Cephalexin and Dizziness: What Users Say (Page 2)

• pit...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 25, 2017

For Bacterial Infection "Finished a week on Keflex for a skin infection on my leg, so severe I could not put weight on my leg. Back to ER, put on Clindamycin 300 mg x 3 for 10 days. Come back if no improvement after 3 days. After 3 days, pain has improved, swelling better, must be working. Makes me tired and a little dizzy. Take probiotics for any GI issues. Always take with food."

• May...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 21, 2022

For Bacterial Infection "I was prescribed a week's worth of cephalexin, four 500 mg capsules a day for a possible UTI. For the first 2-3 days of taking this medication, I felt like a bloated, dizzy, tired zombie and didn't feel an improvement. For one of those days, I got horrible constipation and indigestion. I couldn't pass gas. It scared me and made me anxious. I began to question whether this medication would actually work for me. I also recommend taking a probiotic with this medication since it does go hard on your digestive system in my experience. Thankfully, by the middle of the 3rd day, I finally felt some relief and started to feel a bit better. I had less pain. Unfortunately, though, the next couple of days were a rollercoaster with the persistent stomach pain and constipation. After treatment, urine tests came back free of infection. I still have some stomach pain, dizziness, fatigue, and some constipation, though hopefully it goes away soon. I will keep treating and healing my stomach with probiotics. Maybe I would try another medication next time."

• Lin...
• November 3, 2016

For Skin or Soft Tissue Infection "I got a flu shot, and the next morning I woke up with fever, pounding headache, and a large red swelling on my arm with streaks that connected to the lymph nodes. I was diagnosed with cellulitis. I was clearly not swabbed well enough, if at all (can't remember). I started on 3 doses of Cephalexin 500 per day, but got worse the first day and ended up in the ER. The ER doc bumped me up to 4 doses. It has pretty much cleared it up. The exhaustion has been horrific, and at times I'm dizzy. No diarrhea, but sometimes I become extremely nauseous. It strikes me out of nowhere. I find that taking Zantac helps. I'm also really achy and all around unwell. One pill to go, and I can't wait. But the stuff works, or I'd have developed sepsis, so all good."

• Sto...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 10, 2015

For Bacterial Infection "I have an abscess growing in my nose. Basically, it is a pus-filled pimple. Very disgusting to know this is inside my sensitive nose. I was prescribed 500 mg 4 times a day. Within the 4th dose, I noticed the pain in my nose less and less. I am on day 4, and although I feel the occasional tenderness in my nose, the meds are working. But...I feel horrible. I have constant stomach cramps, tightness where it hurts to bend over or reach for something where I use my stomach muscles. I have gas, and I'm bloated. I feel dizzy to the point I occasionally lose balance. So far, I haven't had diarrhea, probably because I tend to be constipated lately due to other issues. I have, though, used the bathroom twice a day, but it is a relief to go."

• luc...
• May 31, 2009

For Bacterial Infection "Seems to help with the infection, which I thought was internal hemorrhoids but became a mass of bacteria under the skin. I think it was able to block further infection from occurring. Always get a little dizzy from this medicine, but it works."

• Bec...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 3, 2019

"This cephalexin is an awful drug. I am taking the generic. I have taken it for three days as a precaution after surgery to remove plaques from my eyelids. My side effects: headache, diarrhea, muscle weakness, fatigue, fast heart rate, dizziness, depressed mood, and anxiety. Never again. I cannot wait to be off it. Doctors throw drugs at patients without consideration for side effects. I called the doctor, they said to complete the prescription. No wonder patients stop taking antibiotics. Awful drug."

• Ada...
• October 31, 2017

For Skin or Soft Tissue Infection "Got 500 mg of Keflex prescribed to me for alleged infected spider bites. Day one, I felt okay, had to go to the bathroom a lot, but otherwise, my stomach wasn't too bad. By night two, I was on the verge of going to the ER. My stomach felt like it was eating itself, my BP/pulse through the roof, every muscle in my body was spasming, and I was in full freak-out mode. Stopped taking it after that. It's been four days since I took it, and I'm still sick. Dizzy, can't eat, feel crappy and weak. Doc said the antibiotics made me sick and that I had to be on the BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast) for a week. FUN!"

• Chi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 3, 2019

For Bacterial Infection "On Keflex 500 mg for 4 days, then Ancef by IV for 6 days, and then 1000 mg Keflex for 3 days, and major vertigo started. Have self-removed meds as it is a weekend and no one to call. Was to be on for another week. It is for cellulitis that came back from treatment a month ago. It seems to have cured that. I have been reading stuff online about Keflex and hearing loss and ear problems, e.g., vertigo, and it is well worth doing some looking up about it. Hope it resolves quickly so I can return to work on Monday."

• Im ...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 12, 2020

For Skin or Soft Tissue Infection "I've been prescribed cephalexin way too much. I'm on it for the fourth time for a pretty bad staph infection that I've had for over a year now. Day 4 of 500 mg 3x a day and I'm exhausted, having panic attacks, dizziness, confusion, and headache, but the infection is still there. I am only giving this a 4 rating because there's really been no change, except cysts are worse and side effects are intolerable. I'm sure it's because I've been prescribed antibiotics so much that they just don't work anymore."

• Bre...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 25, 2016

For Bacterial Infection "Got diagnosed with mastitis for the first time this week from a stubborn clogged duct and prescribed 500 mcg, 4 pills a day. Luckily, I caught it early and it only took two pills for the mastitis symptoms to go away. After 6 pills, I started to get extremely lightheaded, dizzy, and disoriented, so much so that I couldn't drive and had to have someone babysit because I was afraid I was going to pass out or worse! My doctor cut my dose down to two pills a day, so hopefully that will help the side effects. I've never experienced such horrible side effects from any medicine! I don't know what was worse, the side effects from this medicine or the mastitis! I'll never take this medicine again!"

• SoM...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 9, 2018

For Kidney Infections "22-year-old female, got diagnosed with UTI (first time), started Keflex within 3 hours of the UTI symptoms starting. Right after taking the meds, I started getting chills (probably my body fighting off the infection), then a low-grade fever. Terrible headaches. Nausea. Dry mouth. Some dizziness when getting up. Super fatigued. Anxiety. Today is day 3 of taking 500 mg 2x a day. Still hurts to urinate, but not nearly as bad as day 1. Sometimes my headaches go away a couple of hours after drinking the med. Might need to call the doc tomorrow to see if I can switch meds, because I’m not sure if I can put up with the 10-day prescribed treatment."

• Vio...
• November 4, 2021

For Skin or Soft Tissue Infection "I was prescribed Keflex (500 mg) every 6 hours (4x) a day, for (7) days. I have only taken antibiotics once in my life when I was in high school. I am 28 now, just to give you some perspective. I had a cosmetic procedure, and my surgeon prescribed Keflex. The first day I was still coming off anesthesia, so I didn’t feel much. But the next day I felt horrible. I was so delirious, dizzy, and confused. That was just the start! As the days went on, I experienced blurred vision, sadness, extreme fatigue, and then insomnia. One night I slept for only one hour. I have suffered some acute memory issues and brain fog. I have to say that this experience has left me very afraid of antibiotics, and I only kept taking it because I had to in order to avoid possible infection. I will never willingly take Keflex or any other antibiotic. But I did not get an infection, so I guess it did its job."

• Cas...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 22, 2018

For Upper Respiratory Tract Infection "I've been on this medicine for 7 days now. The first two days I would get hot flashes in the middle of the night. Sweating, drenched. That went away, then I would get headaches, and now my head feels all dizzy. I'm trying to stick it out since I only have 3 more days, but geez. I also experienced palpitations, and I'm on a medicine already that's supposed to control that."

• Mar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 14, 2021

For Bladder Infection "This was my second time taking Cephalexin. First time I only took 3 days' worth for UTI but did not work (apart from giving me thrush). Second time I got a double dose (4×500 mg a day), and with each dose I took, I was feeling like adding poison to my body. On day 3 I felt so dizzy, I could not function and went into a panic attack in front of my children. I went to emergency as it was the scariest experience of my life! I was told to decrease the dose and had another panic attack in my sleep (hearing voices, nightmares). I stopped taking it and have been bedbound for a week. Then 3 days after stopping, I had another panic attack and spent night and day unable to sleep with severe chest pain and unable to breathe. This is an awful medicine, do not take it!"

• Ups...
• September 18, 2009

For Skin or Soft Tissue Infection "It helped me a lot - skin infection cleared in one week. I had no problems with headache or dizziness."

• 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."

• Moi...
• October 16, 2017

Cephalexin for Bacterial Infection "Worked for bacterial UTI, but I got dizzy and numb on my face and had a horrible experience. I would not take it again."

• Anonymous
• August 27, 2009

For Skin or Soft Tissue Infection "Made me dizzy and lightheaded."

• Sad...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 30, 2019

For Kidney Infections "I’m on day two of this med for kidney infection, and the experience has been awful, dizziness, joint pain, and dry mouth, constant dry mouth."