Cefalexin for bacterial infections

Name of medicine

Cefalexin (kef-a-LEX-in)

Brand names: Ceporex, Keflex

Why is it important for my child to take Cefalexin?

It is important that your child takes this medicine in the way that your doctor has told you to so that it kills the harmful bacteria and gets rid of the infection.

What is Cefalexin available as?

• Tablets: 250 mg, 500 mg
• Capsules: 250 mg, 500 mg
• Liquid medicine (suspension): 125 mg, 250 mg or 500 mg in 5mL

When should I give Cefalexin

Cefalexin is usually given three times a day. However, your doctor may have told you to give it twice or four times a day, which is based on your child’s age and severity of the infection.

• Twice a day: this should be once in the morning and once in the evening. Ideally, these times are 10–12 hours apart, for example between 7am and 8am, and between 7pm and 8pm.
• Three times each day: this should be once in the morning, once in the early afternoon and once in the evening. Ideally, these times are at least 6 hours apart, for example 8am, 2pm and 8pm.
• Four times each day: this should be once in the morning, at around midday, once in the early afternoon and once in the evening. Ideally, these times are about 4 hours apart, for example 8am, midday, 4pm and 8pm.

Give the medicine at about the same times each day so that this becomes part of your child’s daily routine, which will help you to remember.

How much should I give?

Your doctor will work out the amount of Cefalexin (the dose) that is right for your child. The dose will be shown on the medicine label.

How should I give Cefalexin?

Tablets

• Tablets should be swallowed with a glass of water, squash or juice. Your child should not chew the tablet.

Capsules

• Capsules should be swallowed with a glass of water, squash or juice. Your child should not chew the capsule.

• Shake the medicine well.
• Measure out the right amount using an oral syringe or a medicine spoon. You can get these from your pharmacist. Do not use a kitchen teaspoon as it will not give the right amount.

Liquid medicine

• Shake the medicine well.
• Measure out the right amount using an oral syringe or a medicine spoon. You can get these from your pharmacist. Do not use a kitchen teaspoon as it will not give the right amount.

When should the medicine start working?

Your child should start to get better after taking the medicine for 2-3 days. It is important that they take the whole course of the medicine that has been prescribed. Do not stop early.

If your child has a fever (temperature above 38°C) that does not get better, or they become more unwell, contact your doctor.

What if my child is sick (vomits)?

• If your child is sick less than 30 minutes after having a dose of Cefalexin, give them the same dose again.
• If your child is sick more than 30 minutes after having a dose of Cefalexin, do not give them another dose. Wait until the next normal dose.

If your child is sick again, seek advice from your family doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or hospital. They will decide what to do based on your child’s condition and the specific medicine involved.

What if I forget to give it?

If you remember up to 2 hours after you should have given a dose, give the missed dose. If you remember after this time, do not give the missed dose. Wait until the next normal dose. Try to make sure that there is about 4 hours between doses.

What if I give too much?

You are unlikely to cause harm if you give an extra dose of Cefalexin by mistake. If you are concerned that you may have given too much, contact your doctor or local NHS services (details at end of leaflet). Have the medicine or packaging with you if you telephone for advice.

Are there any possible side effects?

We use medicines to make our children better, but sometimes they have other effects that we don’t want (side effects).

Side effects you must do something about

Other side-effects you need to know about

• Some children get diarrhoea, stomach pains and may feel sick or be sick (vomit) when they first start taking Cefalexin. See the information on antibiotics below for advice on what to do.

• Contact your doctor if your child has diarrhoea that goes on for more than 4 days or if it is severe and watery, or contains blood.

• You may see white patches inside your child’s mouth and throat, and girls may get itching or soreness around the vagina. This is caused by a fungal infection called thrush. Contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

There may sometimes be other side effects that are not listed above. If you notice anything unusual and are concerned, contact your doctor. You can report any suspected side effects to a UK safety scheme at mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard

Can other medicines be given at the same time as Cefalexin?

• You can give your child medicines that contain paracetamol or ibuprofen, unless your doctor has told you not to.

Check with your doctor or pharmacist before giving any other medicines to your child. This includes herbal and complementary medicines.

Is there anything else I need to know about this medicine?

General advice about antibiotics

• It is vital that your child completes the course of antibiotic. This means that they must take the medicine for the number of days that the doctor has told you, or until all the tablets or capsules have been taken.
• Your child will probably start to feel better soon after starting to take the antibiotic. However, it takes a few days for the antibiotic to kill all the bacteria.
• If you stop giving the antibiotic too soon, the bacteria that are left will start to multiply again, and may cause another infection.
• There is also a risk that these bacteria will be ‘resistant’ to the first antibiotic. This means that it might not work next time, and your child might need a different antibiotic, which might not work as well or cause more side effects.
• Children are sometimes sick (vomit) or get diarrhoea when taking antibiotics. Encourage them to drink water to replace the fluid they have lost. You can also buy oral rehydration fluid from your pharmacist.
• Do not give your child any medicine to stop the diarrhoea unless your doctor has told you to.
• Try to give the antibiotic at about the same time(s) each day, to help you remember, and to make sure that there is the right amount of medicine in your child’s body to kill the bacteria.
• Only give this medicine to your child for their current infection.
• Never save medicine for future illnesses. Give old or unused antibiotics to your pharmacist to dispose of.
• Only give the antibiotic to the child it was prescribed for. Never give it to anyone else, even if their condition appears to be the same, as it could do harm.
• Antibiotics only kill bacteria; they do not kill viruses. This means that they do not work against colds, sore throats, flu or other infections that are caused by viruses. Your doctor will not prescribe antibiotics for these illnesses.

Where should I keep this medicine?

• Keep the medicine in a cupboard, away from heat and direct sunlight.

• You may need to keep liquid medicine in the fridge – check the instructions on the bottle. Make sure the medicine does not freeze.

• Make sure that children cannot see or reach the medicine.

• Keep the medicine in the container it came in.

Who to contact for more information?

Your child’s doctor, pharmacist or nurse will be able to give you more information about Cefalexin and about other medicines used to treat infections.

Copyright disclaimer

Version [2]. © NPPG, RCPCH and WellChild, all rights reserved. Review by April 2018.

The primary source for the information in this leaflet is the British National Formulary for Children. For details on any other sources used for this leaflet, please contact us through our website, www.medicinesforchildren.org.uk.

We take great care to make sure that the information in this leaflet is correct and up-to-date. However, medicines can be used in different ways for different patients. It is important that you ask the advice of your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure about something. This leaflet is about the use of these medicines in the UK, and may not apply to other countries. The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), the Neonatal and Paediatric Pharmacists Group (NPPG), WellChild and the contributors and editors cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of information, omissions of information, or any actions that may be taken as a consequence of reading this leaflet.