Keflex
| Noun | 1. | Keflex - an oral cephalosporin (trade names Keflex and Keflin and Keftab) commonly prescribe for mild to moderately severe infections of the skin or ears or throat or lungs or urinary tract |
Keflex
Keflex
[kef´lex]cephalexin
Pharmacologic class: First-generation cephalosporin
Therapeutic class: Anti-infective
Pregnancy risk category B
Action
Interferes with bacterial cell-wall synthesis, causing cell to rupture and die. Active against many gram-positive bacteria; shows limited activity against gram-negative bacteria.
Availability
Capsules: 250 mg, 500 mg, 750 mg
Oral suspension: 125 mg/5 ml, 250 mg/5 ml
Tablets: 250 mg, 500 mg
Indications and dosages
➣ Respiratory tract infections caused by streptococci; skin and skin-structure infections caused by methicillin-sensitive staphylococci and streptococci; bone infections caused by methicillin-sensitive staphylococci or Proteus mirabilis; genitourinary infections caused by Escherichia coli, P. mirabilis, and Klebsiella species; Haemophilus influenzae, methicillin-sensitive staphylococcal, streptococcal, and Moraxella catarrhalis infections
Adults: 1 to 4 g P.O. daily in divided doses (usually 250 mg P.O. q 6 hours). For uncomplicated cystitis, skin and soft-tissue infections, and streptococcal pharyngitis, 500 mg P.O. q 12 hours.
Children: 25 to 50 mg/kg/day P.O. in divided doses
➣ Otitis media caused by S. pneumoniae
Children: 75 to 100 mg/kg/day P.O. in four divided doses
Dosage adjustment
• Renal impairment
Contraindications
• Hypersensitivity to cephalosporins or penicillin
Precautions
Use cautiously in:
• renal impairment, phenylketonuria
• history of GI disease
• debilitated or emaciated patients
• elderly patients
• pregnant or breastfeeding patients.
Administration
• Give with or without food.
• Refrigerate oral suspension.
Adverse reactions
CNS: fever, headache, lethargy, paresthesia, syncope, seizures
CV: edema, hypotension, vasodilation, palpitations, chest pain
EENT: hearing loss
GI: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, oral candidiasis, pseudomembranous colitis
GU: vaginal candidiasis, nephrotoxicity
Hematologic: lymphocytosis, eosinophilia, bleeding tendency, hemolytic anemia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, agranulocytosis, bone marrow depression
Musculoskeletal: joint pain
Respiratory: dyspnea
Skin: rash, maculopapular and erythematous urticaria
Other: superinfection, chills, pain, allergic reaction, hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylaxis, serum sickness
Interactions
Drug-drug. Aminoglycosides, loop diuretics: increased risk of nephrotoxicity
Chloramphenicol: antagonistic effect
Probenecid: increased cephalexin blood level
Drug-diagnostic tests. Alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase, bilirubin, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, eosinophils, lactate dehydrogenase, lymphocytes: increased values
Coombs' test: false-positive result (especially in neonates whose mothers received drug before delivery)
Granulocytes, neutrophils, white blood cells: decreased counts
Patient monitoring
• Assess for signs and symptoms of serious adverse reactions, including hypersensitivity, severe diarrhea, and bleeding.
• During long-term therapy, monitor CBC and liver and kidney function test results.
Patient teaching
Instruct patient to stop taking drug and contact prescriber immediately if he develops rash or difficulty breathing.
• Tell patient to take drug with full glass of water.
• Advise patient to report severe diarrhea.
• As appropriate, review all other significant and life-threatening adverse reactions and interactions, especially those related to the drugs and tests mentioned above.
Keflex
(kĕf′lĕks′)Keflex
A brand name for CEPHALEXIN (cefalexin).Keflex
- noun
Synonyms for Keflex
noun an oral cephalosporin (trade names Keflex and Keflin and Keftab) commonly prescribe for mild to moderately severe infections of the skin or ears or throat or lungs or urinary tract
Synonyms
- cephalexin
- Keflin
- Keftab
Related Words
- cephalosporin
- Mefoxin
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- brand name
- marque
- trade name
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