Can Keflex be used to substitute Augmentin?

Question

I have a prescription for Augmentin and I asked about the price at a near by Pharmacy and it was kind of pricey then my friend told me that Keflex could maybe substitute Augmentin, so i called my doctor and other pharmacies and they just kept giving me the run around, but I did find out that keflex had a better price. So I'd like Keflex other then Augmentin, but I need to know if it would work. Cause they're both antibiotics.

Answer 1

Yes, they are both antibiotics, but they are active against different bacteria.  Keflex is a cephalosporin and Augmentin is a penicillin.  They both are generic.

Answer 2

Not necessarily.  We have so many antibiotics available these days because bacterias are resistant to many of them.  

If your doctor prescribed Augmentin (amoxicillin with clavulanate potassium) after doing a culture and sensitivity and that particular antibiotic was found to be the most effective at killing the strain of bacteria that you have acquired, then you need to stick with Augmentin. If he just prescribed something out of the blue, call him back and ask for amoxicillin instead - it's very affordable and might work just as well.  

The generics of antibiotics are as equally effective as the name brands, so don't be forced into buying a branded product if you don't have to.