Cephalexin (Keflex) and Cost: What You Need to Know

Introduction

If you have a bacterial infection, your doctor may suggest treatment with cephalexin (Keflex).

Cephalexin is a generic prescription drug that’s used to treat infections caused by certain types of bacteria. It’s used in adults and children ages 1 year and above. It’s also available as the brand-name drug Keflex.

Examples of infections that cephalexin is used to treat include:

• urinary tract infections
• skin infections
• ear infections
• gonorrhea
• pneumonia

This drug comes as capsules, tablets, and an oral suspension. All forms of cephalexin are taken by mouth.

Cephalexin belongs to a group of drugs called cephalosporin antibiotics.

Keep reading for details on cephalexin and cost as well as information on how to save money on prescriptions.

Note: For more details on cephalexin, see this in-depth article.

What’s the price of cephalexin?

The price you pay for cephalexin can vary. Your cost may depend on your treatment plan, your insurance coverage, and the pharmacy you use. It can also depend on the form and strength of cephalexin your doctor prescribes.

To find out how much you’ll pay for cephalexin, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.

FAQs about cost and cephalexin

Below are answers to some common questions about cephalexin and cost.

Does the price of cephalexin capsules depend on the strength I use (250 mg, 500 mg, or 750 mg)?

Maybe. Cephalexin is available in different dosing forms and strengths. Your cost may depend on the form and strength of your prescription as well as whether or not you have health insurance.

Cephalexin is available in the following forms and strengths:

• capsule
  • 250 milligrams (mg)
  • 500 mg
  • 750 mg
• tablet
  • 250 mg
  • 500 mg
• suspension
  • 125 mg per 5 milliliters (mL)
  • 250 mg per 5 mL (available in 100-mL and 200-mL bottles)

The cost of different strengths of cephalexin capsules may be the same if you have insurance. This may also apply to the other forms of cephalexin. You can contact your insurance provider to find out more.

If you don’t have insurance, your cost may differ based on the forms and strengths of cephalexin available to you. (For instance, your cost without insurance may be higher for 750-mg capsules than other strengths.)

Your doctor will prescribe the form and strength that is best to treat your type of infection.

Your pharmacist can tell you the exact cost of your cephalexin prescription.

How much does cephalexin cost without insurance?

How much your cephalexin prescription costs depends on several factors. These include:

• the strength of the drug
• the form of the drug (suspension, capsule, or tablet)
• how often you take cephalexin
• the number of days of your treatment

If you need help paying for your cephalexin prescription, talk with your pharmacist or doctor. Also, see “Can I get help paying for cephalexin?” below for more information.

Can my cost for cephalexin be different from one pharmacy to another without insurance?

Yes. If you don’t have insurance, your cost for cephalexin may differ depending on the pharmacy you use. It’s a good idea to contact a few pharmacies to check the cost of cephalexin in your area.

Remember, all generic versions of cephalexin prescriptions are equally effective. So, if you don’t have insurance, you can use whichever pharmacy will charge you the least for this drug.

Is cephalexin available as a brand-name drug?

The generic drug cephalexin comes as a brand-name version called Keflex. A generic drug is an exact copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. The generic is considered to be just as safe and effective as the original drug. And generics tend to cost less than brand-name drugs.

To find out how the costs of Keflex and cephalexin compare, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.

If you’ve been prescribed cephalexin and you’re interested in using Keflex instead, talk with your doctor. They may prefer one version over another. You’ll also need to check with your insurance provider since it may only cover one drug or the other.

Can I get help paying for cephalexin?

If you need help covering the cost of cephalexin or understanding your insurance, check out these websites:

• NeedyMeds
• Medicine Assistance Tool

On these sites, you can find insurance information, details on drug assistance programs, and links to savings cards and other services.

If you have questions about how you can pay for cephalexin, you may also want to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

What should my next steps be?

If you still have questions about the cost of cephalexin, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to give you a better idea of what you’ll pay for this drug. But if you have health insurance, you’ll need to talk with your insurance provider to learn the actual cost you’ll pay for cephalexin.

Examples of questions you may want to ask your doctor or insurance provider include:

• Will my cost for cephalexin be different for tablets versus capsules?
• Are there certain pharmacies I should use with my insurance in order to pay less for cephalexin?
• Are there other lower-cost medications that could treat my infection?

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.