Cephalexin Monohydrate
Consumer Medicine Information
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some common questions about CILEX.
It does not contain all the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor and pharmacist.
All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you taking CILEX against the benefits they expect it will have for you.
If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Keep this leaflet with the medicine. You may need to read it again.
What CILEX is used for
The name of your medicine is CILEX. It contains the active ingredient cephalexin monohydrate.
CILEX is an antibiotic used to treat infections in different parts of the body caused by bacteria.
CILEX belongs to a group of antibiotics called cephalosporins. These antibiotics work by killing the bacteria that are causing your infection.
Your doctor may have prescribed CILEX for another reason. Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why CILEX has been prescribed for you.
CILEX is available only with a doctor’s prescription. It is not addictive.
Before you take CILEX
When you must not take it
Do not take CILEX if:
- You have an allergy to cephalexin monohydrate, other cephalosporins or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet.
Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include asthma, wheezing, shortness of breath, swelling of the face, lips or tongue, which may cause difficulty in swallowing or breathing; skin rash, itching or hives. - You have had a serious allergic reaction to any penicillins
You may be more likely to have an allergic reaction to CILEX if you are allergic to penicillins.
Do not use CILEX if the packaging shows signs of tampering.
Do not use CILEX after the expiry date has passed.
If you are not sure whether you should start taking CILEX, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
Before you start to take it
Tell your doctor if:
- You have any type of allergic reaction to any cephalosporin or penicillin
You may have an increased chance of being allergic to CILEX if you are allergic to any cephalosporins or penicillins. - You have any allergies to:
- any other medicines
- any other substances, such as foods, preservatives or dyes
- You are taking any metformin medicines (oral blood glucose lowering drugs) such as Diabex™, Glucophage™
- You are pregnant, or intend to become pregnant.
CILEX may affect your developing baby if you take it during pregnancy. Your doctor will discuss the risks and benefits of using CILEX during pregnancy. - You are breast-feeding or intend to breast-feed.
CILEX passes into breast milk and may affect your baby. Your doctor will discuss the risks and benefits of using CILEX when breast-feeding. - If you have or have had any medical conditions, including:
- kidney disease
- stomach or bowel problems
- liver disease
If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell them before you take CILEX.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including medicines that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines may interfere with CILEX. These include:
- probenecid, a medicine used to treat gout
This medicine may be affected by CILEX, or may affect how well it works. You may need to use different amounts of your medicine or you may need to use different medicines. Your doctor will advise you.
Talk to your doctor about the need for an additional method of contraception while taking CILEX. Some antibiotics may decrease the effectiveness of some birth control pills.
Your doctor and pharmacist may have more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking CILEX.
How to take CILEX
Follow all directions given to you by your doctor and pharmacist carefully. These directions may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.
If you do not understand the instructions on the label, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.
How much to take
Children
Your child’s doctor will tell you how much CILEX your child should take. This will depend on your child’s age, weight and the type of infection.
How to take it
Always shake the bottle before measuring the correct volume to give to your child.
When to take it
Take each dose of CILEX at about the same time each day. Taking each dose of your CILEX at the same time each day will have the best effect. It will also help you remember when to take the medicine.
It does not matter if you take CILEX before or after food.
How long to take it
Continue taking CILEX until you finish the suspension or until your doctor recommends.
Do not stop taking your CILEX because you are feeling better. If you do not complete the full course prescribed by your doctor, all of the bacteria causing your infection may not be killed. These bacteria may continue to grow and multiply so that your infection may not clear completely or it may return.
If you forget to take it
If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next dose when you are meant to.
Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember, and then go back to taking your CILEX as you would normally.
Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose that you missed. If you have trouble remembering to take your capsule/suspension, ask your pharmacist for some hints.
If you take too much (overdose)
Immediately telephone your doctor or Poisons Information Centre (telephone 13 11 26), or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital, if you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much CILEX. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. You may need urgent medical attention. Keep these telephone numbers handy. If you take too much CILEX you may feel sick in the stomach or experience diarrhoea.
While you are using CILEX
Things you must do
If the symptoms of your infection do not improve within a few days, or if they become worse, tell your doctor.
If you get severe diarrhoea tell your doctor or pharmacist immediately. Do this even if it occurs several weeks after CILEX has been stopped. Diarrhoea may mean that you have a serious condition affecting your bowel. You may need urgent medical care. Do not take any diarrhoea medicine without first checking with your doctor.
If you get a sore white mouth or tongue while taking or soon after stopping CILEX, tell your doctor. Also tell your doctor if you get vaginal itching or discharge. This may mean you have a fungal infection called thrush. Sometimes the use of CILEX allows fungi to grow and the above symptoms to occur. CILEX does not work against fungi.
If you become pregnant while you are taking CILEX tell your doctor immediately.
If you are about to start taking any new medicine, tell your doctor and pharmacist that you are taking CILEX.
If you have to test your urine for sugar while you are using CILEX, make sure your doctor knows which type of test you use. CILEX may affect the results of some of these tests.
If you have to have any blood tests tell your doctor you are taking CILEX. CILEX may affect the results of some blood tests.
Tell all the doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating you that you are taking CILEX.
Things you must not do
Do not stop taking CILEX because you are feeling better, unless advised by your doctor. If you do not complete the full course prescribed by your doctor, all of the bacteria causing your infection may not be killed.
These bacteria may continue to grow and multiply so that your infection may not clear completely or it may return.
Do not give CILEX to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you.
Do not use CILEX to treat any other complaints unless your doctor tells you to.
Things to be careful of
Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how CILEX affects you. CILEX may cause tiredness or dizziness in some people. Make sure you know how you react to CILEX before you drive a car or do anything else that may be dangerous if you are affected.
Side effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking CILEX. All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical treatment if you get some of the side effects.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
While taking CILEX
Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following and they worry you:
- vaginal thrush – sore and itchy vagina and/or discharge
- oral thrush- white, furry, sore tongue and mouth
- itching of the genital area and the skin around the back passage
- indigestion
- stomach pain or discomfort
- diarrhoea
- nausea, vomiting
- dizziness, tiredness
- headache
- agitation, confusion
- painful, swollen joints
These side effects are usually mild.
Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following:
- seeing, feeling or hearing things that are not there
- yellowing of the skin and eyes
- dark coloured urine
- tiredness, headaches, being short of breath when exercising, dizziness and looking pale
These are serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention. Serious side effects are rare.
If any of the following happen, stop taking CILEX and tell your doctor immediately or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital:
- watery and severe diarrhoea, which may also be bloody
- severe abdominal cramps or stomach cramps
- swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue or throat which may cause difficulty in swallowing or breathing
- any skin rash, itching or hives or blistering or peeling of the skin
- severe blisters and bleeding in the lips, eyes, mouth, nose and genitals
- blood in the urine
These are very serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation. These side effects are rare.
After finishing CILEX
Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following side effects, particularly if they occur several weeks after stopping treatment with CILEX:
- severe abdominal cramps or stomach cramps
- watery and severe diarrhoea, which may also be bloody
- fever, in combination with one or both of the above
These are rare but serious side effects.
You may have a serious condition affecting your bowel. Therefore, you may need urgent medical attention. However, this side effect is rare.
Do not take any diarrhoea medicine without first checking with your doctor.
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. Tell your doctor if you notice anything that is making you feel unwell. Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects. You may not experience any of them.
After using CILEX
Storage
Keep the suspension in your refrigerator between 2ºC and 8ºC. Do not freeze.
Do not use any suspension that is left in the bottle after 14 days.
Do not store CILEX or any other medicine in the bathroom or near a sink. Do not leave it in the car or on windowsills. Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.
Keep CILEX where children cannot reach it.
Disposal
If your doctor tells you to stop taking the suspension, or the suspension has passed more than 14 days after mixing, ask your pharmacist what to do with any medicine that is left over.
Product description
What it looks like
CILEX 125 mg/5 mL and 250 mg/ 5 mL suspensions are orange-yellow in colour with a fruity flavour. Each bottle contains 100 mL.
Ingredients
CILEX suspension contains cephalexin (as monohydrate) equivalent to 125 mg/5 mL or 250 mg/5 mL of cephalexin anhydrous as the active ingredient.
It also contains:
- Saccharin sodium
- Simethicone
- Citric acid anhydrous
- Guar galactomannan
- Sodium benzoate
- Sucrose
- Iron oxide yellow (CI 77492)
- Strawberry, apple, raspberry and tutti frutti flavourings
Supplier
Ascent Pharma Pty Ltd
151-153 Clarendon St
South Melbourne VIC 3205
www.ascentpharma.com.au
For further information call 1800 554 414
125 mg/5 mLAUST R 91909
250 mg/5 mLAUST R 91910
This leaflet was prepared on 20 May 2010.
Published by MIMS March 2014