Cephalexin how long is it good for

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines. Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you.

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco. The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:.

Take this medicine only as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered. Shake the oral liquid well before each use. Measure the medicine with a marked measuring spoon, oral syringe, or medicine cup. The average household teaspoon may not hold the right amount of liquid.

Keep using this medicine for the full treatment time, even if you feel better after the first few doses. Your infection may not clear up if you stop using the medicine too soon. The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine. If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.

Side Effects. Side Effects What are the side effects of Cephalexin Keflex? Call your doctor at once if you have: severe stomach pain, diarrhea that is watery or bloody even if it occurs months after your last dose ; unusual tiredness, feeling light-headed or short of breath; easy bruising, unusual bleeding, purple or red spots under your skin; a seizure; pale skin, cold hands and feet; yellowed skin, dark colored urine; fever, weakness; or pain in your side or lower back, painful urination.

Common side effects may include: diarrhea; nausea, vomiting; indigestion, stomach pain; or vaginal itching or discharge. Based on FDA pregnancy categories.

Interactions What drugs and food should I avoid while taking Cephalexin Keflex? Do not use cephalexin to treat any condition that has not been checked by your doctor. What should I do if I missed a dose of Cephalexin Keflex? If you think you or someone else may have overdosed on: Cephalexin Keflex , call your doctor or the Poison Control center.

If someone collapses or isn't breathing after taking Cephalexin Keflex , call What to Expect You should start to feel better within a few days of taking cephalexin. Additional Dosage Information Your dosage will depend on your medical condition, your age, your weight, and other factors. Secondary Uses Cephalexin is used to treat many types of infections. See More. Medical Disclaimer Drugs A-Z provides drug information from Everyday Health and our partners, as well as ratings from our members, all in one place.

The information within all other sections is proprietary to Everyday Health. Read more. 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. Accidentally taking 1 extra dose of cefalexin is unlikely to harm you or your child.

Speak to a pharmacist or doctor if you're worried or you take 2 extra doses or more. Like all medicines, cefalexin can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them. Fewer than 1 in people may have an allergic reaction to cefalexin. In most cases, the allergic reaction is mild. Keep taking the medicine, but talk to your doctor or pharmacist if these side effects bother you or do not go away:. In rare cases, cefalexin can cause a serious allergic reaction anaphylaxis. You could be having a serious allergic reaction and may need immediate treatment in hospital.

These are not all the side effects of cefalexin. For a full list see the leaflet inside your medicine packet. You can report any suspected side effect to the UK safety scheme. It's usually safe to take cefalexin during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. For safety, tell your doctor if you're trying to get pregnant, are already pregnant or if you're breastfeeding. Tell your doctor if you're taking any of these medicines before you start taking cefalexin :.

Do not take cefalexin at the same time as zinc supplements or anything with zinc in it. This is important because zinc may reduce the amount of cefalexin in your body, meaning the medicine cannot work as it's meant to. If you do take supplements with zinc in them, make sure there is a gap of at least 3 hours before and after you take your cefalexin. For safety, tell your doctor or a pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal remedies, vitamins or supplements.

Cefalexin is from a group of medicines called cephalosporin antibiotics. It works by killing the bacteria that causes the infection. Cefalexin can treat a wide range of bacteria so it works well for a variety of infections, such as chest, skin or urinary tract infections UTIs. For most infections, you'll start to feel better in a few days, but this depends on the type of infection you have.

It is important that you take the full course your doctor has advised, even if you feel better. It will stop the infection coming back. Tell your doctor if you do not start to feel better after taking cefalexin for 2 to 3 days, or if you feel worse at any time. Your doctor will tell you how long to take cefalexin for, as this can vary depending on the type of infection you have. Cefalexin is generally used for a short time to treat an infection. It can also be used long term to prevent infections which keep coming back.

For some types of infection, you may need to take cefalexin for at least 10 days. If you need to take antibiotics like cefalexin often, they can become less effective as the bacteria gets used to the medicine.

This is called antibiotic resistance. If your symptoms start to get worse again, tell your doctor or a pharmacist.

If your symptoms do not improve at all after a few days, or they start to get worse again, tell your doctor or a pharmacist. Do not stop taking your medicine early, even if you feel better, as this makes it more likely that the infection will come back and the bacteria will be resistant to cefalexin. Carry on taking cefalexin until you've completed the course, even if you feel better. Do not stop taking it early, as there's a risk the infection could come back.