Keflex Dosage

Generic name: CEPHALEXIN 250mg
Dosage form: capsule
Drug class: First generation cephalosporins

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on May 2, 2024.

Adults and Pediatric Patients at Least 15 Years of Age

The usual dose of oral KEFLEX is 250 mg every 6 hours, but a dose of 500 mg every 12 hours may be administered. Treatment is administered for 7 to 14 days.

For more severe infections larger doses of oral KEFLEX may be needed, up to 4 grams daily in two to four equally divided doses.

Pediatric Patients (over 1 year of age)

The recommended total daily dose of oral KEFLEX for pediatric patients is 25 to 50 mg/kg given in equally divided doses for 7 to 14 days. In the treatment of β-hemolytic streptococcal infections, duration of at least 10 days is recommended. In severe infections, a total daily dose of 50 to 100 mg/kg may be administered in equally divided doses.

For the treatment of otitis media, the recommended daily dose is 75 to 100 mg/kg given in equally divided doses.

Dosage Adjustments in Adult and Pediatric Patients at Least 15 Years of Age with Renal Impairment

Administer the following dosing regimens for KEFLEX to patients with renal impairment.

Table 1. Recommended Dose Regimen for Patients with Renal Impairment

*There is insufficient information to make dose adjustment recommendations in patients on hemodialysis.
Renal function	Dose regimen recommendation
Creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min	No dose adjustment
Creatinine clearance 30 to 59 mL/min	No dose adjustment; maximum daily dose should not exceed 1 g
Creatinine clearance 15 to 29 mL/min	250 mg, every 8 hours or every 12 hours
Creatinine clearance 5 to 14 mL/min not yet on dialysis*	250 mg, every 24 hours
Creatinine clearance 1 to 4 mL/min not yet on dialysis*	250 mg, every 48 hours or every 60 hours