Pregnancy Risk Category B
How supplied
Tablets: 250 mg, 500 mg
Tablets (film-coated): 250 mg, 500 mg
Capsules: 250 mg‡
Oral suspension: 125 mg/5 ml, 250 mg/5 ml (after reconstitution)
Action
A natural penicillin that inhibits cell-wall synthesis during microorganism multiplication. Bacteria resist penicillins by producing penicillinases-enzymes that convert penicillins to inactive penicillic acid.
Indications & dosage
Mild to moderate systemic infections-
Adults and children ages 12 and older: 125 to 500 mg (400,000 to 800,000 U) P.O. q 6 hours.
Children under age 12: 15 to 62.5 mg/
kg (25,000 to 100,000 U/kg) P.O. daily in divided doses q 6 to 8 hours.
Adverse reactions
CNS: neuropathy.
GI: epigastric distress, vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, black "hairy" tongue.
GU: nephropathy.
Hematologic: eosinophilia, hemolytic anemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia.
Other: hypersensitivity reactions, anaphylaxis, overgrowth of nonsusceptible organisms.
Interactions
Drug-drug. Oral contraceptives: efficacy of oral contraceptives may be decreased. Recommend additional form of contraception during penicillin therapy.
Probenecid: increased blood levels of penicillin. Probenecid may be used for this purpose.
Effects on diagnostic tests
Drug interferes with turbidimetric methods using sulfosalicylic acid, trichloroacetic acid, acetic acid, and nitric acid. It does not interfere with tests using bromphenol blue (Albustix, Albutest, Multistix).
Contraindications
Contraindicated in patients with hypersensitivity to drug or other penicillins.
Nursing considerations
Patient teaching
*Liquid contains alcohol. **May contain tartrazine. †Canada ‡Australia §U.K. OTCOver the counter
Reactions may be common, uncommon, life-threatening, or COMMON AND LIFE-THREATENING