Augmentin vs. Keflex

• Are Augmentin and Keflex the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Augmentin?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Keflex?
• What is Augmentin?
• What is Keflex?
• What Drugs Interact with Augmentin?
• What Drugs Interact with Keflex?
• How Should Augmentin Be Taken?
• How Should Keflex Be Taken?

Augmentin (amoxicillin/clavulanate) and Keflex (cephalexin) are antibiotics used to treat bacterial infections.

Keflex treats many types of infections, especially skin and soft tissue infections and is also used before dental procedures in patients identified with certain heart-related conditions to prevent bacterial infections of the heart known as endocarditis.

Augmentin and Keflex are different types of antibiotics. Augmentin is a combination penicillin-type antibiotic and a beta-lactamase inhibitor and Keflex is a cephalosporin antibiotic.

Side effects of Augmentin and Keflex that are similar include nausea, vomiting, headache, diarrhea, stomach/abdominal pain, skin rash or itching, and vaginal itching or discharge.

Side effects of Augmentin that are different from Keflex include gas, and white patches in your mouth or throat.

Side effects of Keflex that are different from Augmentin include dizziness, tiredness, stomach upset, joint pain, and swelling.

Both Augmentin and Keflex may interact with probenecid or blood thinners.

Augmentin may also interact with allopurinol or other antibiotics.

Keflex may also interact with metformin.

Common side effects of Augmentin include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Headache
• Diarrhea
• Gas
• Stomach pain
• Skin rash or itching
• White patches in your mouth or throat
• Vaginal yeast infection (itching or discharge)

Rare and severe side effects of Augmentin can include:

• watery or bloody diarrhea;
• pale or yellowed skin, dark colored urine, fever, confusion or weakness;
• easy bruising or bleeding;
• skin rash, bruising, severe tingling, numbness, pain, muscle weakness;
• agitation, confusion, unusual thoughts or behavior, seizures (convulsions);
• nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or
• severe skin reaction -- fever, sore throat, swelling in your face or tongue, burning in your eyes, skin pain, followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially in the face or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling.  

Common side effects of Keflex include:

• diarrhea,
• dizziness,
• tiredness,
• headache,
• stomach upset,
• abdominal pain,
• joint pain,
• vaginal itching or discharge,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• itching,
• swelling, and
• rash.

Augmentin (amoxicillin/clavulanate) is a combination antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections including sinusitis, pneumonia, ear infections, bronchitis, urinary tract infections, and infections of the skin.

Keflex (cephalexin) is a cephalosporin antibiotic prescribed to treat bacterial infections. Keflex is also used before dental procedures in patients identified with certain heart-related conditions to prevent bacterial infections of the heart known as endocarditis. Keflex is available as a generic drug.

Augmentin may interact with probenecid or blood thinners.

Augmentin may also interact with allopurinol or other antibiotics.

Keflex and amoxicillin may interact with probenecid and blood thinners.

Keflex may also interact with metformin.

Augmentin may be taken without regard to meals; however, absorption of clavulanate potassium is enhanced when Augmentin is administered at the start of a meal. To minimize the potential for gastrointestinal intolerance, AUGMENTIN should be taken at the start of a meal.

Keflex dosage depends on the condition being treated. Keflex should be used with caution in patients who have kidney disease and those who report a history of penicillin allergy.