This leaflet answers some common questions about KEFLEX. It does not contain all the available information. It does not take the place of talking with your doctor or pharmacist.
All medicines have risks and benefits.
Your doctor has weighed the risks of you taking KEFLEX against the benefits they expect it will have for you.
You may need to read it again.
What KEFLEX is used for
The name of your medicine is KEFLEX. It contains the active ingredient cephalexin monohydrate.
KEFLEX is used to treat infections in different parts of the body caused by bacteria. KEFLEX can be used to treat infections of the:
respiratory tract (throat, tonsils, chest and lungs)
nose (sinusitis)
ears (otitis media)
skin and soft tissue
kidneys and bladder (genitourinary tract)
KEFLEX belongs to a group of medicines called cephalosporins. These antibiotics work by killing the bacteria that are causing your infection.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions about why this medicine has been prescribed for you. Your doctor may have prescribed it for another reason.
This medicine is available only with a doctor`s prescription.
Before taking KEFLEX
When you must not take it
Do not take KEFLEX if you have an allergy to:
any medicine containing cephalexin monohydrate
other cephalosporins
any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet (see `Product Description`)
Do not take this medicine if you have had a serious allergic reaction to penicillin.
Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty breathing; swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body; rash, itching or hives on the skin.
Do not take this medicine after the expiry date printed on the pack or if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.
If it has expired or is damaged, return it to your pharmacist for disposal.
Do not take KEFLEX suspension if it has been in your refrigerator for longer than two weeks.
If you are not sure whether you should start taking this medicine, talk to your doctor.
Before you start to take it
Tell your doctor if you have allergies to any other medicines, foods, preservatives or dyes.
Tell your doctor if you have or have had any of the following medical conditions:
liver disease
kidney disease
bowel disease
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant or are breast-feeding.
Your doctor can discuss with you the risks and benefits involved.
If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell them before you start taking KEFLEX.
Taking other Medicines
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you get without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines and KEFLEX may interfere with each other e.g.
probenecid, a medicine commonly used to treat gout
metformin, a medicine used in the treatment of diabetes
How to take KEFLEX
Carefully follow all directions given to you by your doctor or pharmacist.
They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.
If you do not understand the instructions on the carton/bottle, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.
How much to take
Your doctor will tell you how much and how often you should take KEFLEX. This will depend on the type of infection. The dose varies from patient to patient.
Adults:
The usual adult dose is 250 mg every 6 hours.
Children:
Your child`s doctor will tell you how much KEFLEX your child should take. This will depend on your child`s age, weight and the type of infection.
How to take it
Capsules:
Swallow the capsules whole with a full glass of water.
Suspensions:
Shake the bottle well and accurately measure the dose with a medicine measure.
Shaking the bottle and using a medicine measure will make sure that you get the correct dose. You can buy a medicine measure from your pharmacist.
When to take it
It does not matter if you take this medicine before or after food.
How long do I take it
Continue taking your medicine until you finish the blister pack or bottle or for as long as your doctor tells you.
Keep taking KEFLEX for the full time of treatment, even if you begin to feel better after a few days.
If you do not complete the full course prescribed by your doctor, your infection may not clear completely or your symptoms may return.
If you forget to take it
If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next dose when you are meant to.
Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember, and then go back to taking your medicine as you would normally.
Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose that you missed.
If you are not sure what to do, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
If you have trouble remembering to take your medicine, ask your pharmacist for some hints.
If you take too much (overdose)
Immediately telephone your doctor or Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26) for advice, or go to Accident and Emergency at the nearest hospital, if you think you or anyone else may have taken too much KEFLEX.
Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. You may need urgent medical attention.
Symptoms of an overdose may include feeling sick in the stomach, diarrhoea, convulsions or hallucinations.
While you are taking KEFLEX
Things you must do
If you are about to be started on any new medicine, remind your doctor and pharmacist that you are taking KEFLEX.
Tell any other doctors, dentists and pharmacists who treat you that you are taking this medicine.
If you become pregnant while taking this medicine, tell your doctor.
If you are about to have any blood tests, tell your doctor that you are taking KEFLEX.
It may interfere with the results of some tests.
If you have to test your urine for sugar while you are taking KEFLEX, make sure that your doctor knows about the type of test you use.
KEFLEX may affect the results of some of these tests.
Keep all of your doctor`s appointments so that your progress can be checked.
Your doctor may do some tests from time to time to make sure the medicine is working and to prevent unwanted side effects.
Things you must not do
Do not take KEFLEX to treat any other complaints unless your doctor tells you to.
Do not give your medicine to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you.
Do not stop taking your medicine or lower the dosage without checking with your doctor.
If you stop taking it, your condition may worsen.
Things to be careful of
Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how KEFLEX affects you.
This medicine may cause dizziness or drowsiness in some people. If you have any of these symptoms, do not drive, operate machinery or do anything else that could be dangerous.
Children should be careful when riding bicycles or climbing trees.
Side effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking KEFLEX.
This medicine helps most people with infection but in a few people it may have unwanted side effects. These are likely to vary from patient to patient.
All medicines have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical attention if you get some of the side effects.
Do not be alarmed by the following lists of side effects. You may not experience any of them.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice any of the following and they worry you:
sore or white mouth or tongue (oral thrush)
sore and itchy vagina and/or discharge (another form of thrush)
diarrhoea
nausea
vomiting
dizziness
unusual tiredness/weakness
abdominal pain
headache
The above list includes the more common side effects of your medicine.
Tell your doctor as soon as possible if you notice any of the following:
severe body rash
swelling of face, lips, mouth, tongue or throat which may cause difficulty in swallowing or breathing
fever
swelling of the joints
yellowing of the skin or eyes
joint pain
confusion and hallucinations
bleeding or bruising more easily than normal
The above list includes serious side effects which may require medical attention.
If any of the following happen, tell your doctor immediately or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital:
severe stomach cramps or pain
severe, watery or bloody diarrhoea
fever, in combination with one of the above
You may have a serious condition affecting your bowel. Therefore, you may require urgent medical attention. Do not take any diarrhoea medicine without first checking with your doctor.
If the following happens, tell your doctor immediately or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital:
sudden signs of allergy such as rash, itching or hives on the skin with swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body, shortness of breath, wheezing or trouble breathing
The above is a very serious side effect. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything that is making you feel unwell.
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some people. Some of these side effects can only be found when your doctor does tests from time to time to check your progress.
After taking KEFLEX
Storage
Keep your capsules in the blister pack until it is time to take them.
If you take your capsules out of the blister pack, they may not keep as well.
Keep your capsules in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 30 degrees C.
Keep the suspension in your refrigerator between 2 degrees C and 8 degrees C. Do not freeze.
Do not store KEFLEX or any other medicine in the bathroom or near a sink. Do not leave it on a window sill or in the car.
Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.
Keep your medicine where children cannot reach it.
A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.
Disposal
If your doctor tells you to stop taking this medicine or the expiry date has passed, ask your pharmacist what to do with any medicine that is left over.
Product Description
What it looks like
KEFLEX 250 mg capsules are green and white, imprinted with "GP1"and are available in packs of 20.
KEFLEX 500 mg capsules are dark green and light green, imprinted with "GP2" and are available in packs of 20.
KEFLEX 125 mg/5 mL suspension (after reconstitution) is a red liquid.
KEFLEX 250 mg/5 mL suspension (after reconstitution) is a red liquid.
Ingredients
KEFLEX capsules contain 250 mg and 500 mg of cephalexin monohydrate as the active ingredient.
They also contain:
cellulose - microcystalline
carmellose sodium
dimethicone 350
magnesium stearate
The capsule shell contains gelatin, Patent Blue V, quinoline yellow (104), and titanium dioxide (171).
KEFLEX capsules do not contain lactose, sucrose, gluten, tartrazine or any other azo dyes.
KEFLEX suspensions contain 125mg and 250mg of cephalexin monohydrate as the active ingredient.
They also contain:
sodium lauryl sulphate
methylcellulose 15
dimethicone 350
xanthan gum
pregelatinised starch (maize)
the colouring agent Allura Red AC CI16035
sucrose
imitation Guarana Flavour 1.880TP
KEFLEX suspensions do not contain lactose, gluten, tartrazine or any other azo dyes.
Supplier
KEFLEX is supplied by:
Aspen Pharmacare Australia Pty Limited
34-36 Chandos St
St Leonards NSW 2065
The Australian Registration Numbers
for KEFLEX products are:
250 mg capsule: AUST R 73522
500 mg capsule: AUST R 73523
125 mg/5 mL suspension:
AUST R 92970
250 mg/5 mL suspension:
AUST R 92971
This leaflet was revised in
July 2004.
