Patient Medication Information: uses, side effects, how to take - Cephalexin (Sanis Health)
What is CEPHALEXIN used for?
CEPHALEXIN is used to treat certain bacterial infections in the:
- respiratory tract;
- ear (otitis media);
- genitals and urinary tract;
- bones and joints;
- skin and soft tissue.
- Antibacterial drugs like CEPHALEXIN treat only bacterial infections. They do not treat viral infections, such as the common cold.
How does CEPHALEXIN work?
CEPHALEXIN is an antibiotic that:
- Stops the growth of bacteria
- Kills bacteria
What are the ingredients in CEPHALEXIN?
Medicinal ingredients: Cephalexin (cephalexin monohydrate)
Non-medicinal ingredients:
250 mg Tablets: Colloidal Silicone Dioxide, Dry-Flo Starch, Magnesium Stearate, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Opadry Orange 18B130000 (consisting Hypromellose, Titanium Dioxide, Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) / Macrogol, Vanillin, FD&C Yellow #6 / Sunset Yellow FCF Aluminum Lake, Polysorbate 80, D&C Yellow #10 Aluminum Lake, FD&C Red 40 / Allura Red AC Aluminum Lake), Sodium Lauryl Sulphate, Sodium Starch Glycolate Type A.
500 mg Tablets: Colloidal Silicone Dioxide, Dry-Flo Starch, Magnesium Stearate, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Opadry Orange 18B130000 (consisting Hypromellose, Titanium Dioxide, Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) / Macrogol, Vanillin, FD&C Yellow #6 / Sunset Yellow FCF Aluminum Lake, Polysorbate 80, D&C Yellow #10 Aluminum Lake, FD&C Red 40 / Allura Red AC Aluminum Lake), Sodium Lauryl Sulphate, Sodium Starch Glycolate Type A.
Do not use CEPHALEXIN if:
- you are allergic to cephalexin, cephalosporin antibiotics or to any of the other ingredients in CEPHALEXIN
To help avoid side effects and ensure proper use, talk to your healthcare professional before you take CEPHALEXIN . Talk about any health conditions or problems you may have, including if you:
- you are allergic to or react badly to penicillins or other antibiotics.
- you have intestinal or bowel problems.
- you have kidney problems.
you are pregnant or plan to be pregnant.
- you are breast-feeding or plan to breast-feed.
Other warnings that you should know about:
- Using antibiotics like CEPHALEXIN may cause with Clostridium difficile-associated disease (CDAD). See “Serious side effects and what to do about them”, below.
- CEPHALEXIN may interfere with some blood and urine test results. Talk to your doctor if you are given a blood or urine test while taking CEPHALEXIN.
Tell your healthcare professional about all the medicines you take, including any drugs, vitamins, minerals, natural supplements or alternative medicines.
How to take CEPHALEXIN:
Take CEPHALEXIN orally on an empty stomach.
- Although you may feel better early in treatment, CEPHALEXIN should be used exactly as directed.
- Misuse or overuse of CEPHALEXIN could lead to the growth of bacteria that will not be killed by CEPHALEXIN (resistance). This means that CEPHALEXIN may not work for you in the future.
- Do not share your medicine.
Usual dose:
Adult:
The adult dosage ranges from 1 to 4 g daily in divided doses. The usual adult dose is 1 g/day in divided doses every 6 hours.
Children:
The recommended daily dosage for children is 25 to 50 mg/kg/day in divided doses every 6 hours.
Overdose:
Symptoms of oral overdose may include:
- nausea
- vomiting
- abdominal pain
- diarrhea
- bloody urine
| If you think you, or a person you are caring for, have taken too much CEPHALEXIN, contact a healthcare professional, hospital emergency department, or regional poison control centre immediately, even if there are no symptoms. |
What are possible side effects from using CEPHALEXIN?
These are not all the possible side effects you may feel when taking CEPHALEXIN. If you experience any side effects not listed here, contact your healthcare professional.
You may experience diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, loose stools, abdominal pain, diaper rash, inflammation of the vagina or discharge, dizziness, fatigue, headache, agitation, confusion, hallucinations or symptoms that you do not understand. You should tell your health professional for of any of these symptoms as soon as possible.
Vertigo (loss of balance or unsteadiness), tinnitus (ringing in the ears), hearing loss and behavioural changes in young children have been reported.
CEPHALEXIN may also cause effects such as yellowing of the whites of the eyes or skin (jaundice) or the inflammation of the liver (hepatitis).
Serious side effects and what to do about them
| Symptom / effect | Talk to your healthcare professional | Stop taking drug and get immediate medical help | |
| Only if severe | In all cases | ||
| RARE | |||
Symptoms of a severe bowel condition (Clostridium difficile colitis):
| ✓ | ||
Severe skin reactions:
| ✓ | ||
| |||
Severe Cutaneous Adverse Reactions (SCAR) (severe skin reactions that may also affect other organs):
| ✓ | ||
If you have a troublesome symptom or side effect that is not listed here or becomes bad enough to interfere with your daily activities, talk to your healthcare professional.
Reporting Side Effects
You can report any suspected side effects associated with the use of health products to Health Canada by:
NOTE: Contact your health professional if you need information about how to manage your side effects. The Canada Vigilance Program does not provide medical advice. |
Storage:
Store between 15°C and 25°C. Avoid excessive heat (30°C). Protect from light and humidity. Keep well closed. Keep out of reach and sight of children.
If you want more information about CEPHALEXIN:
- Talk to your healthcare professional
- Find the full Product Monograph that is prepared for healthcare professionals and includes this Patient Medication Information by visiting the Health Canada website (https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/drug-products/drug-product-database.html); the manufacturer’s website http://www.sanis.com; or by contacting Sanis Health Inc.at:
1-866-236-4076
or quality@sanis.com
Sanis Health Inc.
1 President’s Choice Circle
Brampton, Ontario
L6Y 5S5