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What Causes Fatigue And Depression While On Cephalexin?

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Posted on Tue, 16 Aug 2016
Question: I have been taking cephalexin capsules for a few weeks. Have had the prescription renewed twice. They are 500mg so I have taken 60 capsules altogether. I have been feeling lethargic and a little depressed which is unusual. Sorry the reason for the antibiotics is a cyst on my back which began as a small lump and enlarged quite a lot. The Dr and nurse have been attending to it almost daily, draining, dressing and filling the hole until it is ready to cut out. Would the capsules be having this effect on me


I am being treated for a (sebaceous) cyst on my back which has been quite large. Being drained and dressed each day and been closed with gauze so it will not heal over from the bottom as the Dr will take the cyst out when it becomes much smaller.

My question is ". Would the above capsules be making me feel lethargic, depressed ? Over the two weeks I have taken 60 capsules, four each day. Please advise
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Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (44 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
it may cause fatigue

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

cephalexin may cause fatigue, so it could be the drug. Taking an antibiotic for weeks is usually not appropriate. I don't quite understand the surgeon's approach (although I'm not a surgeon). Such cysts are usually removed completely. When they're large enough it can be difficult to remove the whole cyst, thus raising the risk for recurrence. An antibiotic can be given for a few days before the procedure but "few weeks" sounds like a lot of time. The cyst is not going to get any smaller, it may just be drained but its wall will still be attached to the nearby tissues.

The longer you take any drug, the higher the risk for side effects, so your symptom could be due to cephalexin. If the symptom is debilitating then you'd better also check for other potential causes like anemia, electrolyte disorders, etc. Lab tests may help.

I hope it helps!
Kind Regards!
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis

Internal Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :1999

Answered : 3819 Questions

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What Causes Fatigue And Depression While On Cephalexin?

Brief Answer: it may cause fatigue Detailed Answer: Hello, cephalexin may cause fatigue, so it could be the drug. Taking an antibiotic for weeks is usually not appropriate. I don't quite understand the surgeon's approach (although I'm not a surgeon). Such cysts are usually removed completely. When they're large enough it can be difficult to remove the whole cyst, thus raising the risk for recurrence. An antibiotic can be given for a few days before the procedure but "few weeks" sounds like a lot of time. The cyst is not going to get any smaller, it may just be drained but its wall will still be attached to the nearby tissues. The longer you take any drug, the higher the risk for side effects, so your symptom could be due to cephalexin. If the symptom is debilitating then you'd better also check for other potential causes like anemia, electrolyte disorders, etc. Lab tests may help. I hope it helps! Kind Regards!