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Overview
Keflex belongs to a class of potent antibiotics called cephalosporins. It is one of the first of these to become available generically and is now often prescribed as cephalexin.
This drug works against a wide variety of germs, including those that cause infections of the skin, lungs, throat, prostate, urinary tract, bones, and ears.
Cephalosporins are broad spectrum medicines that were originally discovered in one of the world's most unlikely locations.
A fungus found close to a sewer outlet along the coast of Sardinia turned out to cure a number of nasty infections. From this chance observation many extraordinary antibiotics have been developed.
Side Effects and Interactions
Side effects from cephalosporin-type antibiotics are generally mild. Nevertheless, cephalexin can cause a range of digestive tract disorders.
Indigestion, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea have been reported. If diarrhea becomes severe contact your physician, as it may be a warning of drug-induced colitis.
Other infrequent reactions to be aware of include rash, itching, vaginitis, headache, confusion, joint pain, fatigue and dizziness.
Cephalexin may affect laboratory test results. Liver enzymes may become elevated and false-positive results may show up during certain diabetes tests. Make sure that the laboratory personnel are aware you are taking cephalexin if you have blood drawn.
And remember to report any symptoms or suspected side effects of cephalexin to your physician promptly.
Special Precautions
If you are allergic to penicillin-type antibiotics, alert your physician immediately. Some people who are sensitive to penicillin may also react to cephalexin.
Symptoms such as breathing difficulty, wheezing, sneezing, hives, itching, and skin rash require immediate emergency treatment.
Life-threatening anaphylactic shock may produce an inability to breathe and cardiovascular collapse and can occur within minutes of exposure.
People with kidney problems should receive cephalexin only under careful medical supervision as the dosage will most likely have to be modified to prevent toxicity.
Taking the Medicine
Although this antibiotic is absorbed more efficiently when it is taken on an empty stomach, the pills can be swallowed with food, especially if they upset your stomach.
Did this drug work? Average rating: 4.2/5 (5 votes)
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The first time I took Cephalexin because I had an ingrown toenail. I also developed a rash on my penis. I did not relate the two together. But I just got another ingrown toenail and my rash is back. I cannot discribe how furious I am. This rash lasts 4 weeks and is excruciating. What can I do?!!
I also got a rash on my penis after using cephalexin. It lasted 4 weeks and was unbearable! Its healing and scar tissue has resulted in premature ejactulation due to hyper sensitivity and has ruined my sex life! Gee thanks a lot Doc! Anything I can do to fix this?
I am female and taking this drug to treat strep throat and a bacterial eye infection, and it is helping my throat and eyes to feel much better.
I have taken Cephalexin (dosage of 500mg) for my bronchitis -- I'm allergic to certain chemicals, and I take every precaution to avoid them, yet sometimes they sneak up on me when I least expect it -- like a freshly opened and inflated air mattress for example. Make sure you air out one of those things for at least a day or two before your guests sleep on it if they have any kind of chemical sensitivities. But I digress.
I don't recall any side effects so I guess I'm lucky in that regard. However, it did 'seem' that with this last attack in October ('07), the meds just didn't work as quickly as I "thought" they should.
My main concern is that the anti-bi's purchased from XYZ pharmacy may not have the same potency as MNO pharmacy. Or that the potency may be reduced altogether no matter where you purchase.
I know the Graedons have spoken out about this, but is the "establishment" listening ? ? ?
Re the 'rash', would Calendula gel help??? Touch base with your doc, but it wouldn't hurt to ask, right?? You should be able to find it at your local health food / organic / natural products store.
To the two people who had penis rashes. I am not a doctor, nor do I attempt to play one on the interweb, but I'd suspect that you both may have herpes & had a breakout due to the stress/toxic overload your system was under while on this med.
Look up Herx reaction or just...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herxheimer_reaction
My penis is red and swollen ... have finished the the course of ceph ... dont think i will do this drug again ........ just when I got my wife motivated for sex!
Jeez louise
I had a tooth removed and began taking cephalexin because the removal was surgical and the dentist wanted to be proactive in case there were any problems with infection. Roughly two days after starting the medication I got a terrible cough and fever. I tried medicating with some Tylenol Warming Cold and Flu.
I started to get a severe rash. At first I thought it was a reaction to the cold and flu, but after only taking it once, and continuing the cephalexin, I noticed that the rash kept getting worse.
I developed an overall sense of confusion, slept long periods of time, was constantly sweating, and just could not function. The rash went almost everywhere. This is why I wanted to post. As for the guys saying that they only got the rash on the penis, then I consider them lucky. I am going to side with MG on this one. The reason I wanted to post was that the only place I did not get the rash was my penis. Strange enough as I was, with bumps inside my nose and on the bottoms of my feet, there were never any indications there.
Is keflex recommended for gum infection and gum disease? Also, does this antibiotic contain any sulfonamides?
My one year old baby recently had a febrile seizure which was due to a temp of 105. She was ill with bronchitis and tonsillitis and the emergency room doctor put her on Keflex. That morning we noticed a terrible rash and wheezing like sound she was making. We took her to her own medical doctor, in which she told us to stop the Keflex and start her on Benadryl. My only concern is that this might ignite another seizure or something even more dangerous. Please ease my mind!!
I have been taking cefalexin for like 5 years. Really helps to clear up my acne! Works really well. There had been occurrences within the past years of me getting dizzy sometimes. Very rare. It wasn't until years later that I realized that most likely those happened because of the antibiotic. Random when they would happen, but I think that's the explanation. I remember one day I just got dizzy and it lasted like 1 or 2 minutes long. I was worried and sat down at school because I thought maybe I would pass out and wasn't sure what was going on.
One day though I was dizzy ALLLLL day. It was the weirdest thing I have ever experienced. I went back to bed and woke up later to see if it helped but I was still dizzy. Up until I went to bed that night and woke up fine the next day. Not sure what this confusion thing means. How do you just get confused? Buttt.... it's really hard to tell if these are my side effects or if I am just tired usually. I've been off and on the pill just to see... and it's hard to tell. For the past year, my eyes have hurt so badly that it makes me feel tired.
Eye doctor said my vision was perfect, so maybe it's cefalexin? I stopped taking for a couple weeks and still my eyes hurt but now that I'm back on, they hurt more. NOT SURE WHATS HAPPENING! But all in all, cefalexin hasn't been too crazy for me. How much are you guys taking!?? I take 2 500 mgs a day.
Also, from going off and back on I have noticed that my stomach has been a bit sensitive and I actually fart a lot. After coming back on the medicine I recognize the smell and realize it has been causing a lot of my gas actually. I just thought I was always a gassy person but its because I have been on this medicine. Wish there was a better way to have no acne.
I took this medication for a skin infection on my arm due to a minor burn. I had the same reaction near the end of the treatment cycle. A red itchy rash on and around my penis. The itching is unbearable. I also now have several "patches" on my waist, legs and sides. They itch horribly and if I scratch them - like I have while sleeping, they bruise badly. I have had the rashes for about 2 weeks and they are not getting better. My doctor said I have contact dermatitis but looking on the web it looks like its actually an allergic reaction to Cephalexin.
The poster is right about the sensitivity of the penis. I have always been slow to orgasm which I viewed as a good thing, not anymore. I hope this side effect does not last long.
I went to my docs with a lump in my breast tissue. He prescribed me with cefalexin. I took two tablets (each 500 mg) one in the morning and one at lunchtime (I was told I should take 3 a day) and half an hour after the second tablet, I came out in a rash. I stopped the cefalexin and started some antihistamines. 5 days on and I want to peel my skin off! The itching is even on my ears - I'm allergic to Penicillin as well, and have since found out that cefalexin is related.
There is a lot of skin surface coverage of this rash, and I've tried Eumobase to stop the itching, which just leaves me sticky & greasy (yuk)
How long is this going to last?
Someone mentioned 4 weeks??!
About two years ago I was diagnosed with Bronchitis. I was given Rondec and Keflex. Within 3 days of being on the medicine I was constantly dizzy and nauseous, and even had a harder time breathing. I was at my brothers football game when my whole body went cold and I felt like I was about to pass out. I went into a panic attack and my whole body went numb.
Luckily my doctor was there and said I was having an allergic reaction to the Rondec. Well, about 3 weeks ago I was put back on Keflex for an upper respiratory infection. I started to experience the same thing and had another panic attack. My doctor just told me it was because I was having a hard time breathing as is. So, I did not pay attention to it. I stopped taking Keflex because I felt better. And, just last week on Tuesday I had another mild panic attack.
I started taking Keflex yesterday at 10:30am. At 1pm I started feeling nauseous, dizzy, my chest was getting heavy, fingers and face were starting to tingle and go numb, my hands locked, and my face went numb and locked up. My brother rushed me to the ER and they did blood work to see if I might have a problem with my blood sugar or Thyroid. All tests were normal. They gave me an Ativan to calm me down and I was fine for about 20 minutes.
On my way home in the car I felt the same thing starting again. I became light headed, dizzy and nauseous. My hands and face locked up and it felt like someone was sitting on me. My parents took me to the ER again. At first they thought I may have a blood clot in my lungs. I was not hyperventilating or coughing. I felt drained and weak, almost like having the flu. I was at the ER for 9 hours and they told me they could not determine what caused the lock up in my hands and face. So, I woke up this morning and researched allergic reactions to Keflex.
One of the severe reactions was a seizure. I feel a lot better today, but I feel like I was misdiagnosed by the ER staff and they did not fully investigate what was the cause of my possible seizure or severe reaction to Keflex.
I recently took cephalexin for a urinary tract infection. I am female. On the last day of taking it (day 7) I developed a rash on my labia, we're talking burning, itching, swelling, deep tissue pain, and skin sloughing off/peeling off. I believe the men with the penis rashes have the same problem as me-an allergic reaction to cephalexin. I will make sure to make a noted of this med to NEVER take it again. I suggest you all do the same.
Follow-up.
My doctor now says its hypersensitivity vasculitus, an allergic reaction to the antibiotic. After 2 rounds of prednisone and now taking 3 allergy medications at once, the rashes only flair on occasion and don't itch nearly as much. My doctor said it could last weeks or months based on his experience. The prednisone works wonders but is not good for you long term. The allergy medications make me sleepy but its better than the horrid itch. I need to get an allergy warning card for my wallet so I am never given this medication again.
I've almost finished my course of Cephalexin and I too have developed a dry, inflamed and swollen labia in the last few days. Usually, without fail, I get a yeast infection from antibiotics, but this time, I have the above symptoms. This inflammation is really uncomfortable. I think I know how menopausal women feel. It hurts to wipe when going to the toilet, I can't wear tight pants and I need to use KY Jelly to ease the discomfort. For the record, I do not have any STD's. I was put on Cephalexin to treat a recurrence of a kidney infection (the last antibiotics were useless) and whilst my urinary problems have gone, it's come at a price. I don't ever want to take this medication again.
Anyone experience tooth sensitivity while on this drug?