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Drug interactions

Canagliflozin-metformin + Cephalexin

Severity: Moderate

Canagliflozin-metformin and Cephalexin: moderate interaction.

Last updated

For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.

Summary

Cephalexin may compete with metformin for renal tubular secretion and raise metformin levels. This may increase the risk of metformin adverse effects including lactic acidosis, mainly in patients with renal impairment.

What this interaction means in plain words

Canagliflozin-metformin and Cephalexin can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.

Evidence level: Moderate

Why it happens

Competition for renal tubular secretion via OCT2 and MATE transporters reduces metformin clearance.

What to do

Monitor renal function and glycemic control during cephalexin therapy, and reduce the metformin dose in patients with renal impairment.

What to ask your pharmacist

  • Should I take them at different times of day?
  • Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
  • Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?

Bring a full list of your medicines, including over-the-counter products, supplements and herbal remedies, to every pharmacy visit.

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Frequently asked questions

Can I take Canagliflozin-metformin with Cephalexin?

MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Canagliflozin-metformin and Cephalexin can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Cephalexin may compete with metformin for renal tubular secretion and raise metformin levels. This may increase the risk of metformin adverse effects including lactic acidosis, mainly in patients with renal impairment.

How serious is the interaction between Canagliflozin-metformin and Cephalexin?

MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Monitor renal function and glycemic control during cephalexin therapy, and reduce the metformin dose in patients with renal impairment.

What other medicines interact with Canagliflozin-metformin?

MediHelp also lists interactions of Canagliflozin-metformin with, for example, Contrast media, Diatrizoate, Diatrizoate meglumine / diatrizoate. The full list is on the Canagliflozin-metformin page.

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