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Danielle Cattani
CP Biology
Period 2
Cephalexin
Cephalexin, commonly known as Keflex or Cephalexin Oral, is an
antibiotic in the Cephalosporin class. Your doctor can only prescribe this
antibiotic and it comes in two different pills, a 250 MG and a 500 MG.
Take the pills every 6-12 or as often as your doctor directed you to. The
doses for adults are based on the medical condition and response to the
medicine. For children, the doses are based on weight. An important
thing you need to keep in mind while taking Cephalexin is the amount of
the medicine that is in your body needs to stay at a consistent level
throughout the day. In order to do this, take the medication in equal
intervals throughout the day. When all you’re symptoms have gone away
and you feel better, continue to take the rest of the medication that was
proscribed. If you do not take all the antibiotics the infection can come
back or start a new infection. Cephalexin works by stopping the growth
of bacteria and it breaks down and weakens the cell walls of the bacteria
in your body until the cell ruptures and dies.
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http://www.drugbank.ca/drugs/DB00567
Cephalexin treats common infections such as strep throat and
tonsillitis. This antibiotic can also treat other infections such as in the
Middle Ear. Occasionally, it can be used before dental procedures for
patients with certain heart conditions such as artificial heart valves. Using
Cephalexin before some procedures will help prevent serious bacterial
infections in the heart.
Diarrhea, dizziness, headaches and upset stomach are a few of the
side effects of using Cephalexin. Serious side effects are very rare but can
be fatal. Some of the serious side effects to look for while using
Cephalexin are constant nausea and vomiting, yellowish eyes and skin,
bruise and bleed more easily, mood changes, and severe stomach pains.
If you use this medication for too long, the effects could be oral thrush or
vaginal yeast infections. Contact your doctor immediately if you have
any of these symptoms. Do not use any other medications to aid the side
effects unless your doctor instructs you to.
When proscribed this medicine, make sure you give a full and
thorough medical history to you’re doctor. Include all allergies especially
if one of them is penicillin. Taking Cephalexin can make you dizzy so be
careful when using machinery and limit how much alcohol you consume
while on the medication.
Works Cited
First Databank. “Cephalexin Oral.” WebMD. N.p., Nov. 2009. Web. 12 Apr.
2010. <http://www.webmd.com/drugs/drug-11757Cephalexin+Oral.aspx?drugid=11757&drugname=Cephalexin+Oral
&source=1>.
“Showing drug card for Cephalexin (DB00567).” DrugBank. Genome
Alberta & Genome Canada, n.d. Web. 12 Apr. 2010.
<http://www.drugbank.ca/drugs/DB00567>.