Cephalexin and Nausea: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Not...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 16, 2022

For Skin or Soft Tissue Infection "Prescribed 500 mg 4 times a day for an infected tick bite. From day one, nausea, stomach pain, diarrhea, major headaches, and altered moods. I am on day 5 now, side effects are not any better, and I am feeling depressed. The tick bite site looks like it is healing. I would not take this given another option."

• CLS...
• December 27, 2017

For Kidney Infections "I was prescribed Cephalexin 2000 mg/day for four days due to what my ER doctor perceived as a UTI. Long story short, my body resisted the antibiotic, and I was quickly re-diagnosed with acute pyelonephritis within three days by my family doctor. She immediately took me off Cephalexin and shared that she's concerned how many of her patients have been prescribed this drug by ER doctors as they're always paying her a visit without any sign of improvement. As for side effects that I noted: nausea, vomiting, severe headaches, and severe joint pain. I am a 24-year-old female, and I've never been resistant to a drug before, so I am grateful that my doctor revised my treatment plan so I wouldn't end up hospitalized."

• Ell...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 13, 2023

For Skin or Soft Tissue Infection "This was prescribed for a laceration injury on my hand from the ER after it was cleaned and stitched up. 500 mg four times a day. I had so much nausea the first day I vomited up the mint tea, which was all I had taken that day, then started using Zofran but still could not eat anything. I was also constipated that day. I was so tired I spent most of the day asleep. I am now on day 3 and still have to force myself to eat or drink and have lost 7 lbs. Constipation turned to mild diarrhea. I also have a headache and backache and am so tired. I have four more days to go, my doctor has approved my reducing the dose to three times a day, and I am trying to stay the course. I want to thank all the previous commenters here since so many of the symptoms they reported settled my mind (I also feel I am more anxious than usual) about what was happening to me."

• Viv...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 16, 2018

For Bladder Infection "This pill started out okay, or so I thought. I ended up feeling horribly nauseous, and yes, I was taking a probiotic. I had a bad time drinking water and couldn't eat. I lived off ginger ale, mints, and dry cereal. I managed to take this pill for 7 days. Heaven knows I don't know how I did it, but I finally had enough and quit after 7 days. I will not be taking this pill again. I lost 8 lbs because I couldn't eat food without feeling sick."

• Ros...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 7, 2020

Cephalexin for Bladder Infection "I had cystitis and was put on Macrobid for 5 days, only to find out it didn’t do a thing for the infection. My Dr. gave me an injection of Rocephin in the office and suggested Keflex for 7 days, three times a day (500 mg). The Rocephin gave me a stomach ache and diarrhea, then I took Keflex, and it made me queasy the rest of the day. The second pill I was fine and have remained side effect-free since then. I finish my course tomorrow but still feel the cramping and mild pain from a UTI, so I’m not sure this antibiotic worked either. We’ll see!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 20, 2018

For Bladder Infection "I was diagnosed with a bladder infection, been on this medicine almost a week. It causes me to be extremely nauseous and have panicky attacks. The panic attacks are severe. I have never had panic attacks before I started taking this medication. I have one more day to take it, so hopefully the side effects will go away."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 24, 2021

For Kidney Infections "I just started my prescription 3 days ago, 500 mg twice a day for a nasty UTI turned kidney infection. It took me a good week to actually take it after reading these reviews. I hate swallowing pills, so I open my capsule and take it with OJ. So far, the only major issues I get are gas, a little nausea, and a minor headache. I get sleepy after a while but I think that’s due to the infection. I feel like my infection is clearing up, I’m on my 3rd full dose. My kidneys only hurt a little. I find taking my pills with lots of water has been very helpful. I also take a probiotic to replace the good bacteria. I’ll be going back to the doc to confirm the infection is gone in 4 days. Get well, everyone!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 23, 2022

For Middle Ear Infections "Antibiotics never sit well for me. Especially penicillin, which I now don't take because it makes me projectile vomit and causes so much stomach pain. So because of that (and all the horrible reviews), I was nervous to take cephalexin. But this stuff works. I had a double ear infection and sinus infection. It cleared it all up and caused nothing but some minor stomach pains and nausea that were very manageable. Just eat a good meal with it, and you should be set. One of the best antibiotics I've had to take."

• owi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 5, 2021

Cephalexin for Skin or Soft Tissue Infection "I was taking Bactrim for 2 days with no improvement before being prescribed Keflex QID for 7 days to take with Bactrim for an infected cut on my wrist from punching glass. As soon as I began Keflex, I started noticing improvement. It's hard to say whether the improvement or my side effects were from Keflex or Bactrim, so take this with a grain of salt. I had tachycardia, chills, nausea, indigestion, gas pain that felt like chest pain, itching on arms/legs, petechiae on my upper arms, frequent urination, and eventual yeast infection for which I had to take Diflucan. I had some symptoms together, and some separate. Most of my side effects came at night, though, so it could've been some kind of reaction between the two? The side effects definitely hit me harder in the beginning, but by my 5th day of Keflex, almost all side effects had subsided. I suggest taking with probiotics that can survive stomach acid and easily digestible food and drinking a lot of water."

• Apr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 14, 2024

For Bladder Infection "I started taking Cephalexin after a procedure I had (HSG) left me with a severe UTI and/or bladder infection. I had the severe burning sensation and abdominal pain prior to taking medication within 24 hours. I notice a major difference. I experienced very dark red-orange urine for the next four days of taking this medicine. I thought it was the pills, but by day five and six my urine was no longer red and orange, it was clearer. While on this medicine, I did feel a lot more tired than usual. I spent most of my days in bed, every now and again, I would get a very upset stomach and only had diarrhea one time. I am now on day seven of my medication and no longer experience the dark urine or abdominal pain or upset stomach, the medicine seems to have worked very well, and I am satisfied. One thing I did was drink a lot of water while on this antibiotic. It worked best when I didn’t eat, when I ate, I felt a little more nauseous and lethargic."

• Anonymous
• April 7, 2009

For Bacterial Infection "I had acute mastitis. I was prescribed cephalexin, and after two days, started getting tightness in my chest, some nausea, and mild headaches. I stopped taking it. However, on the plus side, the infection went away, and I didn't have to take any more."

• uta...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 1, 2016

For Bacterial Endocarditis Prevention "I'm on this for when I get my teeth cleaned at the dentist to protect me from bacterial endocarditis. So far, so good, but I read the bad reviews and the good reviews. I had to bring it down to 8 because I do get a nausea feeling after this, and if I burp, there is a nasty smell from my mouth being open when burping. The main problem I have with this drug is that it makes my stomach hurt, like I am going to throw up. The way I am diabetic and eat at night. I can't eat a big meal each time I take it 3 times a day. So I drink milk, and it helps pretty good with the pain in the stomach. I am only on my second day. Still makes my stomach hurt. I will get some more milk after this review. I am allergic to PCN, and they still gave me this. I looked it up on the internet that it is a substitute for PCN. I hope I am okay after I am done using it."

• nic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 21, 2020

For Kidney Infections "I am currently pregnant and taking this for a UTI. Pregnancy makes me tired and nauseous, but this literally takes me out. I am so sleepy and out of it. I feel drunk or something. I have to finish this in order to clear my infection because I get way worse side effects with other medications. Getting my urine rechecked at the end of the treatment to see if it cleared up. Hopefully, it did because I can’t take any more of this stuff."

• Lrd...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 9, 2021

"I had a septorhinoplasty and was prescribed 500 mg at 3x a day to prevent infection. It wasn’t until the third day on this medication that I experienced diarrhea, nausea, stomach cramps, and feeling hot/flushed. I called the doctor, and he said I could stop taking them. My recovery from surgery would’ve been a cakewalk if I didn’t end up taking this medication. Stay away!!"

• ARU...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 21, 2020

For Bacterial Endocarditis Prevention "I was prescribed antibiotics after my root canal. The first few days were fine, but midway, I began to experience bad stomach pain with nausea. It’s pretty bad. The only thing that’s helping is chamomile tea."

• All...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 1, 2021

For Skin or Soft Tissue Infection "So I took Cephalexin to get rid of an infected cyst. It did the job for the most part, but it may have been less effective since I had already taken it before. I didn’t have the side effects other people had: I didn’t have ANY nausea, stomach pain, drowsiness, or anything with this medicine, and I usually took it without food too. It didn’t really help the second time (after I got my cyst removed and stitches in), but that’s my fault, I was prescribed doxycycline, and I took cephalexin AGAIN instead. Overall, a good experience!"

• Fur...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 20, 2022

For Bacterial Infection "This was prescribed for a bacterial infection with a UTI. Everything was going well until the early morning of the 3rd day. Waking up at 2 am feeling nauseous, and I was about to poop my pants at the same time. From 2 am to 6 am, my body was emptying itself out. I was finally able to contact my doctor and let them know I wouldn't be continuing this prescription. I don't want to go through this again."

• Kca...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 14, 2019

For Bacterial Endocarditis Prevention "I was prescribed antibiotics for after my root canal. First few days were fine, but midway began to experience bad stomach pain with nausea. It’s pretty bad. The only thing that’s helping is chamomile tea."

• Nao...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 7, 2018

For Bladder Infection "I had to discontinue because what kind of sadist gives an already nauseous and vomiting person a stinky antibiotic?! It smells and tastes, and the aftertaste is all reminding me of the time I found a dead rat in a pool of water in the garage. It is distinctly cadaverous. I do not have a bladder infection anymore, but the trauma of forcing myself to swallow something that smelled that terrible then vomit it back up, I shall never recover from."

• Anonymous
• September 23, 2009

For Kidney Infections "I took cephalexin for a kidney infection, and it's been 2 days. The infection is feeling better, but I get extremely nauseous when I take the pill (3 times a day). I also got yeast infections."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 15, 2016

For Bacterial Infection "Works on my abscessed tooth, but side effects are bad: nausea, fatigue, severe diarrhea, and malaise."

• PPa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 5, 2018

For Bacterial Infection "Effective for cellulitis. By far the worst antibiotics I’ve ever taken. Anxiety, dizziness, nausea, constipation, headache."

• Che...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 28, 2018

For Skin or Soft Tissue Infection "While this med was quite effective, I found the taste to be nauseating, and the smell was quite nasty."

• Jak...
• June 11, 2017

For Skin or Soft Tissue Infection "The drug worked to cure my infection caused by a spider bite, but the smell of the pill made me so nauseous I dreaded taking it."