What makes up cephalin

Do not dispose of medications in wastewater e. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medications that are no longer needed or have expired. Many medications can cause side effects.

A side effect is an unwanted response to a medication when it is taken in normal doses. Side effects can be mild or severe, temporary or permanent. The side effects listed below are not experienced by everyone who takes this medication. If you are concerned about side effects, discuss the risks and benefits of this medication with your doctor. Many of these side effects can be managed, and some may go away on their own over time. Contact your doctor if you experience these side effects and they are severe or bothersome.

Your pharmacist may be able to advise you on managing side effects. Although most of these side effects listed below don't happen very often, they could lead to serious problems if you do not check with your doctor or seek medical attention. Stop taking the medication and seek immediate medical attention if any of the following occur:.

Some people may experience side effects other than those listed. Check with your doctor if you notice any symptom that worries you while you are taking this medication.

Before you begin using a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health.

These factors may affect how you should use this medication. Allergy: Some people who are allergic to penicillin antibiotics also experience allergic reactions to cephalosporins, including cephalexin. Before you take cephalexin, tell your doctor about any previous adverse reactions you have had to medications, especially cephalosporins and penicillins. Contact your doctor at once if you experience signs of an allergic reaction, such as skin rash, itching, difficulty breathing, or swelling of the face and throat.

Other hypersensitivity reactions involving the skin and other organs have also been reported with the use of other, similar antibiotics. 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. 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. There are other drugs available to treat your condition. Some may be better suited for you than others. Talk with your doctor about other drug options that may work for you. Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date.

However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication.

How should this medicine be used? Other uses for this medicine What special precautions should I follow? What special dietary instructions should I follow? What should I do if I forget a dose? What side effects can this medication cause? What should I know about storage and disposal of this medication? Brand names. Shake the liquid well before each use to mix the medication evenly. Other uses for this medicine.

What special precautions should I follow? Before taking cephalexin, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to cephalexin; other cephalosporin antibiotic such as cefaclor, cefadroxil cefazolin Ancef, Kefzol , cefdinir, cefditoren Spectracef , cefepime Maxipime , cefixime Suprax , cefotaxime Claforan , cefotetan, cefoxitin Mefoxin , cefpodoxime, cefprozil, ceftaroline Teflaro , ceftazidime Fortaz, Tazicef, in Avycaz , ceftibuten Cedax , ceftriaxone Rocephin , and cefuroxime Zinacef ; penicillin antibiotics; or any other medications.

Also tell your doctor if you are allergic to any of the ingredients in cephalexin capsules, tablets, or suspension. Ask your pharmacist for a list of the ingredients. Be sure to mention any of the following: anticoagulants 'blood thinners' such as warfarin Coumadin, Jantoven ; metformin Fortamet, Glucophage, Glumetza, Riomet, in Glucovance, Invokamet, others ; and probenecid Probalan.

Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects. If you become pregnant while taking cephalexin, call your doctor. Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, continue your normal diet. Cephalexin may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away: nausea diarrhea vomiting heartburn stomach pain rectal or genital itching dizziness extreme tiredness agitation confusion headache joint pain Some side effects can be serious.

Symptoms of overdose may include: nausea vomiting diarrhea pink, red, or dark brown urine stomach pain. What other information should I know?