cephalexin vs metformin

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Side-by-side comparison of cephalexin and metformin. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

minor Known Drug Interaction

7 DRUG INTERACTIONS Metformin: increased metformin concentrations. ( 7.3 ) 7.1 Metformin Administration of cephalexin with metformin results in increased plasma metformin concentrations and decreased renal clearance of metformin. Careful patient monitoring and dose adjustment of metformin is recommended in patients concomitantly taking cephalexin and metformin [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ].

Drug Class
cephalexin First-Generation Cephalosporin
metformin Biguanide
Type
cephalexin Prescription
metformin Prescription
Summary
cephalexin

Cephalexin is an antibiotic medicine. It fights bacterial infections in your body.

metformin

No summary available.

What It Treats
cephalexin

Cephalexin treats infections caused by bacteria. It can treat infections in your lungs or airways. It also treats ear infections, skin infections, bone infections, and urinary tract infections.

metformin

Information not available.

How It Works
cephalexin

Cephalexin belongs to a class of drugs called cephalosporins. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria. This helps your body fight off the infection.

metformin

Information not available.

Common Side Effects
cephalexin
  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Upset stomach
  • Stomach pain
metformin
  • Diarrhea
  • Upper respiratory tract infection (like a cold)
  • Headache
FAERS Reports
cephalexin
  • Chronic Kidney Disease 2,155
  • Renal Failure 1,554
  • Acute Kidney Injury 1,538
  • Pain 1,365
  • Diarrhoea 1,350
metformin
  • Nausea 21,946
  • Diarrhoea 21,884
  • Blood Glucose Increased 18,328
  • Fatigue 17,252
  • Acute Kidney Injury 16,440
Serious Warnings
cephalexin

Cephalexin can cause severe allergic reactions. Tell your doctor if you are allergic to penicillin or other cephalosporin antibiotics. This medicine can also cause severe diarrhea. If you get diarrhea, tell your doctor right away. People with kidney problems may need a lower dose to prevent seizures.

metformin

No specific warnings noted.

Pregnancy
cephalexin

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Studies haven't shown harm to the baby, but talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits. Cephalexin passes into breast milk, but the amount is very low.

metformin

No pregnancy information available.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

Compare cephalexin with

How to Read This cephalexin vs metformin Comparison

cephalexin is classified in the First-Generation Cephalosporin drug class, while metformin sits within the Biguanide class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.

Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, cephalexin has 7,962 submissions while metformin has 95,850. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to cephalexin makes it harder for your kidneys to remove metformin from your body. this causes the metformin to stay in your blood longer and reach higher levels than usual.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot represent individual circumstances. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This registry does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions for cephalexin or metformin.

Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.