Generic Medication guide:
What is Keflex and when is it used?
Keflex is an antibiotic from the group of cephalosporins of the first generation for oral use. It is the 7-aminocephalosporanic acid derivative. It is the antibacterial and bactericidal formulation that inhibits transpeptidase, an enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of mucopeptide (defensive mechanism) of the bacterial cell wall. The medication is resistant in the acidic environment and therefore can be used orally without losing its effectiveness. The formulation is mainly active against gram-positive microorganisms and to a lower extent to gram-negative bacteria. Thus, it is preferable to buy Keflex only if it’s been proven that the disease is caused by the pathogens susceptible to this antibiotic.
The name Keflex is a trade name owned by a certain pharmaceutical company although the same formula can be used by other drug makers too. They have to market their product under different names and you can find them looking for generic Keflex. To know for sure that you are buying the correct medication, check that the active ingredient name is Cephalexin. If you get the drug in its original package, you will see this name under the trade name.
Keflex is used for the treatment of infectious diseases caused by sensitive bacteria:
- Otorhinolaryngological infections (pharyngitis, otitis media, and others);
- Infections of the airways (bronchitis, pneumonia, and others);
- Genitourinary tract infections;
- Skin and soft tissues infections;
- Infections of bones and joints (osteomyelitis).
Clinical data
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Trade names
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Keflex, Cepol, Ceporex, others
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Pregnancy category
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AU: A
US: B (No risk in non-human studies)
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Routes of administration
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by mouth
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Legal status
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Legal status
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AU: S4 (Prescription only)
UK: POM (Prescription only)
US: RX-only
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Pharmacokinetic data
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Bioavailability
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Well absorbed
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Protein binding
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15%
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Metabolism
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80% excreted unchanged in urine within 6 hours of administration
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Elimination half-life |
For an adult with normal renal function, the serum half-life is 0.6-1.2 hours |
Excretion |
Renal |
Keflex contraindications
Before you buy generic Keflex, you must check with your doctor that you don’t have any contraindications for its use such as:
- Intolerance of Cephalexin, other cephalosporins, penicillins, other beta-lactam antibiotics, as well as to the components of the formulation;
- Porphyria;
- Infections of the brain or spinal cord;
- Early therapy of severe generalized infections that require the use of injectable cephalosporins.
The use of the antibiotic is also undesirable in previously diagnosed Pseudomembranous colitis, kidney failure, and for children under six months of age.
The use of the medication during pregnancy is possible if the risks are considered lower than the potential benefits.
Keflex dosing
It is preferable that when you would buy Cephalexin the dosage is selected by a doctor based on the assessment of your condition.
The capsules must be taken orally 30-40 minutes before meals without chewing and washing down with a sufficient amount of water.
Adults and kids older than twelve years in infections of the skin, streptococcal pharyngitis, and uncomplicated urinary tract infections should take 250 mg every six hours or 500 mg every twelve hours. The average daily dosage is 1000 mg. In severe infections, the dosage can be elevated to 4000 mg.
Usually, the treatment course should last from one to two weeks but for severe infections a longer therapy is possible. The treatment of the infections caused by beta-hemolytic group A streptococcus, the minimum treatment course duration is ten days.
The treatment course with the formulation must be continued for at least 48-72 hours after the disappearance of the symptoms or negative bacteriological tests.
Dosage adjustments
The dosages for people with impaired kidney function are the following:
- Creatinine clearance 40-80 ml per minute: the single dosage is 500 mg taken every 4-6 hours.
- Creatinine clearance 20-30 ml per minute: the single dosage is 500 mg taken every 8-12 hours.
- Creatinine clearance 10 ml per minute: the single dosage is 250 mg taken every 12 hours.
- Creatinine clearance 5 ml per minute: the single dosage is 250 mg taken every 12-24 hours.
- Patients on hemodialysis should take 250 mg 1-2 times a day and 500 mg additionally after each dialysis procedure which means that at the day of the procedure the dosage is 1000 mg.
Recommended dosage adjustments for patients with renal impairment
Renal function
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Dose regimen recommendation
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Creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min
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No dose adjustment
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Creatinine clearance 30 to 59 mL/min
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No dose adjustment; maximum daily dose should not exceed 1 g
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Creatinine clearance 15 to 29 mL/min
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250 mg, every 8 hours or every 12 hours
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Creatinine clearance 5 to 14 mL/min not yet on dialysis*
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250 mg, every 24 hours
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Creatinine clearance 1 to 4 mL/min not yet on dialysis* |
250 mg, every 48 hours or every 60 hours
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Overdose
The symptoms of an overdose are nausea, vomiting, pain in the abdomen, and diarrhea.
The treatment requires the use of activated carbon, maintenance of the airways passage, and control over the vital functions.
Keflex adverse effects
When you buy generic Cephalexin for the first time, be ready that you may develop negative effects such as:
- Nausea, spasms and pain in the abdomen, decreased appetite, dry mouth, bloating, gastritis, etc.
- Liver dysfunction, skin yellowing;
- Blood disorders, including blood coagulation slowing down;
- Allergic reactions skin rash, swelling, anaphylaxis;
- Dizziness, weakness, headache, anxiety, agitation, seizures;
- Temporary kidney function impairment, fever;
- Candidiasis of the genitals, itching of the genitals, vaginitis, vaginal discharges;
Keflex interactions
The effectiveness of the formulation is lowered in the concurrent use with bacteriostatic antibiotics (tetracycline, and others).
The risk of the toxic effect on the kidneys is elevated when the medication is combined with aminoglycosides, polymyxin, capreomycin, vancomycin, colistin, loop diuretics, and other formulations that influence the kidneys negatively.
The antibiotic taken with metformin can elevate the level of the latter in the blood which can cause the enhancements of its adverse effects.
The washing out of the medication is slowed down in the concurrent use with Probenecid, Phenylbutazone, and NSAIDs.
The risk of bleedings is increased in the concurrent use of Keflex with the medicines that reduce platelet aggregation NSAIDs, antiaggregants, vitamin K antagonists, and sulfinpyrazone.
Keflex lowers the effectiveness of oral contraceptives so non-hormonal contraception must be also used during the therapy.
Please note that these are not all interactions. If you take any medications even if you don’t find them in this list, please check the safety of their use with the antibiotic with your doctor before you order Keflex.
Precautions
During the therapy with the formulation, it is contraindicated to drink alcohol.
Individuals with kidney function impairment may suffer from the accumulation of the medication so they may need the adjustment of the dosages.
The formulation must be cautiously used in the history of allergic reactions to penicillin antibiotics and carbapenems.
The medication can cause false-positive sugar reaction in urine and positive Coombs test results.
The use of antibiotics and especially the long-term one can cause the development of colitis. Thus, in the occurrence of diarrhea that doesn’t go away within a few days, a doctor must be informed and respective treatment implemented.
Where to buy Keflex?
To undergo the therapy at a low cost without compromising its quality, order generic Keflex from our meds tore.
Keflex shipping
We offer international shipping including to the U.S., Canada, Australia, and other countries where this drug is sold with Rx. The shipping takes from 7 to 25 days.
Free prescription
Our doctor prescribes online for free, and there is no doctor’s consultation fee.
Discrete packaging
All orders arrive in discrete unmarked parcels. We leave the shipment description blank.
For more answers see the FAQ section
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