| Drug Interactions:

Cephalosporins

Vitamin K - Supplementation Possibly Helpful

See also Antibiotics (General)

These antibiotics work somewhat similarly to penicillin, but have been chemically modified to have a broader spectrum of effect.

Drugs in this family include

• cefadroxil (Duricef)
• cephalexin (Cefanex, Keflex, Keftab, Biocef)
• cephradine (Velosef)
• cefaclor (Ceclor, Ceclor CD)
• cefprozil (Cefzil)
• cefuroxime (Ceftin)
• loracarbef (Lorabid)
• cefdinir (Omnicef)
• cefixime (Suprax)
• cefpodoxime proxetil (Vantin)
• ceftibuten (Cedax)
• and others

Vitamin K

Supplementation Possibly Helpful

Like all other antibiotics, cephalosporins might interfere with vitamin K levels by killing vitamin K–producing bacteria in the intestines. In addition, antibiotics in the cephalosporin family may also interfere with the way vitamin K works.¹  For this reason, taking extra vitamin K may be a good idea when using cephalosporins over the long term.

References [ + ]

1. Shils M, et al. (eds.). Modern nutrition in health and disease, 9th ed. Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins, 1999: 1634.

Last reviewed July 2012 by EBSCO CAM Review Board
Last Updated: 7/25/2012

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