What is Cephalexin used for?

The cephalexin is an antibiotic that is available in several forms for oral administration, such as capsules, tablets and liquid. This is commonly used to treat infections caused by certain bacteria in the respiratory tract, such as pneumonia, as well as infections in the bones, skin, ears and urine.

It is a prescription product for specific infectious problems, not common colds. Its use, which will be explained in detail later, is for daily consumption, always at the same time, which can be before or after any meal.

What is Cephalexin used for?

Cephalexin is a type of medicine that works as an ideal antibiotic to be administered in patients who are allergic to substances such as penicillin and cannot take other types of medicines, or to those who have problems related to the heart.

It is recommended to keep it in its original container, stored in dry places where it does not come into contact with moisture (this means that it cannot be kept in the bathroom, for example), at room temperature that does not exceed 30 degrees C., except in the case of the liquid presentation, which can be stored in the refrigerator without problem.

Product limitations

It must be remembered that the correct storage of these drugs influences their adequate duration, the fact of keeping it out of these circumstances could cause the product to be damaged prematurely.

This medicine does not work with organisms of the class of enterococci, methicillin-resistant, listeria, bacteroides fragilis, among others. These are resistant to the treatment offered by cephalexin.

Certainly, it is not the first drug recommended for infections, since there are others that are less strong and more effective, however, it is the one that has less probability of resistance in the patient’s microorganism, which is the main reason why they usually resort to using it. as a treatment.

It is usually the ideal option for patients allergic to penicillin since they cannot consume other treatments and in procedures where other antibiotics have not already had an effect. Its spectrum is reduced, since it has first-generation cephalosporins.

Who can take this medicine?

Cephalexin can be ingested in its different presentations in both adults and children, with specific doses that vary according to age ranges and the type of discomfort they suffer.

Pregnant or lactating women should consult with their trusted doctor before ingesting this medicine, since it has not been proven to cause harm to the baby, but all medicines during this state should be carefully controlled.

Likewise, all patients must make sure before consuming it that they are not allergic to any of its components or similar medications such as cephalosporin antibiotics (for example, cefadroxil, cefaclor, tazicef, claforan, suprax, etc.), or allergies related to other types of medicines with similar components that the prescribing physician should be aware of.

If you are taking other medications at the same time, a specialist should be advised if cephalexin can be ingested without creating adverse reactions, since mixing these components with those of other products can result in serious effects for the patient.

For example, if cephalexin is being taken at the same time as aminoglycosides or cholestyramine, it can decrease the absorption of caphalexin or even cause serious toxicity.

How can cephalexin be ingested?

The recommended dose will always depend on the age of the patient and the type of infection that he has, as mentioned above. In general settings, adults can consume a dose of 1 to 4 grams, which should be divided into four different doses during the day, possibly every 6 hours.

In the case of children, the recommended dose (also depending on the exact age and the discomfort they suffer) is 25 to 50mg, which are also divided into four doses per day at the same time interval. In cases of infections such as Otitis, for example, more can be administered under supervision, with a maximum of 100 mg daily, also divided into four parts, every 6 hours.

In order to take this medicine, it is not necessary to follow a special rigid diet, in general terms, you can continue eating any food that has not been previously prohibited for some other reason. However, there are some foods that can decrease the absorption of cephalexin, these should be indicated by doctors beforehand.

In case you forget to take a dose, it is not recommended that you take it close to the time of the next treatment, because it is not prudent to give the body, at close intervals of time, a double dose amount, this could be counterproductive .

Side effects of ingesting cephalexin

Cephalexin, like any medication, can bring with it a number of side effects, especially if it is not taken under proper care or is mixed with other medications without the respective control of a specialist doctor. Among these possible adverse symptoms, we can find the following:

• Vomiting, nausea, or dizziness
• Stomach problems such as diarrhea or stomach aches.
• Acidity.
• Tiredness.
• Headache and / or body pain.

On the other hand, there are another series of symptoms that can occur and if they do occur, it is necessary to go to a medical check-up as soon as possible, these are:

• Blood in the stool.
• Itching in intimate areas of the body.
• Inflammation of one or more parts of the face such as the tongue, lips or eyes.
• Difficulty breathing or swallowing, which can be caused by a sore throat.
• Fever, chills, or symptoms related to an infection.
• Hallucinations
• Nephrotoxicity. (It is the toxicity exerted on the kidneys, organs whose functional integrity is essential for the maintenance of body homeostasis in human beings) Source (wikipedia.org)

These symptoms may appear only after not taking the necessary care to ingest this drug, for that reason it is of great importance to make sure you do not suffer from allergies related to the components of cephalexin, not to be taking medications that affect the system of the body after mixing chemicals, or have other health states that cause the nervous system to be unprepared for these substances.