I was just prescribed 500 mg of cephalexin, as a precaution. Since I am having a surgery soon. It seems like I have to pee literally every 5 seconds. Is this a common side affect, or does it mean I'm allergic? I started taking it yesterday after noon, and am supposed to take it 3 times a day. I have taken 4 so far.
Does cephalexin cause you urinate more often?
- Asked
- 2 Jun 2011 by Adrein26
- Updated
- 13 October 2021 (5 days ago)
- Topics
- cephalexin, surgery
8 Answers
Marvell
6 Jun 2011
Increased urination is not a known side effect or allergic reaction of cephalexin. Hope it has resolved by now. If it hasn't then I would recommend that you see your doctor ... to check that you don't have a urinary tract infection.
brendali
2 Aug 2012
My daughter has strep Throat, she was prescribed cephalexin 500mg twice a day. She just told me she's had to pee many times. So, I guess it is a side effect.
Pat-TA
27 Mar 2013
I had the same question. The day after I began taking cephalexin (2 doses 1st day) I woke up feeling extremely dehydrated. Sometimes I need to urinate as often as 2-3 times per hour, waking up repeatedly at night as well. My mouth has been constantly dry and I've had to drink water constantly in an attempt to prevent the terrible headaches I associate with dehydration. The symptoms have not improved during treatment (7+ day course 500 mg taken every 6 hours). I am due to finish today and certainly hope it improves when I am no longer taking them. Normally the gastro side effects of antibiotics are the worst thing, but this cycle of increased urination and all it brings with it has been very troublesome. I know it is not a "known side effect" but I know my body. I am not taking any other meds, have made no other changes, and this effect was strong and coincided perfectly with beginning the meds. A quick search online shows that many others are apparently seeing the same effects.
frequentpee
20 Mar 2014
I started taking cephalexin 500 mg since last 3 days and now i have to pee every 15-30 minutes. Does anyone know if this will get better after i have stopped taking cephalexin.
frequentpee
20 Mar 2014
I started taking cephalexin 500 mg since last 3 days and now i have to pee every 15-30 minutes. Does anyone know if this will get better after i have stopped taking cephalexin. Also i have dry mouth and unable to sleep because of frequent trips to the bathroom.
I am worried how long will this last. If anyone has gone through this experience and felt better after stopping cephalexin pls. respond. Thanks.
AWorkinProgress
23 Mar 2014
I hope this doesn't offend anyone - but we've had the similar situation with Cephalexin for the past few years in our family, and were told up front that it was normal and expected. But here's our situation: Dosage 500mg every 8 hrs for a 140 lb female for a urinary tract infection. However, the patient was our Great Dane. As she got older, she would have a UTI every now and then. This was the drug and dosage of choice from our Vet. She'd be on it for 2 weeks, and it was very effective. Within a few hours on it, she would start drinking a LOT of water (because she's thirsty) then begin urinating more frequently, with more volume and of course, more urgency. (Imagine 2 adults and a 140 lb dog running to get a door open before the flood hits.) Since it's definitely flushing fluid through her system, I wonder if that might be a reason our Vet was so comfortable to prescribe it for a UTI.
AWorkinProgress
23 Mar 2014
As for does the symptom stop after you're off the drug - in our GD's case - yes. As soon as she came off it - it stopped immediately once it was out of her system... which was in hours.
amberr1977
20 Mar 2015
I am currently prescribed this for a tooth ache and we'll that should explain why or how I came across this article. I have also feel that my urinanation frequency has increased. !
LV1959
15 Jun 2015
I took cephalexin 500mgs, 4 x day, for 3 days after foot surgery. I started noticing the urge to urinate by the end of the 3rd day. It's gotten worse and I've been off of it for over 2 days now. It's so bad, it wakes me during the night, every 2-2 1/2 hours and it feels like when you've been holding it for hours! I, also, have some soreness, burning and itching. I did eat yogurt every day, while I was taking it but it must have not been enough. Making a call to my doctor's office for a medication for a yeast infection.
Savage3OO6
15 Sep 2015
I had a vasectomy last week and I was given cephalexin. I've been peeing every 15 to 20 minutes while I'm awake and every 2 hours while I'm asleep. I've got a newborn son at home, so the last thing I needed was something else getting in the way of my precious sleep.
donnie4life
2 Sep 2017
I started taking Cephalexin due to a UTI and I have a suprapubic catheter. Ever since I started taking it I am gushing out around the catheter excessively. I feel like a kid wetting the bed again.
Xerriah3
24 May 2018
I have had the exact same effects!!! I pee EVERY 10 minutes! My blood pressure meds has a side effect of more frequent urination and with this added!!! Im pretty miserable and cant wait until this medication is done! However, I absolutely do feel that it should be put as a main side effect of this medication. Crazy!
Moontoothy
9 Jan 2020
I have also been prescribed this medicine for a sinus infection. I noticed this right away. I am peeing all the time or feel like I have a UTI and will just pee a drop or 2. It happens right after I take the medicine and then goes away until the next dose. Good to know I am not crazy.
ratinlove
18 Jan 2020
Oh my god. It was prescribed to my three year old. She’s been crying each night. Score bed begging me to find diapers and to let her go pee on a potty (where she will sit endlessly). I went to a doctor today with this issue and they had no clue what’s up. This medication is ridiculous- my little one is devastated. I have been crying each night trying to figure out what it is. Wonder who I should contact so this issue can be added as a side effect.
Kwillett90
27 Jan 2020
I was prescribed this 4 days ago for a case of strep throat , I am also having the same side effect . I normally go about 2 or 3 times a day , now I'm going about 2 or 3 times every hr .cant wait to be off this
mommy10
2 Aug 2020
I have been prescribed 250mg at bedtime for unexplained recurrent UTI in pregnancy as a daily prophylaxis until I give
birth. YES this med does cause frequent urination and all of your answers have validated the effect I am feeling as well- so thank you for posting. Yes I am
battling UTI which does cause frequent urination but I have noticed that within 10 minutes or so of taking this, I am having to go a lot more within certain time frames, than I do in the day when I am not on it- and drinking more water. Like one poster mentioned, several times per hour, and can last 5-6 hours so imagine needing to sleep but waking up
constantly to urinate. Very inconvenient and uncomfortable. Good luck to everyone.
diroses
19 Mar 2021
I was prescribed cephalexin at 500 mg. 3 times daily for a UTI. By the 2nd night, I was wetting the bed. I kid you not, I have never had to pee so much with a UTI in my life. I thought maybe I had something bad wrong and even called an online dr. She told me to go to my regular general practitioner... I'm reading about all the other people that have had the same side affects and now my anxieties are gone. The only thing is now I need diapers for the rest of my treatment. This is absolutely crazy! Thanks to everyone that has answered this question. Daytime is best because i know how long i can hold off..but night time waking and needing to go in a split second... no way.
Lmpyaa
5 days ago
This is definitely a side effect. It was making me pee so much and actually making my urethra hurt, I went back to the doctor to ask if I could stop taking it because the peeing was driving me crazy. I was also experiencing stinging pain with the peeing. I've been off it for 24 hours now and am still experiencing this horrible side effect.
Further Information
- Cephalexin Information for Consumers
- Cephalexin Information for Healthcare Professionals (includes dosage details)
- Side Effects of Cephalexin (detailed)
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