Thursday, March 28, 2024

Keflex For Urinary Tract Infection

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How K Health Can Help

Treatment of Urinary Tract Infections with Antibiotics

Having signs of a UTI but dont want to go all the way to the doctors office?

Chat with a K Health doctor to get the answers you need.

If you do need additional tests, K Health primary care providers can order tests or make referrals.

And in many cases, they can start you on a UTI treatment right away.

What Is Keflex And What Is It Used For

Cephalexin belongs to a class of antibiotics called cephalosporins. They are similar to penicillin in action and side effects. They stop or slow the growth of bacterial cells by preventing bacteria from forming the cell wall that surrounds each cell. The cell wall protects bacteria from the external environment and keeps the contents of the cell together, and without a cell wall, bacteria are not able to survive. Bacteria that are susceptible to cephalexin include Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, E. coli and several others. Cephalexin was approved by the FDA in January 1971.

Cephalexin is used to treat infections caused by bacteria that are susceptible to the effects of cephalexin. Common infections that cephalexin is used for include:

How Should This Medicine Be Used

Cephalexin comes as a capsule, tablet, and suspension to take by mouth. It is usually taken with or without food every 6 or 12 hours for 7 to 14 days, depending on the condition being treated. Take cephalexin at around the same times every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take cephalexin exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

Shake the liquid well before each use to mix the medication evenly.

You should begin to feel better during the first few days of treatment with cephalexin. If your symptoms do not improve or get worse, call your doctor.

Continue to take cephalexin until you finish the prescription even if you feel better. If you stop taking cephalexin too soon or skip doses, your infection may not be completely treated and the bacteria may become resistant to antibiotics.

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Before Taking This Medicine

Do not use this medicine if you are allergic to cephalexin or to other cephalosporin antibiotics, such as:

  • cefaclor

To make sure cephalexin is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had

  • an allergy to any drug

  • liver or kidney disease or

  • intestinal problems, such as colitis.

Cephalexin is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant.

Cephalexin can pass into breast milk. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Clinical Evaluation Of Cephalexin In The Treatment Of Urinary Tract Infections

Cephalexin (Generic) 250 mg, Single Capsule

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What Other Information Should I Know

Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor may order certain lab tests to check your response to cephalexin.

Before having any laboratory test, tell your doctor and the laboratory personnel that you are taking cephalexin.

If you are diabetic and test your urine for sugar, use Clinistix or TesTape to test your urine while taking this medication.

Do not let anyone else take your medication. Your prescription is probably not refillable.

It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.

Dosage For Respiratory Tract Infection

Adult dosage

14 grams per day taken in divided doses. The usual dose is 250 mg taken every 6 hours, or a dose of 500 mg every 12 hours may be given. If you have a severe infection, your doctor may give you a larger dose.

Child dosage

14 grams per day taken in divided doses. The usual dose is 250 mg taken every 6 hours, or a dose of 500 mg every 12 hours may be given. If you have a severe infection, your doctor may give you a larger dose.

Child dosage

2550 mg/kg of body weight per day taken in divided doses. Your doctor may double your dose for severe infections.

Child dosage

This medication hasnt been studied in children younger than 1 year for this condition.

Senior dosage

The kidneys of older adults may not work as well as they used to. This can cause your body to process drugs more slowly. As a result, more of a drug stays in your body for a longer time. This raises your risk of side effects. Your doctor may start you on a lowered dose or a different dosing schedule. This can help keep levels of this drug from building up too much in your body.

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What Else Should I Know About Keflex

  • Cephalexin is available in generic form. You need a prescription to obtain cephalexin.
  • Keflex is the brand name available for cephalexin in the US.
  • Cephalexin is available as:
  • Tablets of 250 and 500 mg.
  • Capsules: 250, 500 and 750 mg.
  • Powder for Suspension: 125 and 250 mg/5 ml.
  • Cephalexin tablets and capsules should be stored at room temperature, 15 C to 30 C . Suspensions should be refrigerated and discarded 14 days after they have been prepared from the powder.
  • Warning Disclaimer Use For Publication

    Immunity to UTI Antibiotics? (UTI = Urinary Tract Infection)

    WARNING: Please DO NOT STOP MEDICATIONS without first consulting a physician since doing so could be hazardous to your health.

    DISCLAIMER: All material available on eHealthMe.com is for informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment provided by a qualified healthcare provider. All information is observation-only. Our phase IV clinical studies alone cannot establish cause-effect relationship. Different individuals may respond to medication in different ways. Every effort has been made to ensure that all information is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. The use of the eHealthMe site and its content is at your own risk.

    If you use this eHealthMe study on publication, please acknowledge it with a citation: study title, URL, accessed date.

    Read Also: Urinary Tract Infection And Bv

    What Drugs Interact With Nitrofurantoin And Cephalexin

    Nitrofurantoin

    • High doses of probenecid or sulfinpyrazone can partially block the kidneys’ elimination of nitrofurantoin. This can increase the blood concentrations of nitrofurantoin and the risk of toxicity from nitrofurantoin.
    • Concomitant administration of a magnesium trisilicate antacid may decrease the absorption of nitrofurantoin, reducing the effectiveness of nitrofurantoin.
    • Nitrofurantoin may reduce the activity of live tuberculosisvaccine and live typhoid vaccine. In laboratory tests, nitrofurantoin reduced the effect of quinolone antibiotics, for example, norfloxacin . Therefore, nitrofurantoin should not be combined with quinolone antibiotics.

    Cephalexin

    Cephalexin may reduce the effect of BCG and typhoid vaccines. Cephalexin should not be combined with BCG or typhoid vaccine unless there are no other options.

    Interactions That Increase Your Risk Of Side Effects

    Side effects from cephalexin: Taking cephalexin with certain medications raises your risk of side effects from cephalexin. This is because the amount of cephalexin in your body is increased. An example of these drugs is probenecid.

    Side effects from other drugs: Taking cephalexin with certain medications raises your risk of side effects from these drugs. An example of these drugs is metformin. Taking metformin and cephalexin together may cause kidney problems. Your doctor may adjust your dose of metformin to reduce this risk.

    Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information. However, because drugs interact differently in each person, we cannot guarantee that this information includes all possible interactions. This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Always speak with your healthcare professional about possible interactions with all prescription drugs, vitamins, herbs and supplements, and over-the-counter drugs that you are taking.

    This drug comes with several warnings.

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    What If I Forget To Take It

    If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember, unless it’s nearly time for your next dose. In this case, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the usual time. Try to leave a gap of at least 4 hours between doses.

    Never take 2 doses at the same time. Never take an extra dose to make up for a forgotten one.

    If you forget doses often, it may help to set an alarm to remind you. You could also ask a pharmacist for advice on other ways to remember your medicines.

    How Long Do I Need To Take Antibiotics To Treat A Uti

    Cephalexin

    How long you take antibiotics for a UTI depends on how severe your UTI is and which antibiotic youre prescribed. Some medications like fosfomycin only require one dose, while a more severe UTI might require 14 days or more of treatment. Most require 3 to 7 days of treatment.

    Within the first 1 to 2 days of starting your antibiotics, youll probably notice your UTI symptoms start to fade away. If your UTI is more severe or youve had symptoms for a while before starting antibiotics, it might take a few more days for you to notice improvement.

    In any case, its important to take all the antibiotics youre prescribed, even if you start feeling better before finishing them. Stopping antibiotics early can lead to antibiotic resistance, which means the medication might not work as well as it should if you need it to treat an infection in the future. It can also mean your UTI might come back if you havent treated it completely.

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    What Are Potential Side Effects Of Antibiotics For Uti

    In addition to the notable side effects weve already covered, there are a few more potential antibiotic side effects youll want to know about.

    Most antibiotics can cause some degree of stomach upset like nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea. If you have severe diarrhea or diarrhea that lasts for 2 or more days, let your healthcare provider know. Diarrhea is a common side effect while taking antibiotics and just after finishing them. But in some cases, diarrhea from antibiotics can be a sign of a more serious infection caused by Clostridium difficile bacteria.

    Some people are also sensitive to antibiotics, which could result in a minor reaction like a rash or a more serious reaction like anaphylaxis. If you notice difficulty breathing or major skin changes after taking an antibiotic, get medical help right away.

    How To Take Keflex

    Keflex is approved for use in adults and children 1 year of age and older. The antibiotic is available in three different formulations: oral capsules, oral tablets, and liquid suspension.

    Adults and children aged 15 and older typically take 250 milligrams of Keflex every six hours or 500 mg every 12 hours. Children under 15 are dosed based on their weight, with doses divided equally. The duration of therapy can range from seven to 14 days, depending on the infection and its severity.

    Shake the Keflex liquid suspension well before taking it. Use a medical dosing spoon or calibrated oral syringe rather than a kitchen spoon to ensure accurate dosing. You can take Keflex capsules and liquid suspension with or without food. Keflex capsules need to be swallowed whole. Do not chew or break open the capsules.

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    Who Can And Cannot Take Cefalexin

    Cefalexin can be taken by most adults and children.

    Cefalexin is not suitable for some people. To make sure cefalexin is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

    • had an allergic reaction to cefalexin or any other medicine in the past
    • kidney problems
    • ever had a severe skin rash or skin peeling, blistering and/or mouth sores after taking antibiotics
    • had severe or bloody diarrhoea when you’ve taken antibiotics before

    Warnings For Certain Groups

    Keflex

    For people with kidney problems: If you have kidney problems or a history of kidney disease, you may not be able to clear this drug from your body. This may increase the levels of this drug in your body and cause more side effects. Your doctor may adjust your dose if you have kidney disease. Talk with your doctor about whether this drug is safe for you.

    For pregnant women: Cephalexin is a pregnancy category B drug. That means two things:

  • Studies of the drug in pregnant animals have not shown risk to the fetus.
  • There arent enough studies in pregnant women to show the drug poses a risk to the fetus.
  • Tell your doctor if youre pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Cephalexin should be given to a pregnant woman only if clearly needed.

    For women who are breastfeeding: Cephalexin passes into breast milk and may cause side effects in a child who is breastfed. Talk with your doctor if you breastfeed your child. You may need to decide whether to stop breastfeeding or stop taking this medication.

    For seniors: The kidneys of older adults may not work as well as they used to. This can cause your body to process drugs more slowly. As a result, more of the drug stays in your body for a longer time. This raises your risk of side effects.

    For children: This drug hasnt been studied in children younger than 1 year of age with respiratory tract, middle ear, skin and skin structure, bone, and urinary tract infections.

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    Serious Side Effects And Allergic Reactions

    Cephalexin and others in the same antibiotic class can also cause serious side effects including severe allergic reactions.

    If you have trouble breathing, hives or severe rash, or any swelling to your face, throat, or mouth while taking cephalexin, discontinue your medication and call 911 or seek emergency medical care right away.

    What Are Reasons I Shouldnt Take Keflex

    No one with a known hypersensitivity to cephalexin or any other cephalosporin antibiotic should ever take Keflex.

    It is also possible to experience a hypersensitive reaction to other beta-lactam antibiotics . To avoid this, let your healthcare provider know about any adverse reaction you have had to an antibiotic, even if you canât remember its name. Your provider will monitor you closely in the event of a reaction.

    In rare cases, people with a penicillin allergy may have a cross-reactive allergy to cephalosporins. If this does occur, the reaction can be severe.

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    What Are The Side Effects Of Nitrofurantoin And Cephalexin

    Nitrofurantoin

    In other persons, lung injury may occur after approximately a month of treatment. Symptoms include:

    • Difficulty breathing
    • Cough

    Fortunately, the symptoms usually resolve within a week if the medication is stopped. In other individuals, lung injury may not develop until after several months or years of therapy. Unless it is recognized and treated, this delayed lung injury can result in permanent lung damage that remains even after the drug is stopped.

    Nitrofurantoin can also cause damage to the sensory nerves of the arms and legs , which can cause tingling in the extremities. The condition can become severe and is more likely to occur in people with diabetes, vitamin B deficiency, or general debilitation.

    Reduced red blood cell count by breaking red blood cells can occur from nitrofurantoin. This reaction occurs most frequently in persons with a deficiency of an enzyme called glucose–6-phosphate dehydrogenase that is very important to the survival of red blood cells.

    Nitrofurantoin also can cause liver damage leading to jaundice or a form of hepatitis that can be fatal. Elevated liver enzymes indicate liver damage and are a reason to stop the drug.

    Treatment with nitrofurantoin can cause urine to change color to a dark yellow or brown.

    Cephalexin

    Can Uti Symptoms Linger After I Take Antibiotics

    Keflex Drop 100mg 10ml â DVAGO®

    Since UTI symptoms usually improve just a few days after starting antibiotics, youll want to talk to your healthcare provider if you notice that UTI symptoms are still hanging around after finishing your antibiotics.

    Theres no need to panic, but you and your healthcare provider will want to make sure the antibiotics actually worked against your UTI. To do this, they may take another sample of your urine to see if the bacteria are still there or not. If the infection is cured, youll want to be sure there isnt a different issue thats causing similar symptoms.

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    When To See A Doctor

    If you have signs of a UTI, you should speak to your doctor.

    Even though some urinary tract infections may clear up without treatment, there are serious risks to leaving a bacterial infection untreated.

    An untreated UTI can spread to your kidneys or bloodstream leading to a more severe infection that may require IV antibiotics or a hospital stay, and could lead to permanent damage or even death.

    UTIs that are caught early can be treated quickly and easily from your home. Most antibiotic treatments for UTIs work within 3-7 days.

    Who Can And Cannot Use Cephalexin

    Most antibiotics come with a risk of side effects, and while cephalexin can be safe in both adults and children, certain people should not take it.

    For people with certain health conditions or allergies, cephalexin could result in severe adverse events.

    It should be avoided or you should consult with your doctor about the risks if you:

    • Are allergic to cephalosporin antibiotics
    • Have liver or kidney disease
    • Have been diagnosed with colitis
    • Have a seizure disorder
    • Are receiving dialysis

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