Keflex® (
cephalexin) is a prescription antibiotic approved for treating a number of infections. It is specifically used to treat bacterial infections and to prevent heart valve infections (bacterial endocarditis). Healthcare providers may prescribe Keflex for children or adults.
Keflex dosing for children will vary, depending on the child's body weight. The recommended dosage for treating most bacterial infections can range from 25 mg to 100 mg per kilogram of body weight per day (mg/kg/day). The dose is divided and taken three to four times a day for 7 to 14 days. Children taking Keflex should generally be limited to 4000 mg or less per day.
The recommended dosage for the prevention of bacterial endocarditis in children is 50 mg per kilogram of body weight, up to a maximum of 2000 mg, taken one hour before a surgical procedure is performed.
(Click Keflex Uses and Keflex Dosage for more information on how dosing works for children, to learn about other uses for this medication, and for dosing guidelines for adults.)
