Medium
Excellent
$1/day (Liquid $$$$$$)
Post natal age greater than 21 days12.5-25 mg/kg/dose PO QID
Post natal age 8 to 21 days12.5-25 mg/kg/dose PO TID
Post natal age 0 to 7 days12.5-25 mg/kg/dose PO BID
Renally cleared, requires dosage adjustment with changes in renal function. Consult a pharmacist for renal dosing.
Allergy/rash (immediate or delayed), cephalexin and amoxicillin have the same side chain, hence cross -allergenicity may occur
Can cause positive Coombs, cytopenias, eosinophilia
Concentration: 50 mg/mL
Taste: very palatable
Not all strengths of oral liquids are listed nor are available on IWK formulary
For Community Pharmacy:
If cephalexin liquid is not affordable, please dispense tablets.If part tablets are required, please split for patient if required for accurate dosing and counsel family on how to crush tablets or part tablets and to administer with a small amount of juice, jam, apple sauce, crushed bananas or chocolate pudding.
500 mg tablet
For Community Pharmacy:
If cephalexin liquid is not affordable, please dispense tablets.If part tablets are required, please split for patient if required for accurate dosing and counsel family on how to crush tablets or part tablets and to administer with a small amount of juice, jam, apple sauce, crushed bananas or chocolate pudding.
Tablets and capsules are preferred especially over an unpleasant tasting liquid.
Not all strengths of oral tablets/capsules are listed and they are not all available on the IWK formulary.
Antimicrobial class: First generation cephalosporin - oral
Average serum half life:
Neonates: 5 hours.
Children 3 to 12 months: 2.5 hours.
Adults: 0.5-1.2 hours
Route of Elimination: 80% to 100% of dose excreted as unchanged drug in urine within 8 hours
