Description

Keflex is an antimicrobial drug, Cephalosporin. It contains an active ingredient Cephalexin that provides a bactericidal action.

Keflex has a high antibacterial activity as to gram-positive, gram-negative microorganisms. It is not accumulated in the body during the normal functioning of the kidneys and is excreted within 6 hours. Due to this, it is well tolerated, seldom causes side effects and does not influence on good microflora.

The mechanism of the action of Keflex consists in the destruction of the cellular wall of microorganisms. It completely breaks the protective functions of the bacteria cells, and then they die.

A distribution of the active ingredient happens evenly in all tissues and organs. Therefore, Keflex may be used for many infectious and inflammatory diseases: infections of the mouth cavity, nasopharynx, respiratory tracts, bones, skin, urinary organs (including prostatitis), middle ear infection, sinusitis, and many others.

The symptoms of the infectious disease may be improved within 3-5 days. A patient feels better but the treatment is continued within several days in order to completely eliminate outbreaks of the infection.

In what dose is Keflex used?

Keflex is produced in tablets for the oral use and contains 250 mg, or 500 mg of Cephalexin. A daily dose of Keflex depends on a severity of infection and type of infectious agent. If a disease is light, it is enough to take a pill of Keflex 250 mg 4 times per day. If severer infections, a dose is increased up to Keflex 500 mg 4 times per day.

In rare cases, the daily dose may be increased up to 100 mg per 1 kg of the body weight but only under doctor’s supervision. A daily dose is divided into 4 parts and taken every 6 hours.

Precautions

• As kidneys are responsible for the excretion of Cephalexin, a dose should be lowered during the kidney dysfunction. The use of Keflex in high doses may cause an accumulation of the antibiotic in the tissues and an overdose
• If you had an allergy to penicillin, an allergic reaction may happen during the use of Keflex. But this is marked by not all patients
• Women may take Keflex during pregnancy if it is not dangerous for a baby and not prohibited by a doctor. If a pregnant woman has discomfort or side effects during the treatment, terminate the drug use.
• If the treatment is expected during lactation, stop the breast-feeding

Side effects

In rare cases, the use of Keflex is accompanied by the following side effects: abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, dyspepsia, diarrhea, dizziness, fatigue, headache, agitation, itching of genitals and anus.

To avoid candidiasis during the use of Keflex, antifungal drugs are used. But an allergic reaction appeared during the treatment, the treatment is terminated, and other drugs (not cephalosporin) are prescribed.