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Cephalexin and Pregnancy
While a link between cephalexin and pregnancy has not been studied in humans, in animal studies, the drug showed no negative effects on the fetus. As a result, the FDA classifies cephalexin as a pregnancy Category B medicine. If you are taking cephalexin and pregnancy occurs, your healthcare provider will weigh the benefits to you against the risks to the unborn baby before making a recommendation.
Cephalexin (Keflex®, Biocef®) is considered a pregnancy Category B medicine by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This means that although the drug has not been studied in pregnant women, in animal studies, cephalexin showed no negative effects on the fetus.
The FDA uses a category system to classify the possible risks to a fetus when a specific medicine is taken during pregnancy. Pregnancy Category B is given to medicines that do not cause side effects to the fetus in animal studies but that have not been tested in pregnant women.
However, it is important to note that animals do not always respond to medicines the same way that humans do. Therefore, a pregnancy Category B medicine may be given to a pregnant woman if the healthcare provider believes that the benefits to the mother outweigh any possible risks to the unborn child.
If you are taking cephalexin and pregnancy occurs, let your healthcare provider know. He or she will consider the benefits and risks of cephalexin during pregnancy before making a recommendation for your particular situation.
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD