Cefalexin

(CC) Image: David E. Volk
cefalexin
IUPAC name: see chemistry section Synonyms: cephalexin Formula: C16H17N3O4S
Uses:	antibiotic drug
Properties:	beta-lactam
Hazards:	see drug interactions
Mass (g/mol): CAS #: 347.3890 15686-71-2

Cefalexin (cephalexin) is one of the most widely used antibiotic medications. It is a first-generation cephalosporin type of antibiotic drug, that is sold under nearly 100 brand names.

Chemistry

An IUPAC chemical name of cefalexin is (6R,7R)-7-[[(2R)-2-amino-2-phenylacetyl]amino]-3-methyl-8-oxo-5-thia-1-azabicyclo[4.2.0]oct-2-ene-2-carboxylic acid. Its chemical formula, C₁₆H₁₇N₃O₄S, gives it an average molecule mass of 347.3890 gram/mole. Its antibacterial activity is due to the core beta-lactam structure, which bind with penicillin-binding proteins within bacteria, thereby inhibiting bacterial cell wall synthesis, by an acylation reaction of the lactam with the bacterial proteins.

Brand Names

Alcephin Alexin Alsporin Biocef Carnosporin Cefa-iskia Cefablan Cefadal Cefadin Cefadina Cefaleksin Cefalin Cefaloto Cefaseptin Cefax Ceforal Cefovit Celexin Cepastar Cepexin

Cephacillin Cephanasten Cephaxin Cephin Cepol Ceporex Ceporex Forte Ceporexin Ceporexin-E Ceporexine Check Cophalexin Durantel Durantel DS Ed A-Ceph Erocetin Factagard Felexin Fexin Ibilex

Ibrexin Inphalex Kefalospes Keflet Keflex Kefolan Keforal Keftab Kekrinal Kidolex L-Keflex Lafarine Larixin Lenocef Lexibiotico Lonflex Lopilexin Madlexin Mamalexin Mamlexin

Medoxine Neokef Neolexina Novolexin Nufex Oracef Oriphex Oroxin Ortisporina Ospexin Palitrex Panixine Disperdose Pectril Pyassan Roceph Sanaxin Sartosona Sencephalin Sepexin Servispor

Sialexin Sinthecillin Sporicef Sporidex Syncl Syncle Synecl Tepaxin Tokiolexin Uphalexin Voxxim Winlex Zozarine

References

The most up-to-date information about Cefalexin and other drugs can be found at the following sites.

• Cefalexin - FDA approved drug information (drug label) from DailyMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine).
• Cefalexin - Drug information for consumers from MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine).
• Cefalexin - Detailed information from DrugBank.