An Introduction to Keflex Side Effects
As with any medicine, side effects are possible with
Keflex® (
cephalexin); however, not everyone who takes the drug will experience problems. In fact, most people tolerate it quite well. If side effects do occur, in most cases, they are minor, meaning they require no treatment or are easily treated by you or your healthcare provider.
(This article covers many, but not all, of the possible side effects with Keflex. Your healthcare provider can discuss a more complete list of Keflex side effects with you.)
Common Side Effects of Keflex
Keflex has been studied extensively in clinical trials, with thousands of people worldwide having been evaluated. In these studies, side effects are always documented and compared to people not taking the medicine. This way, it is possible to see what side effects occurred, how often they occurred, and how they compared to the group taking a placebo (a "sugar pill" without any active ingredients).
Based on these studies, the most common Keflex side effects occurring in either adults or children included:
Some side effects of Keflex can indicate a serious problem. If you experience any of these problems, stop taking Keflex and call your healthcare provider. These side effects include but are not limited to:
- Hives
- Severe or watery diarrhea
- Blood in stools
- Throat or mouth sores
- Unexplained bleeding or bruising
- Severe rash
- Itching
- Wheezing
- Difficulty breathing or swallowing
- Swelling of the throat
- Peeling of the skin.
