Cephalexin for suspension [package insert]. DailyMed.

                          McFarland, L.V., et al. (2016). Comparison of pediatric and adult antibiotic-associated diarrhea and Clostridium difficile infections. World Journal of Gastroenterology.

                          National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). (2008). Respiratory tract infections - antibiotic prescribing: Prescribing of antibiotics for self-limiting respiratory tract infections in adults and children in primary care.

                          Pandey, N., et al. (2023). Beta lactam antibiotics. StatPearls.

                          Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. (2020). Cephalexin tablet [package insert]. DailyMed.

                          GoodRx Health has strict sourcing policies and relies on primary sources such as medical organizations, governmental agencies, academic institutions, and peer-reviewed scientific journals. Learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate, thorough, and unbiased by reading our editorial guidelines.
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