Drug-labels.com

Cephalexin (Sivem Pharmaceuticals): Uses, Side Effects and Dosage

Updated:
Facts
Status:
Prescription (Rx)
Strength:
500 mg
Active ingredient:
ATC code:
Similar drugs:

Source: Health Canada – Drug Product Database (DPD) and product monographs · About this document

Patient Medication Information: uses, side effects, how to take - Cephalexin (Sivem Pharmaceuticals)

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: Cefalexin Monohydrate

Non-medicinal ingredients:

Sodium Starch Glycolate, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Magnesium Stearate, hypromellose, titanium dioxide, macrogol and FD&C Yellow #6 Sunset yellow FCF Aluminium Lake.

CEPHALEXIN comes in the following dosage forms:

Cefalexin Tablets, BP 500 mg

Do not use CEPHALEXIN if:

  • you are allergic to cefalexin, 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 bowl 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 have taken too much CEPHALEXIN, contact your 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 / effectTalk to your healthcare professionalStop taking drug and get immediate medical help
Only if severeIn all cases
RARE

Symptoms of a severe bowel condition (Clostridium difficile colitis):

  • persistent diarrhea
  • bloody or watery diarrhea
  • abdominal or stomach pain/cramping
  • blood/mucus in stool
√

Severe skin reactions:

  • skin rash, which may blister, and looks like small targets (central dark spots surrounded by a paler area, with a dark ring around the edge)
  • widespread rash with blisters and skin peeling on much of the body surface particularly around the mouth, nose, eyes and genitals.
√

Severe Cutaneous Adverse Reactions (SCAR) (severe skin reactions that may also affect other organs):

  • Skin peeling, scaling, or blistering (with or without pus) which may also affect your eyes, mouth, nose or genitals, itching, severe rash, bumps under the skin, skin pain, skin color changes (redness, yellowing, purplish)
  • Swelling and redness of eyes or face
  • Flu-like feeling, fever, chills, body aches, swollen glands, cough
  • Shortness of breath, chest pain or discomfort
√

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:

  • Visiting the Web page on Adverse Reaction Reporting (https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/medeffect-canada/adverse-reaction-reporting.html) for information on how to report online, by mail or by fax; or
  • Calling toll-free at 1-866-234-2345.

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 at room temperature (15°C to 30°C).

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) or by calling 1-855-788-3153
  • Or at www.sivem.ca

Sivem Pharmaceuticals ULC

4705 Dobrin Street

Saint-Laurent, Quebec, Canada

H4R 2P7

Date of Revision: January 28, 2022

About this document

Source: Health Canada – Drug Product Database (DPD) and product monographs · DIN (Drug Identification Number): 02495651

Revision date stated in the text: January 28, 2022

Found a mistake? Write to us via the contact page.

The information on this site does not replace the advice of a doctor or pharmacist.

Drug information for Cephalexin (Sivem Pharmaceuticals)

Rx or OTC
Prescription (Rx)?
DIN 02495651
Schedule(s) PRESCRIPTION
Active ingredient(s) Cephalexin (cephalexin monohydrate) 500 MG
Dosage form(s) Tablet
Route(s) of administration Oral
Drug class (WHO ATC)
  1. J Antiinfectives for systemic use
    1. J01 Antibacterials for systemic use
      1. J01D Other beta-lactam antibacterials
        1. J01DB First-generation cephalosporins
          1. J01DB01 Cefalexin
Company SIVEM PHARMACEUTICALS ULC
Current status Marketed
Current status date October 22, 2020

Source: Health Canada – Drug Product Database (DPD) and product monographs, data as of November 1, 2026. Data from the Health Canada Drug Product Database, as published there. Not a substitute for the advice of a doctor or pharmacist.