Is Cephalexin Good For Sinus Infection
The higher efficiency of Cephalexin against bacteria causing sinus infection puts its credibility out of the question. However, it has to be made sure that Cephalexin does not cause significant adverse effects. Following are the side effects generally seen in frequent use of penicillins and cephalosporins:
- GIT issues such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
- Dizziness
- Vaginal itching or discharge
- Rash
Cephalexin has been chosen as the prescription drug for treating the sinus infections because none or rare of these side-effects is seen on the use of the drug.
An investigation was directed to assess the efficacy of cephalexin treatment in 104 patients with infectious sinusitis . Sixty-nine patients met all criteria for assessment. The greater part of patients got cephalexin, 1 gm/day in four isolated dosages for ten days, including the 48-hour period after the patient had ended up asymptomatic.
Patients returned for observation about one week and two weeks subsequent to starting treatment. The results showed that 57 of them, making up about 83% were found to be satisfactory. Results demonstrated that cephalexin was powerful in treating sinusitis and that negative reactions were uncommon.
Bacteriology results demonstrated that huge numbers of the pathogens generally responsible for infectious sinusitis were resistant to most antibiotics prescribed. These same pathogens, in any case, were submissive to cephalexin.
How To Use Keflex:
What If I Forget To Take It
If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember, unless it’s nearly time for your next dose. In this case, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the usual time. Try to leave a gap of at least 4 hours between doses.
Never take 2 doses at the same time. Never take an extra dose to make up for a forgotten one.
If you forget doses often, it may help to set an alarm to remind you. You could also ask a pharmacist for advice on other ways to remember your medicines.
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Side Effects Of Cephalexin
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According to Black, the antibiotic is usually well-tolerated, but it should be avoided in patients with allergies to cephalosporins. Baxt adds that there can be cross-reactivity to cephalosporins and sometimes penicillin, so anyone who is allergic to those should reconsider using cephalexin as a treatment.
Adds Ali, the risks or side effects of using an antibiotic, such as cephalexin, include allergic reactions, rash, nausea, and diarrhea. But perhaps the most concerning side effect of using an antibiotic to treat acne is antibiotic resistance and therefore definitely a reason to approach with some caution. “Propionobacterium acnes, the bacterium responsible for acne flares, has exhibited a large rise in antibiotic resistance over the past few decades with use of antibiotics, in general,” Dhingra explains. The other concern is that prolonged cephalexin courses can introduce the risk of resistance for other bugs like Staph bacteria, making treatment of other conditions with cephalexin more difficult, he notes.
To sum it up: before taking cephalexin, make sure you are not allergic to it, be aware of the potential side effects, and notify your doctor of any unusual reactions.
What Causes A Sinus Infection
In most cases, acute sinusitis is caused by a bacterial or viral infection, which means it usually develops after youve had a cold or the flu. Its possible for an acute sinus infection to develop into a chronic infection over time. However, most chronic sinus infections are caused by:
- Problems with the physical structure of your sinuses such as nasal polyps, narrow sinuses, or a deviated septum
- Allergies such as hay fever that cause inflammation
Certain health conditions are also known to accompany chronic sinusitis. These include:
- Asthma
- Primary immune deficiency disesase
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Who Can And Cannot Take Cefalexin
Cefalexin can be taken by most adults and children.
Cefalexin is not suitable for some people. To make sure cefalexin is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:
- had an allergic reaction to cefalexin or any other medicine in the past
- kidney problems
- ever had a severe skin rash or skin peeling, blistering and/or mouth sores after taking antibiotics
- had severe or bloody diarrhoea when you’ve taken antibiotics before
Warnings For Certain Groups
For people with kidney problems: If you have kidney problems or a history of kidney disease, you may not be able to clear this drug from your body. This may increase the levels of this drug in your body and cause more side effects. Your doctor may adjust your dose if you have kidney disease. Talk with your doctor about whether this drug is safe for you.
For pregnant women: Cephalexin is a pregnancy category B drug. That means two things:
Tell your doctor if youre pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Cephalexin should be given to a pregnant woman only if clearly needed.
For women who are breastfeeding: Cephalexin passes into breast milk and may cause side effects in a child who is breastfed. Talk with your doctor if you breastfeed your child. You may need to decide whether to stop breastfeeding or stop taking this medication.
For seniors: The kidneys of older adults may not work as well as they used to. This can cause your body to process drugs more slowly. As a result, more of the drug stays in your body for a longer time. This raises your risk of side effects.
For children: This drug hasnt been studied in children younger than 1 year of age with respiratory tract, middle ear, skin and skin structure, bone, and urinary tract infections.
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How To Take It
Cefalexin can be taken with or without food.
Capsules or tablets swallow whole with a drink of water. Do not chew or break them.
Liquid if you or your child are taking cefalexin as a liquid, it will usually be made up for you by a pharmacist. The medicine will come with a plastic syringe or medicine spoon to help you measure the right dose. If you do not have one, ask a pharmacist for one. Do not use a kitchen teaspoon as it will not give the right amount.
Cephalexin Dosage For Sinus Infection
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Basics Of Doxycycline For Sinus Infection
According to a clinical trial published in the National Library of Medicine, doxycycline was far more effective than ampicillin in curing sinusitis in affected patients. 90% of the patients responded to the drug while only 35% responded to ampicillin. It was inferred that this is effective as it fights against the organisms as well as can penetrate the sinuses which act as a reservoir for the infections.
Doxycycline is an antibiotic that cures a wide variety of infections caused by different bacteria. Apart from sinusitis, it can also cure other bacterial infections including urinary tract infections, respiratory infections, eye infections, gonorrhea, syphilis, etc.
In addition to these infections, medicine is very effective in treating skin blemishes or acne. Moreover, it is believed that taking this drug also reduces the risk of malaria.
What Is Keflex And What Is It Used For
Cephalexin belongs to a class of antibiotics called cephalosporins. They are similar to penicillin in action and side effects. They stop or slow the growth of bacterial cells by preventing bacteria from forming the cell wall that surrounds each cell. The cell wall protects bacteria from the external environment and keeps the contents of the cell together, and without a cell wall, bacteria are not able to survive. Bacteria that are susceptible to cephalexin include Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, E. coli and several others. Cephalexin was approved by the FDA in January 1971.
Cephalexin is used to treat infections caused by bacteria that are susceptible to the effects of cephalexin. Common infections that cephalexin is used for include:
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What Exactly Is Cephalexin
Cephalexin, also spelled as cefalexin, is a prescription antibiotic that belongs to a class known as cephalosporins. Its sold on the market under the brand names Keflex and Daxbia as a capsule, tablet, and oral suspension. According to Drugs.com, around 10 percent of people who have penicillin allergy will also have cephalexin allergy.
This antibiotic has a high efficacy rate of 90 percent . One great thing about this drug is that it doesnt rapidly degrade in stomach acid. For this reason, more of the drug is available for absorption to achieve its intended effects.
As an antibiotic, cephalexin is used for treating a wide array of infections that involve the skin, bones, ears, respiratory tract, and genitourinary system . When it comes to skin infections, its mainly effective against gram-positive Staphylococcus and Streptococcus bacteria.
Is Your Sinus Infection Acute Or Chronic
A short-term sinus infection is often referred to as acute sinusitis. Most cases of acute sinusitis last about a week, but this type of short-term sinus infection can last up to four weeks. If you suffer from a sinus infection that lasts longer than 12 weeks despite treatment from your doctor, its considered chronic sinusitis.
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Facts About Cephalexin For Uti & 12 Tips For Treating Uti With Antibiotics
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Written by Anastasia Visotsky, medically reviewed by Dr. Ogunyemi
Personally, I have taken Cephalexin to treat my UTIs twice sat other times I was prescribed Macrobid and Cipro. To be frank, I tolerate antibiotics very well, but this doesnt mean that I like them. Unfortunately, antibiotics are sometimes a necessary evil.
Here are some of my tips for successfully taking antibiotics for your UTI.
First of all, make surethat antibiotics are the right choice for you. If you only have bladder pain and it burns during or after urination but your urine is clear, antibiotics might not be the best solution. In fact, if you keep having UTIs, you might need to dig a little deeper to address the root cause of your UTIs, rather than simply repeating the cycle of antibiotic treatment.
If you see blood in your urine, its cloudy or has a strange smell, it may be time for antibiotics. Also, if you have fever or chills, pain in your flank and are not able to keep anything down, its really time to see your doctor.
Cephalexin Vs Amoxicillin For Sinusitis
Keflex or commonly known as which is not a part of the penicillin family is without a doubt a stronger antibiotic. Amoxicillin was the most generally recommended for intense sinusitis.
Shockingly, bacterial resistance to amoxicillin has developed very significantly. So now, Cephalexin is prescribed to use for treating grown-ups with sinusitis contaminations that have gotten to be impervious to penicillin. Picking one from these two is genuine troublesome on the grounds because it generally relies on upon which sort of infection you’re suffering with.
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Dosage For Genitourinary Infection
Adult dosage
14 grams per day taken in divided doses. The usual dose is 250 mg taken every 6 hours, or a dose of 500 mg every 12 hours may be given. Your doctor may give you a larger dose if you have a severe infection.
Child dosage
14 grams per day taken in divided doses. The usual dose is 250 mg taken every 6 hours, or a dose of 500 mg every 12 hours may be given. Your doctor may give you a larger dose if you have a severe infection.
Child dosage
2550 mg/kg of body weight per day taken in divided doses. Your doctor may double your dose for severe infections.
Child dosage
This medication hasnt been studied in children younger than 1 year for this condition.
Senior dosage
The kidneys of older adults may not work as well as they used to. This can cause your body to process drugs more slowly. As a result, more of a drug stays in your body for a longer time. This raises your risk of side effects. Your doctor may start you on a lowered dose or a different dosing schedule. This can help keep levels of this drug from building up too much in your body.
Special dosage considerations
For adults and children with kidney problems:
- People with a creatinine clearance of 3059 mL/min: maximum daily dose should not exceed 1 g
- People with a CrCL of 15 to 29 mL/min: 250 mg taken every 8 or 12 hours
- People with a CrCL of 5 to 14 mL/min: 250 mg every 24 hours
- People with a CrCL of 1 to 4 mL/min: 250 mg every 48 or 60 hours
When To Seek Medical Care
See a doctor if you have:
- Severe symptoms, such as severe headache or facial pain.
- Symptoms that get worse after initially improving.
- Symptoms lasting more than 10 days without improvement.
- Fever longer than 3-4 days.
You should also seek medical care if you have had multiple sinus infections in the past year.
This list is not all-inclusive. Please see a doctor for any symptom that is severe or concerning.
Other conditions can cause symptoms similar to a sinus infection, including:
- Seasonal allergies
- Colds
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Mixing Cefalexin With Herbal Remedies And Supplements
Do not take cefalexin at the same time as zinc supplements or anything with zinc in it. This is important because zinc may reduce the amount of cefalexin in your body, meaning the medicine cannot work as it’s meant to.
If you do take supplements with zinc in them, make sure there is a gap of at least 3 hours before and after you take your cefalexin.
How Should I Take Keflex
Take Keflex exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets.
Do not use Keflex to treat any condition that has not been checked by your doctor.
Use this medicine for the full prescribed length of time, even if your symptoms quickly improve. Skipping doses can increase your risk of infection that is resistant to medication. Cephalexin will not treat a viral infection such as the flu or a common cold.
Do not share Keflex with another person, even if they have the same symptoms you have.
This medicine can affect the results of certain medical tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using this medicine.
Store the tablets and capsules at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.
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Side Effects Of Doxycycline For Sinus Infection
Generally, there are only some minor side effects after taking Doxycycline for sinus infection. Common side effects that can occur after taking doxycycline are-
- Nausea
- Diarrhea that is watery or bloody
- Irritation in the throat
- Difficulty breathing
- Little to almost no urination
- Lower count of white blood cells
- Iron supplements and laxatives
- Oral birth control pills
People who are in the habit of drinking alcohol are more likely to side effects of Doxycycline tablets, especially stomach upset. Moreover, when medicine is taken with milk or food it can reduce the absorption of medicine by the body.
The medicine also enhances the sensitivity of the skin to sunlight. Hence, when stepping out of the house, make sure you are properly covered and wearing sunglasses and sunscreen.
Treatments For Sinus Infections Other Than Antibiotics
#1: Saline Nasal Wash
Saline nasal wash can be a great way to thin out the mucous in the sinuses enough to clear out the blockage. I recommend starting this early on in the course of the illness to prevent the infection from worsening.
You can even make this at home using 2 cups of water and a 1/2 teaspoon of salt. I would add a 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of baking soda to prevent burning that can occur with use. There are also plenty of over the counter saline nasal sprays that you can purchase. You can use this 4-6 times per day.
#2: Vaporizer
Vaporizers are great because they can also thin out the mucous and make you feel a lot better. An easy home remedy, steam is probably the best way to use this treatment. Beware if you are an asthmatic as the steam could cause worsening of the asthma symptoms.
#3: Steroid Nasal Spray
Steroid nasal sprays such as Flonase have been my go to remedy recently and the great news is that they are now over the counter. The general recommendation is to use 1-2 sprays per nostril daily.
But I have found great relief using 2 sprays in each nostril twice daily. At these higher doses it is important to remember that you should use this short term, no more than 5-7 days.
These medications can significantly reduce inflammation allowing the congestion blockage to clear and significantly alleviate symptoms.
#4: Decongestants
#5: Guaifenesin
Guaifenesin such as Mucinex can certainly break up the mucous, allowing the congestion to clear more quickly.
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