Generic Keflex
Cephalexin 250/500/750mg

How Safe is Keflex?

Keflex is the name brand for the active ingredient cephalixin. It has been gaining in popularity over the years because it is so effective at treating a variety of bacterial infections. Keflex is a strong antibiotic; an entire round of it needs to be taken in order for the antibiotic to fully kill any dangerous bacteria. Usually, it does the job well, but the fact that it is so strong leaves many people wondering if the side effects of the drug are dangerous or mostly mild. After all, if the side effects are minor, then Keflex truly is a huge advancement in medical care – all of the treatment and none of the bad ramifications. The truth is, ultimately and perhaps unfortunately, somewhere in the middle.

If you get an ear infection or catch pneumonia just like your mother said you would if you went out in that outfit, your doctor might prescribe you Keflex in either tablet, pill or syrup form. The antibiotic starts working almost immediately and that’s when you should start looking out for potential side effects.

One common side effect is dizziness. This doesn’t bother many people (who are usually so sick they just want to sleep, anyway) but it does mean that you shouldn’t try to drive. Another side effect is a skin rash. Usually it is minor, but you should let your doctor know about it anyway, in case it becomes more severe as the treatment course continues; your doctor may need to switch you to something else if your skin starts to crack and bleed. Those on Keflex also complain about diarrhea, which can be both inconvenient and painful, especially if you still have to work – but, it is usually manageable. If it gets out of hand, again, your doctor could prescribe something else.

More serious risks exist, of course. A small minority of people have suffered seizures while on the antibiotic, have hallucinations, experience mental confusion or develop an infection in their intestines and require hospitalization. But enough studies have been conducted to determine that they are the exception, not the rule.

Many studies have been done to monitor and detail the potential side effects. Most of the time, trials demonstrate that any side effects are minor inconveniences more so that debilitating problems. Still, every person reacts different. The good thing about antibiotics is that there are many of them. Keflex, or cephalixin, may be popular and generally effective but it is far from being the only antibiotic available. There are enough alternatives that if you should find yourself being the exception and genuinely unwell while on the drug, your doctor is able to simply turn to something else.