DESCRIPTION
id: 979b336c-3327-4831-988c-7ecec7b10824
displayName: DESCRIPTION SECTION
FDA Article Code: 34089-3
Cephalexin, USP is a semisynthetic cephalosporin antibiotic intended for oral administration. It is 7- (D-α-Amino-α-phenylacetamido)-3-methyl-3-cephem-4-carboxylic acid monohydrate. Cephalexin has the molecular formula C16H17N3O4S • H2O and the molecular weight is 365.41.
Cephalexin has the following structural formula:
INDICATIONS AND USAGE
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displayName: INDICATIONS & USAGE SECTION
FDA Article Code: 34067-9
Cephalexin is indicated for the treatment of the following infections when caused by susceptible strains of the designated microorganisms:
Respiratory tract infections caused by S. pneumoniae and S. pyogenes. (Penicillin is the usual drug of choice in the treatment and prevention of streptococcal infections, including the prophylaxis of rheumatic fever. Cephalexin is generally effective in the eradication of streptococci from the nasopharynx; however, substantial data establishing the efficacy of cephalexin in the subsequent prevention of rheumatic fever are not available at present.)
Otitis media due to S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae, staphylococci, streptococci, and M. catarrhalis.
Skin and skin structure infections caused by staphylococci and/or streptococci.
Bone infections caused by staphylococci and/or P. mirabilis.
Genitourinary tract infections, including acute prostatitis, caused by E. coli, P. mirabilis, and K. pneumoniae.
Note – Culture and susceptibility tests should be initiated prior to and during therapy. Renal function studies should be performed when indicated.
To reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria and maintain the effectiveness of cephalexin for oral suspension and other antibacterial drugs, cephalexin for oral suspension should be used only to treat or prevent infections that are proven or strongly suspected to be caused by susceptible bacteria. When culture and susceptibility information are available, they should be considered in selecting or modifying antibacterial therapy. In the absence of such data, local epidemiology and susceptibility patterns may contribute to the empiric selection of therapy.
CONTRAINDICATIONS
id: 369f933a-e1ab-4c72-acb9-fba8126d51df
displayName: CONTRAINDICATIONS SECTION
FDA Article Code: 34070-3
Cephalexin is contraindicated in patients with known allergy to the cephalosporin group of antibiotics.
WARNINGS
id: 19d8d742-70bc-40f1-b2c7-7c2490c7f884
displayName: WARNINGS SECTION
FDA Article Code: 34071-1
BEFORE CEPHALEXIN THERAPY IS INSTITUTED, CAREFUL INQUIRY SHOULD BE MADE CONCERNING PREVIOUS HYPERSENSITIVITY REACTIONS TO CEPHALOSPORINS AND PENICILLIN. CEPHALOSPORIN C DERIVATIVES SHOULD BE GIVEN CAUTIOUSLY TO PENICILLIN-SENSITIVE PATIENTS.
SERIOUS ACUTE HYPERSENSITIVITY REACTIONS MAY REQUIRE EPINEPHRINE AND OTHER EMERGENCY MEASURES.
There is some clinical and laboratory evidence of partial cross-allergenicity of the penicillins and the cephalosporins. Patients have been reported to have had severe reactions (including anaphylaxis) to both drugs.
Any patient who has demonstrated some form of allergy, particularly to drugs, should receive antibiotics cautiously. No exception should be made with regard to cephalexin.
Pseudomembranous colitis has been reported with nearly all antibacterial agents, including cephalexin, and may range from mild to life threatening. Therefore, it is important to consider this diagnosis in patients with diarrhea subsequent to the administration of antibacterial agents. Treatment with antibacterial agents alters the normal flora of the colon and may permit overgrowth of clostridia. Studies indicate that a toxin produced by Clostridium difficile is one primary cause of antibiotic-associated colitis.
After the diagnosis of pseudomembranous colitis has been established, appropriate therapeutic measures should be initiated. Mild cases of pseudomembranous colitis usually respond to drug discontinuation alone. In moderate to severe cases, consideration should be given to management with fluids and electrolytes, protein supplementation, and treatment with an antibacterial drug clinically effective against Clostridium difficile colitis.
Usage in Pregnancy – Safety of this product for use during pregnancy has not been established.
OVERDOSAGE
id: 4e413774-b85f-4774-9aef-064539a85428
displayName: OVERDOSAGE SECTION
FDA Article Code: 34088-5
Signs and Symptoms – Symptoms of oral overdose may include nausea, vomiting, epigastric distress, diarrhea, and hematuria. If other symptoms are present, it is probably secondary to an underlying disease state, an allergic reaction, or toxicity due to ingestion of a second medication.
Treatment – To obtain up-to-date information about the treatment of overdose, a good resource is your certified Regional Poison Control Center. Telephone numbers of certified poison control centers are listed in the Physicians’ Desk Reference (PDR). In managing overdosage, consider the possibility of multiple drug overdoses, interaction among drugs, and unusual drug kinetics in your patient. Unless 5 to 10 times the normal dose of cephalexin has been ingested, gastrointestinal decontamination should not be necessary.
Protect the patient’s airway and support ventilation and perfusion. Meticulously monitor and maintain, within acceptable limits, the patient’s vital signs, blood gases, serum electrolytes, etc. Absorption of drugs from the gastrointestinal tract may be decreased by giving activated charcoal, which, in many cases, is more effective than emesis or lavage; consider charcoal instead of or in addition to gastric emptying. Repeated doses of charcoal over time may hasten elimination of some drugs that have been absorbed. Safeguard the patient’s airway when employing gastric emptying or charcoal.
Forced diuresis, peritoneal dialysis, hemodialysis, or charcoal hemoperfusion have not been established as beneficial for an overdose of cephalexin; however, it would be extremely unlikely that one of these procedures would be indicated.
The oral median lethal dose of cephalexin in rats is >5,000 mg/kg.
DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION
id: 49508ee6-7018-4660-b46c-f3883c9a611e
displayName: DOSAGE & ADMINISTRATION SECTION
FDA Article Code: 34068-7
Cephalexin is administered orally.
HOW SUPPLIED
id: 084828eb-337b-42f5-b47f-fc0594f101f8
displayName: HOW SUPPLIED SECTION
FDA Article Code: 34069-5
Cephalexin for Oral Suspension, USP, is available in:
The 125 mg per 5 mL oral suspension* is available as follows:
100-mL Bottles NDC 68180-123-01
200-mL Bottles NDC 68180-123-02
The 250 mg per 5 mL oral suspension* is available as follows:
100-mL Bottles NDC 68180-124-01
200-mL Bottles NDC 68180-124-02
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* After mixing, store in a refrigerator. May be kept for 14 days without significant loss of potency.
Shake well before using. Keep tightly closed.
Prior to mixing, store at 20° to 25°C (68° to 77°F) [See USP Controlled Room Temperature].
REFERENCES
id: f727dc5f-ba11-4fd6-9a38-5fd56c775e4c
displayName: REFERENCES SECTION
FDA Article Code: 34093-5
- National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards: Performance standards for antimicrobial disk susceptibility tests-5th ed. Approved Standard NCCLS Document M2-A5, Vol. 13, No. 24, NCCLS, Villanova, PA, 1993.
- National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards: Methods for dilution antimicrobial susceptibility tests for bacteria that grow aerobically-3rd ed. Approved Standard NCCLS Document M7-A3, Vol. 13, No. 25, NCCLS, Villanova, PA, 1993.
PACKAGE LABEL.PRINCIPAL DISPLAY PANEL
id: 576a64ed-7cd8-4364-9630-f4c836d99e1b
displayName: PACKAGE LABEL.PRINCIPAL DISPLAY PANEL
FDA Article Code: 51945-4
CEPHALEXIN FOR ORAL SUSPENSION USP
Rx Only
250 mg/5 mL
NDC 68180-124-01
100 mL Bottles
