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Cephalexin Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Warnings

Brand names: Biocef, Daxbia, Keflex, Keftab, Panixine, Zartan

Cephalexin Pregnancy Warnings

Animal models have failed to reveal evidence of impaired fertility and fetal harm. There are no controlled data in human pregnancy.

TGA pregnancy category A: Drugs which have been taken by a large number of pregnant women and women of childbearing age without any proven increase in the frequency of malformations or other direct or indirect harmful effects on the fetus having been observed.

US FDA pregnancy category B: Animal reproduction studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women.

Use is not recommended unless clearly needed.

AU TGA pregnancy category: A
US FDA pregnancy category: B

See references

Cephalexin Breastfeeding Warnings

Caution is recommended.

Excreted into human milk: Yes

Comments:
-Maternal infection treatments have resulted in reports of neonatal diarrhea and thrush.
-The American Academy of Pediatrics classified other cephalosporins as compatible with breastfeeding.

See references

References for pregnancy information

  1. Product Information. Keflex (cephalexin). Dista Products Company. 2002;PROD.
  2. Cerner Multum, Inc. UK Summary of Product Characteristics.
  3. Cerner Multum, Inc. Australian Product Information.
  4. Product Information. Daxbia (cephalexin). Crown Laboratories. 2017.

References for breastfeeding information

  1. Product Information. Keflex (cephalexin). Dista Products Company. 2002;PROD.
  2. Briggs GG, Freeman RK, Yaffe SJ. Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation. Baltimore, MD: Williams & Wilkins. 1998.
  3. Cerner Multum, Inc. UK Summary of Product Characteristics.
  4. Cerner Multum, Inc. Australian Product Information.
  5. United States National Library of Medicine. Toxnet. Toxicology Data Network. http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/htmlgen?LACT 2013.
  6. Product Information. Daxbia (cephalexin). Crown Laboratories. 2017.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.