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Can Cephalexin Causes High BP, High Pulse Rate And Chills?
Question: I have taken cephalexin before with no effects.Dosage 500mg 3 times a day.The second lot of cephalexin I took, after the second capsule had a severe reaction.I had elevated blood pressure ,elevated pulse rate,chills for about 2hrs and an irregular heartbeat.This happened on two occasions.How is this possible as I have taken this drug on two other times with no reaction.I am seeing my Doctor today.I am not taking any more medication today and are puzzled why this occurred.This was prescribed for a uti.Can you offer any explanation
Brief Answer:
Might be due to UTI
Detailed Answer:
Hello Sir,
Welcome to Healthcare Magic.
I understand your concern.After reading your query, I would like to say that I do not think this is an allergic reaction to Cephalexin. If it would have been so, you would have got it the first time you took it.
At present I could only think of one thing that bacteria causing this UTI is resistant to this antibiotic and it is causing sudden bouts of fever, chills and irregular heartbeat.If I were your treating doctor, I would have done a urine culture and change your antibiotic for now.Once the report arrives I would have confirmation of which antibiotics this bacteria is sensitive to and would have made change according to it.
Hope I have answered your query.Feel free to ask more.
Dr.Moumita Chakraborty
Might be due to UTI
Detailed Answer:
Hello Sir,
Welcome to Healthcare Magic.
I understand your concern.After reading your query, I would like to say that I do not think this is an allergic reaction to Cephalexin. If it would have been so, you would have got it the first time you took it.
At present I could only think of one thing that bacteria causing this UTI is resistant to this antibiotic and it is causing sudden bouts of fever, chills and irregular heartbeat.If I were your treating doctor, I would have done a urine culture and change your antibiotic for now.Once the report arrives I would have confirmation of which antibiotics this bacteria is sensitive to and would have made change according to it.
Hope I have answered your query.Feel free to ask more.
Dr.Moumita Chakraborty
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Thank you for your answer.Having a urine culture done ,ultrasound and ECG.There is blood in my urine but no specific infection maybe the urine culture could explain this.My doctor has never heard of such a extreme reaction to cephalexin.Is it possible for this reaction to be caused by resistant bacteria? I certainly would not want it to occur again
Brief Answer:
detailed answer below
Detailed Answer:
Hello Sir,
Thank you so much for your follow up question.
As you said that your urine culture did not show any bacterias in it but you are still having fever and chills, I can think of those organisms which generally do not show up in general urine cultures or need another test like PCR for it to be diagnosed.
UTI with organisms like gonorrhea,TB,chlamydia do not show up in any general urine culture.These organism grows only in specially fortified artificial culture media under specific culture conditions.
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing has been recommended for the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis, mycoplasma and ureaplasma infections.Culture for AFBs (3 early morning urine samples) would be diagnostic of renal TB.
I f your problems are not resolving,you should see your doctor and discuss about it.
Hope I clarifeid your doubt.If you have no further clarifications,please rate this answer and close this discussion.Thank You!
Dr.Moumita Chakraborty
detailed answer below
Detailed Answer:
Hello Sir,
Thank you so much for your follow up question.
As you said that your urine culture did not show any bacterias in it but you are still having fever and chills, I can think of those organisms which generally do not show up in general urine cultures or need another test like PCR for it to be diagnosed.
UTI with organisms like gonorrhea,TB,chlamydia do not show up in any general urine culture.These organism grows only in specially fortified artificial culture media under specific culture conditions.
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing has been recommended for the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis, mycoplasma and ureaplasma infections.Culture for AFBs (3 early morning urine samples) would be diagnostic of renal TB.
I f your problems are not resolving,you should see your doctor and discuss about it.
Hope I clarifeid your doubt.If you have no further clarifications,please rate this answer and close this discussion.Thank You!
Dr.Moumita Chakraborty
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
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