Respiratory tract infections (RTI) are classified as infectious diseases of the upper or lower respiratory tract. The common RTI’s include the common cold, laryngitis, tonsillitis, rhinosinusitis and acute otitis media. Cephalexin, a first-generation semisynthetic cephalosporin antibiotic with a wide range of antibacterial activity and clinical applications, is most commonly used to treat such infections.
Cephalexin – from clandestine to ordinary
Cephalexin made it to the World Health Organisation’s List of Essential Medicines after being developed in 1967 and marketed consecutively in the years 1969 and 1970. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA, US) approved the medication on 4th February 1971 (1).
Usually purchased under the brand name drugs Keflex, Cepol and Ceporex, it is sold in the market as a capsule, tablet, and suspension to be consumed orally. Doctors generally prescribe it to be consumed with or without food at intervals between 6 to 12 hours for a duration of 7-14 days, based on the condition that is being treated (2).
The modus operandi of the chemical formula
It works by interfering with the bacterial cell walls. Harmful Bacteria are destroyed to provide relief to the patient. However, it must be borne in mind that this drug only works in the case of bacterial infections and not for viral ailments like the common cold (2).
Common side effects of taking Cephalexin to cure Respiratory Tract Infections
Although this drug’s efficacy is very high, patients might experience some common side-effects. These include diarrhoea, nausea, indigestion, headache, joint pain, extreme fatigue and more (3).
Precautions before consumption
It is advised to avoid consumption of this medicine in the case of the following conditions:
- If you are known to be allergic to Cephalexin or this family of drugs
- If you are pregnant or breast-feeding
- If you are suffering from kidney-related ailments,
- For children under the age of one.
Wide usage globally
Despite these side effects, the continued popularity and worldwide usage of this drug are based on its proven track record of “broad spectrum” antibacterial activity and excellent safety during approximately 30 years of cumulative clinical experience.
Cephalexin is considered to be the safest medication to treat Respiratory Tract Infection in children and adults. In 2017, 7 million prescriptions in the US made it the ‘102nd’ most common medication administered globally. It was the 5th most common antibiotic used in Canada in 2013. Currently, it has made it to the list of the top 15 commonly prescribed medications in Australia (4).
Shubham Pharmachem Pvt. Ltd: Providing innovative health solutions on a global scale
With manufacturing and distribution services across the globe in the pharmaceutical industry for more than 29 years, Shubham Pharmachem Pvt. Ltd. is a leading player in this vital sector. The company’s wide array of quality products includes Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API), herbal extracts, nutraceutical ingredients as well as cosmetic ingredients.
Committed to health and wellness, Shubham Pharmachem relies on its exhaustive and extensive research in RTI related medication such as Cephalexin among other products. The brand seamlessly integrates products and logistics for comprehensive distribution to all its counterparts. The availability of Cephalexin and other APIs for an easy medical solution to RTI, along with other medicines, has contributed to the expansion of Shubham Pharmachem’s business portfolio.
For more information on the available products, visit www.shubham.co.in
Disclaimer:
Shubham Pharmachem’s blog & articles have been written with the information gathered from approved medical journals and websites online. Our research and technical team strives to provide relevant information through such articles. We strongly advise readers to not consume or administer any medication without prior consultation with their doctor.
References:
- Accessdata. [online] Accessdata.fda.gov. Available at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2006/050405s097lbl.pdf
- Uofmhealth. Cephalexin | Michigan Medicine. [online] Uofmhealth.org. Available at: https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/d00096a1
- Medicalnewstoday. Cephalexin: Side effects, dosage, uses, and more. [online] Medicalnewstoday.com. Available at: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/cephalexin-oral-capsule#other-warnings
- Herman, T. and Hashmi, M. Cephalexin. [online] Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK549780/
