How long does it take for cephalosporin capsules to take effect?

Jun 28, 2024 Source: Cainiu Health
Disease description:

I started having an upper respiratory tract infection two days ago and went to the hospital for a checkup. The doctor prescribed cefalexin capsules for me. I would like to know how long it takes for cefalexin capsules to take effect?

Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Yang Ziqi
The onset time of the efficacy of cephalosporin capsules varies among individuals. Generally, cephalosporins begin to take effect about 30 minutes after administration, which is a relatively fast-acting characteristic of this class of antibiotics. However, a significant therapeutic effect usually requires some waiting time. Clinically, noticeable improvement with cephalosporin treatment typically occurs around three days after administration, especially for most bacterial infections. Furthermore, the duration of treatment with cephalosporins varies depending on the specific disease and severity of infection. For example, respiratory infections such as pneumonia may require a treatment course of 7 to 10 days, while inflammation caused by conditions like cholecystitis or gallstones may require approximately 10 days of therapy. Therefore, the time at which the effects of cephalosporin capsules become evident cannot be generalized but must be determined according to the patient's specific condition.