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- $Unique_ID{BRK03101}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{cloxacillin}
- $Subject{sodium Cloxapen Beecham Tegopen Bristol Penicillin antibiotic
- cloxacillin bacterial infections Staphylococcus bacteria}
- $Volume{}
- $Log{
- Tegopen*0310101.scf}
-
- Copyright (C) 1993 Publications International, Ltd.
-
-
- cloxacillin
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- BRAND NAMES (Manufacturers)
-
- cloxacillin sodium (various manufacturers)
- Cloxapen (Beecham)
- Tegopen (Bristol)
-
- TYPE OF DRUG
-
- Penicillin antibiotic
-
- INGREDIENT
-
- cloxacillin
-
- DOSAGE FORMS
-
- Capsules (250 mg and 500 mg)
- Oral solution (125 mg per 5-ml spoonful)
-
- STORAGE
-
- Cloxacillin capsules should be stored at room temperature in a tightly
- closed container. The oral solution should be stored in the refrigerator in a
- tightly closed container. Any unused portion of the solution should be
- discarded after 14 days because the drug loses its potency after that time.
- This medication should never be frozen.
-
- USES
-
- Cloxacillin is used to treat a wide variety of bacterial infections,
- especially those caused by Staphylococcus bacteria. It acts by severely
- injuring the cell walls of the infecting bacteria, thereby preventing them
- from growing and multiplying. Cloxacillin kills susceptible bacteria, but it
- is not effective against viruses, parasites, or fungi.
-
- TREATMENT
-
- Cloxacillin should be taken on an empty stomach or with a glass of water
- one hour before or two hours after a meal. This medication should never be
- taken with fruit juices or carbonated beverages because the acidity of these
- drinks destroys the drug in the stomach.
- The oral solution should be measured carefully with a specially designed
- 5-ml measuring spoon. An ordinary kitchen teaspoon is not accurate enough.
- Cloxacillin works best when the level of medicine in your bloodstream is
- kept constant. Therefore, take the doses at evenly spaced intervals day and
- night. For example, if you are taking four doses a day, the doses should be
- spaced six hours apart.
- If you miss a dose of this medication, take the missed dose immediately.
- However, if you do not remember to take the missed dose until it is almost
- time for your next dose, take it; space the following dose about halfway
- through the regular interval between doses; then return to your regular
- schedule. Try not to skip any doses.
- It is important to continue to take this medication for the entire time
- prescribed by your doctor (usually seven to 14 days), even if the symptoms of
- the infection disappear before the end of that period. If you stop taking the
- drug too soon, resistant bacteria are given the chance to continue growing,
- and the infection could recur.
-
- SIDE EFFECTS
-
- Minor.
-
- Diarrhea, heartburn, nausea, or vomiting. These side effects should stop
- as your body adjusts to the drug.
-
- Major.
-
- Tell your doctor about any side effects that are persistent or
- particularly bothersome. IT IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO TELL YOUR DOCTOR about
- bloating, chills, cough, darkened tongue, difficulty in breathing, fever,
- irritation of the mouth, muscle aches, rash, rectal or vaginal itching, severe
- diarrhea, or sore throat. Also, if your symptoms of infection seem to be
- getting worse rather than improving, you should contact your physician.
-
- INTERACTIONS
-
- Cloxacillin interacts with several other types of medications:
- 1. Probenecid can increase the blood concentrations and side effects of
- this medication.
- 2. Cloxacillin may decrease the effectiveness of birth control pills, and
- pregnancy could result. You should, therefore, use a different or additional
- form of birth control while taking this drug. Discuss this with your doctor.
- BE SURE TO TELL YOUR DOCTOR about any medications you are currently
- taking, especially any listed above.
-
- WARNINGS
-
- * Tell your doctor about unusual or allergic reactions you have had to
- any medications, especially to cloxacillin or penicillins, cephalosporin
- antibiotics, penicillamine, or griseofulvin.
- * Tell your doctor if you now have or if you have ever had kidney
- disease, asthma, or allergies.
- * This medication has been prescribed for your current infection only.
- Another infection that develops later on, or one that someone else has, may
- require a different medicine. You should not give your medicine to other
- people to use or use your medication for other infections, unless your doctor
- specifically directs you to do so.
- * Diabetics taking cloxacillin should know that this drug can cause a
- false-positive sugar reaction with a Clinitest urine glucose test. To avoid
- this problem, switch to Clinistix or Tes-Tape in order to test your urine for
- sugar.
- * Be sure to tell your doctor if you are pregnant. Although cloxacillin
- appears to be safe during pregnancy, extensive studies in humans have not been
- conducted. Also, tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding an infant. Small
- amounts of this medication pass into breast milk and may temporarily alter the
- bacterial balance in the intestinal tract of the nursing infant, resulting in
- diarrhea.
-
- ----------------
-
- The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
- the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your
- doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
- problem.
-