Keftab: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, and Best Tips for Antibiotic Safety

If you’ve ever had a nasty throat infection that left you sounding like a croaking frog, there’s a fair chance your doctor handed you a box of Keftab. This isn’t some new kid on the block. Keftab, with its active ingredient cephalexin, has been fighting bacteria since the 1970s. But don’t let its age fool you—it’s still one of the go-to weapons for beating those annoying bacterial infections.

How Does Keftab Work and When Should You Use It?

Keftab operates like a tiny demolition team targeting only the bad guys: bacteria. Its active component, cephalexin, is a member of the cephalosporin family of antibiotics. Here’s how it works: it breaks down the bacterial cell wall—just like someone punching holes through a fortress. No wall, no life. That’s why it’s especially good for killing bacteria that can’t defend themselves against this particular attack.

People tend to meet Keftab mostly for throat infections, ear infections, sinusitis, and skin infections. It often tackles urinary tract infections (UTIs) and some dental infections too. It isn’t a cure-all: Keftab doesn’t touch viruses at all. That means it won’t help your cold or the flu. This is a pretty big deal, because there’s still a lot of confusion about when antibiotics are helpful. Taking it for the wrong problem just feeds antibiotic resistance, which makes life harder for everyone.

If you’ve picked up a prescription for Keftab, it’s usually for pretty common bugs like Streptococcus (the one famous for strep throat), Staphylococcus, or E. coli. It covers a heap of different bacteria, but not every single kind. That's why you’re better off not borrowing a friend’s leftover pills just because you both have a cough. Doctors sometimes even ask for a swab to make sure Keftab is the right match for your infection. Here’s why: the overuse and misuse of antibiotics are making some bacteria much tougher to treat. The World Health Organization keeps sounding the alarm that antimicrobial resistance could become one of the world’s top health threats if we’re not careful.

Here in Australia, Keftab comes in handy when penicillin isn’t an option—maybe you’re allergic or have other reasons to avoid it. It tends to work fast for things like sore throats, with lots of folks feeling better in two or three days. Still, you shouldn’t stop early; bacteria love it when you give up halfway. Even if you’re feeling good after a day or two, finish your course. If not, surviving bacteria can go on to multiply and come back stronger. This is one of the simplest but most important tips for taking antibiotics correctly.

Doctors usually prescribe Keftab as tablets or capsules, sometimes as a liquid for kids. Absorption is pretty quick—about an hour—and the medicine spreads throughout your body, especially targeting the infection. Because it passes through your kidneys, you’ll want to mention any problems you have there to your doctor. In one study, patients with healthy kidneys cleared Keftab in roughly 8 hours, but in people with kidney problems, it lingered longer. That’s why dosage adjustments matter, and your doc will make sure you’re getting the right amount for your situation.

So, the main takeaways for using Keftab safely:

• Only use it for bacterial infections diagnosed by a doctor.
• Finish your prescribed course even if you feel better.
• Share your allergies and medical history, especially about kidneys or gut problems.
• Don’t share antibiotics with others or use leftovers.

A clinic here in Melbourne handed out nearly 2,400 prescriptions for cephalexin in 2024 alone, according to a local GP’s data. Its popularity speaks for itself, but the most responsible way to use it is only under medical advice, never “just in case.”

Keftab Dosage, How to Take It, and What to Watch For

The dosing for Keftab is not one-size-fits-all. It depends on your age, the kind of infection you have, and your health status. For adults, a typical dose might be 250 mg every six hours, or sometimes 500 mg every twelve hours, depending on your doctor’s orders. Some skin and throat infections do better on the lower end. Kid’s doses get calculated by weight—doctor’s call. Trust them on this; underdosing can be just as much of a problem as overdosing.

There are a few good habits worth remembering when it comes to taking Keftab:

• Stick to a schedule—set reminders so you don’t miss a dose.
• Take it with or without food, but if it upsets your stomach, try it with a meal or a cracker.
• Don’t crush or chew the capsules unless your doctor says it’s fine.
• If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it’s close to the next dose, just skip it.
• No double dosing to catch up. That never ends well.

Some pharmacies in Australia even provide a little chart, so you can tick off doses as you go. A minor thing, but when you’re sick and distracted, it’s surprisingly easy to forget.

Side effects? Most people get away with very mild ones—or none at all. The most common things you might notice are stomach upset, mild diarrhea, or, occasionally, a bit of nausea. A few folks get a rash or itching. Sometimes there’s a little headache or dizziness, but these are less common. If you’re the unlucky type or have allergies to antibiotics, there are rarer side effects doctors worry about:

• Severe rash or hives
• Swelling of the lips or face
• Trouble breathing (get medical help fast if this happens)
• Watery or bloody diarrhea, especially if it persists (could be a sign of a gut infection called C. difficile—rare, but serious)
• Yellowing of eyes or skin (which could suggest liver trouble)

Kids and older adults are slightly more likely to get side effects, and your doctor might monitor things like kidney function during a course if you have pre-existing health issues. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding usually can take cephalexin safely, but always check with a doctor first.

Since Keftab is cleared through kidneys, if your kidney function isn’t tip-top, your doctor will tweak your dose. Here’s a quick look at how Keftab is processed in the body:

If you’re on other medications, let your doctor know. While serious drug interactions are rare, some things like probenecid (for gout) can affect how long Keftab stays in your system. Tablets of iron or zinc can sometimes lower Keftab absorption, so spacing them out from your antibiotic is smart.

If you develop thrush (white patches in the mouth) during treatment, that’s a sign the medicine has also killed off friendly bacteria. It sounds grim, but most pharmacists can help you pick a quick fix for that.

Something a lot of people wonder: Can you drink alcohol on Keftab? The answer isn’t as dramatic as with some antibiotics. A drink or two likely won’t interact, but if you’ve got a stomach that’s already fragile, alcohol can make you feel sicker. It’s often smartest to skip it while you’re recovering, just to give your body a break.

Finally, if your infection doesn’t get better in three to five days, or you get worse, go back to your doctor. There might be a resistant bacteria in play, or you could have a different kind of bug causing the problem. Don’t just keep taking leftover tablets in hopes they’ll work the second time around.

Tips for Taking Keftab Responsibly and Avoiding Antibiotic Resistance

Keftab doesn’t work alone. It needs you to play by a few simple rules to hit bacteria where it hurts and keep antibiotic resistance from getting out of hand. There’s a real danger in letting bacteria get ‘smart’ about antibiotics. If they learn how to dodge one, they’ll spread that trick to others. That’s what doctors mean when they talk about “superbugs.”

Here’s how you do your bit while taking Keftab:

• Don’t skip doses or stop early, even if you feel better. It’s an old drum, but it matters.
• Never share your prescription with friends or family. Their infection—if it is an infection—might need a different treatment.
• Always return leftover medicine to the pharmacy for safe disposal. Don’t flush them or toss them in the bin; traces in the water supply add to environmental resistance.
• Check the expiry date on your medicine. Leftovers from years ago won’t just be less effective, they can even be unsafe.
• If you’re prescribed probiotics, take them a few hours after Keftab to help your gut bacteria bounce back.
• Let your doctor know if you develop new symptoms during your course, especially fever coming back or strong gut issues.

Check out these Australian stats from 2025:

Half the battle with Keftab is information—knowing you’re treating the right bug, taking it the right way, and not feeding the cycle of resistance. If you’re ever unsure about what to do, ring your pharmacist or doctor. They're there to help you use meds like Keftab safely, not just scribble off prescriptions. There’s nothing heroic about powering through with the wrong meds or mystery pills from the back of the cupboard. The smartest move? Take it slow, listen to the recommendations, and give your body the best shot at bouncing back.