Cephalexin Monohydrate and antibiotics

I have taken this medication on and off for many years. I think any antibiotic class will affect people differently. I cannot take penicillins or sulphur drugs anymore, after years of taking them. Penicillin landed me in the hosp with anaphylactic shock. Cephalexin (one of the cephalosporins) is the only class of antibiotics I can take.

Right now, I have a tooth abscess that has been hurting me for 3 days straight. This is not the most effective a/b for dental, I don't think, since it doesn't seem to be doing much good.

I don't have side effects from this medication as long as I take it with food. However, that can be lots of medications - they can be hard on the tummy lining, so a little food really helps. I don't take anything dairy while I am on this medication either.

I saw someone posted about problems, but were taking a pill every hour - I can't imagine any doctor prescribing that high of a dose! So, not sure if you were trying to create a side effect, or what, but I hope you cut back. I've taken this for years, and can't see where more than 2,000 mg a DAY would be safe to take.

Always talk to your doctor if you have anything out of the normal for you when taking ANY medication. Some of the side effects could be from your illness, not your medication.

Meanwhile, I hope this one stays around forever, because it is all I can take!

Was prescribed cephalexin (Kaiser) for a broken skin infection on my leg from a sporting accident. It was pussing and not healing well. Started taking cephalexin immediately after leaving the pharmacy. Within a couple days, my skin infection was not any better. Hives and bright red dots appeared on my chest, my arms, and my legs. Itching was intense - I couldn't sleep - would wake up in the middle of the night totally on fire - but I was told to stay on course by the nurse at the pharmacy and finish the bottle as I wouldn't want an antibiotic from losing its hold on the stronger existing bacteria. The hives, in the form of red patches, bumps, and streaks were visually traveling through my body and hives would break out. I resisted itching. Then one morning I woke up and my entire chest had a huge patch of hives taking up the entire space between both nipples and from the top of the rib cage to the collar bone. It was ridiculous. One week in, I called my doctor and went in for a check up. Instead of prescribing another class of antibiotics, my second doctor (and opinion) opted to stop taking the medicine all together. He determined the hives were an allergy to Cephalexin.

A confirmation - I also am having very loose, watery bowels, going to the bathroom frequently. It's killing all the normal intestinal flora (hence the watery feces) along with my persistant bronchitis. My lungs feel better, but my abdominals are upset. Definitely reaching for the Acidophilus when my course of antibiotics is over.

Had the following reported: "My mother was treated for cystitis with a strong course of antibiotics back in october & since then has not been able to eat certain foods(such as nuts, chocolate, strong tea, fruit) without a nasty taste in her mouth & sometimes blistering on her lips. No help from her doc & is thoroughly miserable.Any ideas as to combat this ?"
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