What is the difference between cephalexin and amoxicillin

Amoxicillin is available as an oral tablet or capsule, chewable tablet, as well as an oral suspension. The brand name of amoxicillin is Amoxil or Polymox. Sign up for Amoxicillin price alerts and find out when the price changes!

Get Price Alerts. Cephalexin has been shown to be active against a variety of bacterial organisms including Escherichia coli , Haemophilus influenzae beta-lactamase negative , Klebsiella pneumoniae , Moraxella catarrhalis , Proteus mirabilis , Staphylococcus aureus MSSA , Staphylococcus epidermidis , Streptococcus pneumoniae , and Streptococcus pyogenes.

The sensitivity of these organisms allows cephalexin to also be effective in treating many common types of infections including upper respiratory infections such as sinusitis , pharyngitis, and tonsillitis.

Amoxicillin is also effective against lower respiratory infections such as community-acquired pneumonia. Other uses of cephalexin include skin infections cellulitis , bone and joint infections, otitis media, and urinary tract infections UTI. Amoxicillin has been shown to be active against a variety of bacterial organisms including Enterococcus faecalis , Escherichia coli , Haemophilus influenzae beta-lactamase negative , Helicobacter pylori , Proteus mirabilis , Staphylococcus sp.

The sensitivity of these organisms allows amoxicillin to also be effective in treating many common types of infections including upper and lower respiratory infections. Other uses include skin tissue infections, otitis media, and urinary tract infections. Sign up for Cephalexin price alerts and find out when the price changes!

Both cephalexin and amoxicillin have commonly been used off-label for endocarditis prophylaxis. Patients with congenital heart defects or prosthetic heart valves are at an increased risk of developing an infection in the lining of their heart after dental procedures. Prophylactic doses of antibiotics such as amoxicillin and cephalexin given prior to these procedures have been shown to decrease the risk of such infections. The effectiveness of cephalexin or amoxicillin will vary with each bacteria type and each patient.

With any sensitive bacteria, each drug may be effective so long as it is dosed appropriately at the correct intervals. The effectiveness of beta-lactam antibiotics are dependent upon the amount of time that free, non-protein bound drug is above the minimum inhibitory concentration MIC of the bacteria. Another factor in antibiotic therapy is antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria changes in response to an exposure to an antibiotic.

The change is adaptive to allow it to survive in spite of the antibiotic. Repeated or overuse of antibiotics, as well as suboptimal dosing, may contribute to antibiotic resistance. One study sought to compare the symptomatic relapse in pediatric patients with streptococcal tonsillopharyngitis.

This was done by comparing return visits and symptomatic complaints following each type of treatment. The study compared four treatment groups including amoxicillin and first-generation cephalosporins, including cephalexin.

The study found that the incidence of symptomatic relapse was higher in the amoxicillin group than in the first-generation cephalosporin group. The Infectious Disease Society maintains in its guidelines that amoxicillin is the first choice for group A streptococcal pharyngitis.

Cephalexin is an acceptable alternative for patients with a penicillin-related allergy. Cephalexin is a prescription medication that is covered by both commercial and Medicare drug insurance plans. A typical prescription for cephalexin would be written for 28 capsules of the mg strength.

Amoxicillin is a prescription medication that is also covered by both commercial and Medicare drug insurance plans. Get the SingleCare prescription discount card.

Cephalexin and amoxicillin have a similar list of side effects. The most common side effect of both medications is diarrhea. Other gastrointestinal side effects include nausea, vomiting, and gastritis. In rare instances, cases of pseudomembranous colitis have been reported. Anaphylactic reactions may happen with both cephalexin and amoxicillin. Anaphylactic reactions require immediate medical attention. Health Tools. Cephalexin Keflex. Brand Names: Biocef , Keflex , Zartan.

Reviewed: November 16, Tell your doctor if you have ever had: an allergy to any drug especially penicillin ; liver or kidney disease; or intestinal problems, such as colitis. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. Side Effects. Side Effects What are the side effects of Cephalexin Keflex? Call your doctor at once if you have: severe stomach pain, diarrhea that is watery or bloody even if it occurs months after your last dose ; unusual tiredness, feeling light-headed or short of breath; easy bruising, unusual bleeding, purple or red spots under your skin; a seizure; pale skin, cold hands and feet; yellowed skin, dark colored urine; fever, weakness; or pain in your side or lower back, painful urination.

Common side effects may include: diarrhea; nausea, vomiting; indigestion, stomach pain; or vaginal itching or discharge. Based on FDA pregnancy categories. Interactions What drugs and food should I avoid while taking Cephalexin Keflex? Do not use cephalexin to treat any condition that has not been checked by your doctor.

What should I do if I missed a dose of Cephalexin Keflex? If you think you or someone else may have overdosed on: Cephalexin Keflex , call your doctor or the Poison Control center. If someone collapses or isn't breathing after taking Cephalexin Keflex , call What to Expect You should start to feel better within a few days of taking cephalexin. Additional Dosage Information Your dosage will depend on your medical condition, your age, your weight, and other factors.

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Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. If you or your child has ever needed to take an antibiotic for a bacterial infection, there's a good chance the medication prescribed was either amoxicillin or Augmentin amoxicillin clavulanate.

A common assumption about these two medications is that Augmentin is simply a stronger version of amoxicillin but that isn't quite accurate. Augmentin contains a second active ingredient, which makes it more appropriate for treating certain infections than others. The same holds true for amoxicillin and, to make the distinctions between the drugs even hazier, there are a few infections that both treat equally effectively.

Ultimately, the antibiotic a healthcare provider prescribes will depend on the type of illness being treated and the bacteria responsible for it. Amoxicillin is often the first antibiotic prescribed for common bacterial infections, particularly those that cause illness in children, such as ear, nose, and throat infections, including tonsillitis.

This antibiotic also is the first drug of choice for:. Note that although amoxicillin can kill many of the same bacteria as penicillin, it is less effective than penicillin against Streptococcus pneumococcus, the bacteria commonly associated with meningitis and systemic bacteremia. The side effects of amoxicillin tend to be relatively mild, which is another reason it's often prescribed for kids.

The most common ones include rash, vaginal itching, and a dark or "hairy tongue. As with penicillin, there is a risk of an allergic reaction to amoxicillin in those predisposed to it.

These can be life-threatening. It's vital a healthcare provider take a medical history before prescribing amoxicillin to determine if a patient has a known history of allergy to antibiotics. Augmentin is amoxicillin combined with a beta-lactamase inhibitor called clavulanate, an ingredient that blocks the enzymes that contribute to antibiotic resistance.

The addition of a beta-lactamase blocker to amoxicillin allows Augmentin to overcome resistance to harder-to-treat bacteria, broadening the spectrum of infections it can treat. It is for this reason that Augmentin is referred to as a broad-spectrum antibiotic. Augmentin can treat the same bacteria as amoxicillin, but also is effective against certain harder-to-treat infections, including:.

It should be noted there are a few infections for which amoxicillin and Augmentin are prescribed equally:. This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing. The most common side effect of Augmentin is diarrhea. Some people may also experience nausea, vomiting, yeast infections, and rash. If you have an infection and don't necessarily know which bacteria is causing it, it may seem to make sense to use an antibiotic that would kill the most bugs.