What does cephalexin capsule look like

Always follow the advice of your doctor and the instructions that come with your medicine. The dose of cefalexin can vary but for most infections you will take mg, two or three times a day. Try to space the doses evenly throughout the day.

If you take it 3 times a day, this could be first thing in the morning, mid-afternoon and at bedtime. Keep taking this medicine until you've completed the course, even if you feel better. If you stop your treatment early, the infection could come back. Capsules or tablets — swallow whole with a drink of water. Do not chew or break them. Liquid — if you or your child are taking cefalexin as a liquid, it will usually be made up for you by a pharmacist. The medicine will come with a plastic syringe or medicine spoon to help you measure the right dose.

If you do not have one, ask a pharmacist for one. Do not use a kitchen teaspoon as it will not give the right amount. 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. 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.

That means two things:. 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. This dosage information is for cephalexin oral capsule. All possible dosages and drug forms may not be included here. Your dosage, drug form, and how often you take the drug will depend on:. The usual dose is mg taken every 6 hours, or a dose of mg every 12 hours may be given.

If you have a severe infection, your doctor may give you a larger dose. Your doctor may double your dose for severe infections. The kidneys of older adults may not work as well as they used to. As a result, more of a drug stays in your body for a longer time.

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. Your doctor may give you a larger dose if you have a severe infection. However, because drugs affect each person differently, we cannot guarantee that this list includes all possible dosages. Always speak with your doctor or pharmacist about dosages that are right for you.

Cephalexin oral capsule is a short-term drug treatment. For this drug to work well, a certain amount needs to be in your body at all times. If you take too much: You could have dangerous levels of this drug in your body. Symptoms may include:. Call your doctor or local Poison Control Center, or go to the nearest emergency room. What to do if you miss a dose: Take your dose as soon as you remember. But if you remember just a few hours before your next scheduled dose, take only one dose.

Never try to catch up by taking two doses at once. This could result in dangerous side effects. How to tell if the drug is working: Your symptoms and your infection should go away if this drug is working. A prescription for this medication is refillable. You should not need a new prescription for this medication to be refilled.

Your doctor will write the number of refills authorized on your prescription. Your doctor may do blood tests to check how well your kidneys are working.

Stop taking the medication and get immediate medical attention if you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, including fever, swollen glands, yellowing of the skin or eyes, or flu-like symptoms with skin rash or blistering. Antibiotic-associated colitis: This medication, like other antibiotics, may cause a potentially dangerous condition called antibiotic-associated colitis or pseudomembranous colitis.

Symptoms include severe, watery diarrhea that may be bloody. If you notice these symptoms, stop taking cephalexin and contact your doctor as soon as possible. Bacterial resistance: Misuse of an antibiotic such as cephalexin may lead to the growth of resistant bacteria that will not be killed by the antibiotic. If this happens, the antibiotic may not work for you in the future.

Although you may begin to feel better when you first start taking cephalexin, you need to take all of the medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor to finish ridding your body of the infection and to prevent resistant bacteria from taking hold. Do not take cephalexin or other antibiotics to treat a viral infection such as the common cold; antibiotics do not kill viruses, and using them to treat viral infections can lead to the growth of resistant bacteria.

Kidney function: People with severe kidney problems may require a lower dose of cephalexin. People with kidney disease or reduced kidney function should discuss with their doctor how this medication may affect their medical condition, how their medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Liver function: Cephalexin can cause a decrease in liver function, although this happens only occasionally. People with liver disease or reduced liver function should discuss with their doctor how this medication may affect their medical condition, how their medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

If you experience signs of decreasing liver function, such as yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, dark urine, or pale stools, contact your doctor as soon as possible.

Overgrowth of organisms: Prolonged or repeated use of cephalexin may result in an overgrowth of bacteria or fungi and organisms that are not killed by the medication. This can cause other infections to develop, such as yeast infections.

Pregnancy: This medication should not be used during pregnancy unless the benefits outweigh the risks. If you become pregnant while taking this medication, contact your doctor immediately. Breast-feeding: This medication passes into breast milk. If you are a breast-feeding mother and are taking cephalexin, it may affect your baby. Talk to your doctor about whether you should continue breast-feeding. If you are taking any of these medications, speak with your doctor or pharmacist.

Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want you to:. An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed. Medications other than those listed above may interact with this medication. Tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter non-prescription , and herbal medications you are taking.

Also tell them about any supplements you take. Since caffeine, alcohol, the nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use them. All material copyright MediResource Inc. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

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