Cephalexin 500mg

Cephalexin 500mg

It is a cephalosporin antibiotic. Cephalexin 500mg works and fights bacteria in the body. It treats allergic reactions caused by bacteria. These are skin rashes, infections, and ear infections. It includes upper respiratory tract infections. Bone infections and urinary tract infections are the other treated infections.

What is cephalexin 500mg used to treat?

• It is used for treating a few bacterial infections. Pneumonia is one such bacterium. It treats other infections of the respiratory tract.
• Cephalexin 500 mg treats infections of the skin, ears, and bone. It treats urinary tract and genital infections.
• Healthcare professionals prescribe it for some people allergic to penicillin. They have a heart condition and upper respiratory tract procedure. This drug prevents them from developing an infection of a heart valve.

Generic name of Cephalexin 500mg

Keflex is the brand name of the Cephalexin 500 mg drug.

What should I avoid while taking cephalexin 500mg?

• Antibiotic medicines can lead to diarrhea. It may indicate a new infection. So if you have watery or bloody diarrhea, tell your doctor. Do not use any anti-diarrhea drug.
• Do not use it if you are pregnant or a nursing woman.
• You should not smoke or drink alcohol. Limit alcohol consumption while using Cephalexin 500 mg. You should not use it on your own without asking your doctor.
• Do not use it for the long term. It may cause interaction with resistant fungi or bacteria.

When not to use Cephalexin 500mg?

• You should not use it if you are allergic to cephalexin 500mg.
• If you have β-lactam drugs allergy, most of which are antibiotics, you should not take this drug. This is because you could suffer from a serious allergic reaction.
• If you are allergic to other cephalosporin antibiotics avoid using this drug. Examples of these drugs are cefaclor, cefditoren, and cefazolin.
• If you had a serious skin rash or peeling, mouth sores or blistering after using antibiotics
• Your doctor must know if you are allergic to any drugs such as penicillin or any other antibiotic.
• If you have a cold, flu, or any other viral infection.
• If you have a rash, swollen face, mouth, itchy skin, or breathing issues.
• If you need to undergo glucose tests or liver function blood tests.
• Kids less than 5 years old should not use cephalexin 500 mg tablet

Tell your doctor if

Missed Dose: Take your scheduled Cephalexin 500mg tablet once you remember. Try to skip any missed dosage if it is almost time to take your next one. Do not use any two dosages at once.

Overdose: Get medical help if you overdose yourself by mistake. Symptoms of overdose are vomiting, nausea, blood in urine, stomach pain, and diarrhea.

What are the benefits of using Cephalexin 500 mg?

• cephalexin 500mg tablet is bactericidal in nature. It works and kills the infection-causing bacteria in the body.
• It is an effective treatment for bacterial infections of the ears, nose, skin, soft tissues, lungs, joints, bones, urinary tract, prostate gland, reproductive system, and throat.
• It blocks the activity of enzymes that are mainly responsible for making peptidoglycan. This is a vital component of the bacterial cell wall. Thus it kills the bacteria and helps to treat and prevent the spread of infections.
• This broad-spectrum antibiotic is effective against a huge variety of bacteria like gram-positive streptococci and staphylococci bacteria. These are susceptible isolates of Streptococcus pneumonia, Staphylococcus aureus, and others.
• Cephalexin 500 mg tablet makes you feel better within some days. But you must keep on using it as told even when you think that you have recovered.
• If you stop using it early then the infection may come back. Then it will be difficult to treat it.

How does Cephalexin 500mg work?

It is an antibiotic. It is part of a class of drugs called cephalosporin antibiotics. Cephalexin 500 mg kills bacteria causing the infection. It prevents them from forming the bacterial protective cell wall that is required for them to survive.

Dosage of Cephalexin 500 mg

Your dosage and how frequently you need to take Cephalexin 500mg will depend on:

• Your age
• The condition you need to treat
• The severity of your condition
• Other medical conditions you are having
• How you react to the first dosage

How to take Cephalexin 500 mg?

• It is available as a tablet that you must take by mouth.
• You must use a Cephalexin tablet with food if your doctor mentions it.
• Depending on the condition you are treating, take it every 6 or 12 hours for one or two weeks.
• Use Cephalexin 500mg at evenly spaced intervals daily as prescribed.
• Use it at almost the same time each day. Thus, you will not miss any dosage.
• Follow every direction your doctor suggested.
• You must use it exactly as directed. Do not use less or more or use it more often than told by your doctor.
• You will start feeling better during the first few days of your treatment with this drug.
• If your symptoms do not improve or become worse, tell your doctor.
• Keep on using it until you complete the prescribed dosage even if you feel good.
• If you stop taking cephalexin too soon or skip any dosage, your infection may not be treated completely. The bacteria will become antibiotic-resistant.
• If you think that the dosage of cephalexin 500mg tablet is not working for you, tell your doctor. He may increase the dosage of Cephalexin 500 mg. In some situations, he may suggest an alternative option. It may work best for you.

Before you use Cephalexin 500 mg tell your doctor if

• Had an allergy to any drug such as penicillin
• You are taking prescription or any non-prescription drugs.
• You are taking nutritional supplements, vitamins, and herbal products
• You take anticoagulants like warfarin, metformin, and probenecid
• Have kidney or liver disease.
• Have any allergies or gastrointestinal diseases such as colitis.
• You have bleeding disorders and seizures
• Had or have intestinal problems like colitis
• You are pregnant or lactating
• If you smoke, drink alcohol, or take any illegal drugs.

Side effects of Cephalexin 500mg

The common side effects of this drug do not need any medical help. They disappear once your body adjusts to this drug. They are:

• Indigestion
• Rash
• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Stomach pain
• Inflammation of the stomach lining or its irritation

If such Cephalexin 500mg side effects are mild, they go within some days or weeks. If they are severe or stay for long, get help from your doctor.

Serious side effects

Contact your doctor if you face any serious allergic reactions. You may feel that these symptoms are life-threatening. If you feel you have a medical emergency, tell your doctor. Severe side effects and some of their symptoms are:

Allergic reactions

• Symptoms are hives, swollen lips, face, throat, or tongue, and breathing trouble.

Infectious diarrhea

• Foul-smelling diarrhea. Nausea, fever, and frequent bowel movements occur.

Drug Interactions

• It may interact with some drugs and raise the risk of side effects. When used with a common diabetes drug called metformin, it can raise the levels of this drug in your blood. It may affect the risk of having metformin side effects.
• Probenecid, this gout drug can affect how well your body gets rid of Cephalexin 500 mg. It may raise your side effect risks to form this drug.
• It interacts with other antibiotics like vancomycin and tobramycin.
• It may interact with some anti-fungal drugs such as amphotericin. It interacts with diuretics such as furosemide.

Interaction with diseases

• It may interact with inflammation in the colon lining. It is known as colitis. It may interact with dialysis and seizure disorders. It may interact with liver and kidney dysfunction.

How to store Cephalexin 500?

• Store it between 15 degrees and 30 degree Celsius.
• After you buy Cephalexin 500 mg online, be careful. Do not keep it in damp or moist areas like the bathroom.
• Keep it safe and away from direct sunlight and moisture.
• Keep it air-tight in the same container it came in.
• Do not let kids or pets touch it.
• If your drug has expired then throw it away. Follow proper instructions. Then dispose of any expired or unused drug.

FAQs:

Can Cephalexin 500mg cause diarrhea?

Yes. Using Cephalexin 500 mg can cause diarrhea. This drug is an antibiotic. It kills the harmful bacteria causing infection. But it affects the helpful bacteria present in your stomach. Some bacteria are present in the intestine. So it causes diarrhea. It is not something very serious and goes away slowly. But if it stays, then tell your doctor about it and get medical attention.

If I am allergic to amoxicillin, can I use Cephalexin?

Amoxicillin is part of Penicillin, a group of antibiotics. You may have an allergy to these drugs. Then you are more likely to be allergic to the group of an antibiotic. It is called Cephalosporins and Cephalexin is a member of it. So avoid it if you are allergic to penicillin.

Can I take Cephalexin 500mg for a spider bite?

Cephalexin 500 mg is an antibiotic used for treating infection. You should not use this drug unless told by your doctor.

Can teens abuse cephalexin 500mg tablet?

No. It is not a drug that can be abused by teens. It fights bacteria in the body and is a safe drug.

What type of bacteria does cephalexin 500mg treat?

Cephalexin 500mg is a type of antibiotic treatment used to treat a variety of bacterial infections. It belongs to the class of drugs known as first-generation cephalosporins, which work by interfering with bacterial cell wall synthesis. It mainly works to treat infections caused by gram-positive bacteria, including Streptococcus pneumonia, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus pyogenes. It is also effective against some gram-negative bacteria such as E. coli, Proteus mirabilis, and Klebsiella pneumonia.

Is cephalexin penicillin?

Cephalexin and penicillin are not the same medicine. However, cephalexin is a cephalosporin antibiotic, while penicillin is a penicillin antibiotic drug. Both are effective in treating similar types of bacterial infections.

Is cephalexin 500mg a strong antibiotic?

Cephalexin 500mg is considered a moderate-strength antibiotic. It is effective against a range of bacterial infections but may not be suitable for more severe or complicated infections. The appropriate strength and duration of treatment for cephalexin will depend on the specific infection being treated and individual patient factors.