Therapeutic Category: Antibacterial Class: Cephalosporin – 1st Generation

Generic Name: Cefalexin

Brand Name, Dosage Format and Strength: Cefalin 250 mg & 500 mg Capsule,
100 mg/mL Powder for Suspension (Oral Drops),
125 mg/5 mL
250 mg/5 mL Powder for Suspension Indication(s): Treatment of infections of the respiratory
tract including otitis media, genitourinary tract, skin and skin structure, and bone due to
susceptible organisms. Dosage and Administration: Usual Adult Dose: Orally, 250 to 500 mg
every 6 hours depending on the type and severity of infection. Or, as prescribed by a physician.
Larger doses (up to 4 g daily) may be needed for more severe infections or those caused by less
susceptible organisms. If daily doses of cefalexin greater than 4 g are required, parenteral
cephalosporins, in appropriate doses, should be considered.

Usual Pediatric Dose: Orally, 25 to 50 mg/kg body weight/day in four divided doses. For severe
infections and otitis media, the dose may be increased to 50 to 100 mg/kg body weight/day in
four divided doses.
Cefalexin Dose every 6 hours
Age 100
Group 125 mg/5 250 mg/5
mg/mL
mL Susp mL Susp
Drops
Birth – 3
0.5 mL - -
months
4–6 0.75 – 1
- -
months mL
7 – 12
1 mL - -
months
1-2 5 mL (1 62.5 mL
-
years tsp) (1/2 tsp)
5 – 10 2.5 - 5
3–6
- mL(1 – 2 mL(1/2 – 1
years
tsps) tsp)
10 – 15
7 - 12 5 - 10 mL
- mL(2 – 3
years (1 – 2 tsps)
tsps)
Or, as prescribed by a physician.

Contraindications: Known allergy to the cephalosporins Warnings/Precautions: • Before

cefalexin therapy is instituted, careful inquiry should be made concerning previous
hypersensitivity reactions to cephalosporins and penicillins.
• Serious and occasionally fatal hypersensitivity (anaphylactoid) reactions have been reported in
patients.
• Prolonged use may give rise to pseudomembranous colitis due to overgrowth of Clostridium
difficile.
• Prescribe broad-spectrum antibiotics with caution in individuals with a history of
gastrointestinal disease, particularly colitis.
• Administer cefalexin with caution in the presence of markedly impaired renal function. Under
such conditions, careful clinical observation and laboratory studies should be made because safe
dosage may be lower than that usually recommended.
• A false-positive Coombs’ test has been reported during treatment with other cephalosporin
antibiotics. Drug Interactions: No potentially hazardous interactions have been reported.
However, it may share the interaction potential of other cephalosporins as with the following:

• Alcohol
• Probenecid
• Nephrotoxic Drugs
• Other Anti-infective Agents: Chloramphenicol

Pregnancy Category: 3