Is keflex in the same family as cipro?
Question posted by mommablitz on 16 April 2014
Last updated on 26 December 2016
3 Answers
I was given cipro for three months, but stopped because I have never taken any antibiotic for more than a month. I did not know this was the same class of drugs as Keflex.
I have had chronic sinusitis my whole life and I took so much Keflex during my grade school years that Keflex stopped working for me and I have never told my Dr because it never came up. I was taking it for sinus infections when I was a kid.
I stopped the cipro after six weeks and now four weeks later I am having trouble peeing again.
I was taking it for prostatitus. I don't have low T, but I have low libido and its difficult to keep my prostate healthy when I have little desire. Knowing this is the same class as Keflex may give my Dr ideas about what to do next. My blood work came back fine. I am age 46.
Tomorrow I will call him and tell him what is going on before I try taking the last refill plus a half bottle I have left. Thanks this was a helpful question.
I could not reach my Dr for advice so I called the Pharmacy and he told me that its OK to take Cipro for 3 months so I resumed my medication, when this last half bottle is gone and the next refill is gone I need to tell him the mistake I made, it seems that I followed directions on the bottle take two twice a day for four weeks this is why I was confused about the refills. I had taken two twice a day for six weeks instead of the four weeks indicated on the bottle.
Folks, this goes to show, if you are ever unsure about something always ask. I have had no side efx from it other than ringing in the ears at times. I was not even aware of my prostate until it was first infected and the urologist told me to keep it healthy keep it empty, but since I have low libido its not as easy as it seems. They suggest you "empty" it 21 times a month!!! I don't know how I can keep pace with this when I have very little desire.
Found this for you... I was told by Dr. that they are in the same class and to not take them... yes--it is a Cet. but they have similar actions ect.
Abstract
Cephalosporin 3'-quinolone esters, carbamates, and tertiary amines are potent antibiotics whose antibacterial activities reflect the action of both the beta-lactam and the quinolone components. The biological properties of representative compounds from each class were compared in Escherichia coli. All compounds bound to the essential PBP 3, inhibited DNA gyrase, and caused filamentation in growing cells. To distinguish between cephalosporin- and quinolone-induced filaments, nucleoid segregation was also examined, as quinolones disrupt nucleoid segregation while the beta-lactams do not (N. H. Georgopapadakou and A. Bertasso, Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 35:2645-2648, 1991). The cephalosporin quinolone esters Ro 23-9424 and Ro 24-6392, at concentrations causing filamentation in E.
coli ATCC 25922, did not affect nucleoid segregation after 1 h of incubation (cephalosporin response) but did not affect it after 2 h (quinolone response), indicating the release of free quinolone. Accordingly, only the quinolone response was produced in a strain possessing TEM-3, an expanded-spectrum beta-lactamase. The cephalosporin carbamate Ro 24-4383 and the tertiary amine Ro 24-8138 produced a quinolone response in E. coli ATCC 25922, though they produced a cephalosporin response in a quinolone-resistant strain. Carbamate and tertiary amine linkages are chemically more stable than the ester linkage, and both cephalosporin 3'-quinolone carbamates and tertiary amines are more potent inhibitors of DNA gyrase than are the corresponding esters. The results suggest that, while intact cephalosporin 3'-quinolone esters act as cephalosporins, carbamates and amines may possess both cephalosporin and quinolone activity in the intact molecule.
Cephalosporins and fluoroquinalones are different classes. Here is an answer from a Dr to a person asking about other antibiotics when sensitive to keflex:
Antibiotics are in a number of chemical classes. With a severe reaction to keflex (also called cefazolin), you should avoid antibiotics in the cephalosporin and probably the penicillin class, as there is a higher chance of cross reactivity. Typically, we will give antibiotics in a different chemical class rather than testing. For you, examples may be clindamycin, ciprofloxacin or vancomycin.
So he is saying he would give cipro!
Here is another answer from a different Dr about cross allergies:
Keflex (cephalexin) is a member of cephalosporin family of antibiotics which are cousins to penicillins. Be sure to tell your doctors about your all your (drug) allergies, especially types of reactions. We're most concerned about anaphylaxis. In the future, if necessary & appropriate, you can take unrelated sulfa, mycins & quinolone type antibiotics. (cipro is a quinalone)
Another example:
Options for True Penicillin
Allergy Patients
• 2nd or 3rd generation cephalosporin
• Sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (Bactrim or
Septra)
• A fluoroquinolone (Levofloxacin)
• Doxycycline
• Erythromycin
Besides the poster asked nothing about allergies, she asked about classes and these medications are CLASSED differently! Keflex is a cephalosporin and Cipro is a fluoroquinolone-two different classes!
This isn't even allergies, this is how it acts against bacteria. We aren't bacteria and fluoroquinolones and cephalosporins aren't even cousins when it comes to their class.
I read this whole article you are posting a piece of here, Malindalang, and it is not talking about the drugs already on the market. It is talking about developing new drugs by combining types of drugs already on the market to use against organisms resistant to cephalosporins and quinalones NOT that cephalosporins and quinalones are the same thing!
Thank you for the information on the Cepha., all. I read on reaction on here plus reaction a friend had and this was important. I would NEVER be taking Cipro again for whomever asked. I have been suffering in chronic pain and other conditions that make it impossible for me to function from an adverse reaction to Levaquin 4/17/2009..a DAY I WILL NEVER FORGET. It never went away... through all attempts..oddly..I always get all these suggestions on diet, PT, exercise, compounds, ororganics, IVs, and more. I was eating a proper diet of organic and fresh food and exercised 6 days a week for I have no clue how many years before this happened--too many to remember. I tried all listed and more. I always thought this would pass for years... at least the first 3+. Now, it is permanent. MRIs show that conclusions as it his my brain as for many it does. It penetrated to the brain and left a lot of neurologic destruction.
So thank you for those expanding on the information on the other drug as well. There as so many of us that are so scared of medications now that information is super important to us...
OH-Yes-and I DID post the wrong part of the article... but was glad to receive the information. Hard to believe that I know people personally having side effects to this medication as well. Not as many as the Fluors. but the comments are great info
No. Keflex is a cephalosporin and Cipro is a fluoroquinalone
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