(pen i SIL in vee poe TASS ee um)
Fusospirochetosis (Vincent gingivitis and pharyngitis): Treatment of fusospirochetosis (Vincent gingivitis and pharyngitis), in conjunction with dental care for infections involving gum tissue.
Pneumococcal infections: Treatment of mild to moderately severe pneumococcal respiratory tract infections, including otitis media.
Rheumatic fever and/or chorea prophylaxis: Prophylaxis (chronic, secondary) of rheumatic fever and/or chorea.
Staphylococcal infections (penicillin G-sensitive): Treatment of mild infections of the skin and soft tissues.
Streptococcal infections (without bacteremia): Treatment of mild to moderate streptococcal infections of the upper respiratory tract, scarlet fever, and mild erysipelas.
Hypersensitivity to penicillin or any component of the formulation
Usual dosage range: Oral: 125 to 500 mg every 6 to 8 hours
Actinomycosis (off-label use): Oral: Note: Duration is dependent upon disease location and patient-specific factors; complicated infections requiring surgical intervention usually initiate IV therapy with penicillin G until disease subsidence followed by long term oral therapy (Hsieh 1993, Sudhakar 2004):
2 to 4 g/day in divided doses every 6 hours (Smego 1998)
Bite wounds (animal) (off-label use): Oral: 500 mg 4 times daily in combination with dicloxacillin (IDSA [Stevens 2014])
Cutaneous anthrax, community-acquired (off-label use): Oral: 500 mg 4 times daily for 7 to 10 days (IDSA [Stevens 2014])
Cutaneous erysipeloid (off-label use): Oral: 500 mg 4 times daily for 7 to 10 days (IDSA [Stevens 2014])
Erysipelas: Oral:
Manufacturer 's labeling: 125 to 250 mg every 6 to 8 hours for 10 days
Alternate dosing: 500 mg 4 times daily (IDSA [Stevens 2014])
Fusospirochetosis (Vincent infection): Oral: 250 to 500 mg 3 to 4 times daily
Pharyngitis (streptococcal): Oral:
Acute treatment, group A streptococci:
Manufacturer 's labeling:Acute treatment, group A streptococci: 125 to 250 mg every 6 to 8 hours for 10 days
Alternate dosing: 500 mg 2 to 3 times daily for 10 days (Gerber 2009) or 250 mg 4 times daily or 500 mg twice daily for 10 days (Shulman 2012)
Chronic carrier treatment, group A streptococcal: 500 mg 4 times daily (maximum: 2,000 mg daily) for 10 days in combination with oral rifampin (Shulman 2012)
Prophylaxis of recurrent rheumatic fever infections: Oral: 250 mg twice daily (Gerber 2009)
Prosthetic joint infection (off-label use):Chronic oral antimicrobial suppression (Enterococcus spp [penicillin-susceptible], streptococci [beta-hemolytic], Propionibacterium spp): Oral: 500 mg 2 to 4 times daily (Osmon 2013)
Streptococcal skin infection (off-label dose): Oral: 250 to 500 mg every 6 hours (IDSA [Stevens 2014])
Refer to adult dosing.
Usual dosage range:
Infants and Children <12 years: Mild to moderate infection: Oral: 25 to 75 mg/kg/day in divided doses every 6 to 8 hours (maximum daily dose: 2,000 mg/day) (Red Book [AAP 2015])
Children ≥12 years and Adolescents: Oral:
Manufacturer 's labeling: 125 to 500 mg every 6 to 8 hours
Alternate dosing: Mild to moderate infection: 25 to 75 mg/kg/day in divided doses every 6 to 8 hours (maximum daily dose: 2,000 mg/day [Red Book (AAP 2015)])
Indication-specific dosing:
Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) due to group A Streptococcus, mild infection or step-down therapy (preferred) (IDSA/PIDS 2011): Infants >3 months and Children: Oral: 50 to 75 mg/kg/day in 3 to 4 divided doses
Fusospirochetosis (Vincent infection): Children ≥12 years and Adolescents: Oral: Refer to adult dosing.
Pneumococcal infection prophylaxis for anatomic or functional asplenia (eg, sickle cell disease [SCD]) (Kavanagh 2011; NHLBI 2014): Oral:
Infants (including prior to 2 months of age or as soon as SCD diagnosed or asplenia occurs) and Children <3 years of age: Oral: 125 mg twice daily
Children ≥3 years: 250 mg twice daily; the decision to discontinue penicillin prophylaxis after 5 years of age in children who have not experienced invasive pneumococcal infection and have received recommended pneumococcal immunizations is patient and clinician dependent
Pharyngitis (streptococcal) (Shulman 2012): Oral:
Acute treatment:
Children: 250 mg 2 to 3 times daily for 10 days
Adolescents: Refer to adult dosing
Chronic carrier treatment, group A streptococci: Children and Adolescents: 50 mg/kg/day in 4 divided doses (maximum daily dose: 2,000 mg/day) for 10 days in combination with oral rifampin
Prophylaxis of recurrent rheumatic fever: Children and Adolescents: Oral: Refer to adult dosing.
There are no dosage adjustments provided in manufacturer 's labeling. Use with caution; excretion is prolonged in patients with renal impairment.
There are no dosage adjustments provided in manufacturer 's labeling.
Reconstitute powder for oral solution with appropriate amount of water as specified in the manufacturer 's labeling. Shake vigorously until dissolved.
Oral: Administer around-the-clock to promote less variation in peak and trough serum levels. Take on an empty stomach 1 hour before or 2 hours after meals, to enhance absorption.
Powder for oral solution: Store dry powder at 20 � �C to 25 � �C (68 � �F to 77 � �F). Reconstituted oral solution should be stored in refrigerator. Discard unused solution after 14 days (consult manufacturer labeling for specific recommendations).
Tablet: Store at 20 � �C to 25 � �C (68 � �F to 77 � �F).
Excipient information presented when available (limited, particularly for generics); consult specific product labeling.
Solution Reconstituted, Oral:
Generic: 125 mg/5 mL (100 mL, 200 mL); 250 mg/5 mL (100 mL, 200 mL)
Tablet, Oral:
Generic: 250 mg, 500 mg
BCG (Intravesical): Antibiotics may diminish the therapeutic effect of BCG (Intravesical). Avoid combination
BCG Vaccine (Immunization): Antibiotics may diminish the therapeutic effect of BCG Vaccine (Immunization). Monitor therapy
Cholera Vaccine: Antibiotics may diminish the therapeutic effect of Cholera Vaccine. Avoid combination
Lactobacillus and Estriol: Antibiotics may diminish the therapeutic effect of Lactobacillus and Estriol. Monitor therapy
Methotrexate: Penicillins may increase the serum concentration of Methotrexate. Monitor therapy
Mycophenolate: Penicillins may decrease serum concentrations of the active metabolite(s) of Mycophenolate. This effect appears to be the result of impaired enterohepatic recirculation. Monitor therapy
Probenecid: May increase the serum concentration of Penicillins. Management: Avoid the routine use of penicillins and probenecid, but this combination may be used advantageously in select cases with careful monitoring. Monitor for toxic effects of penicillins if probenecid is initiated or the dose is increased. Consider therapy modification
Sodium Picosulfate: Antibiotics may diminish the therapeutic effect of Sodium Picosulfate. Management: Consider using an alternative product for bowel cleansing prior to a colonoscopy in patients who have recently used or are concurrently using an antibiotic. Consider therapy modification
Tetracycline Derivatives: May diminish the therapeutic effect of Penicillins. Consider therapy modification
Typhoid Vaccine: Antibiotics may diminish the therapeutic effect of Typhoid Vaccine. Only the live attenuated Ty21a strain is affected. Management: Vaccination with live attenuated typhoid vaccine (Ty21a) should be avoided in patients being treated with systemic antibacterial agents. Use of this vaccine should be postponed until at least 3 days after cessation of antibacterial agents. Consider therapy modification
Vitamin K Antagonists (eg, warfarin): Penicillins may enhance the anticoagulant effect of Vitamin K Antagonists. Monitor therapy
Periodic renal and hematologic function tests during prolonged therapy; monitor for signs of anaphylaxis during first dose
False-positive or negative urinary glucose determination using Clinitest � �; positive Coombs [direct]; false-positive urinary and/or serum proteins
>10%: Gastrointestinal: Melanoglossia, mild diarrhea, nausea, oral candidiasis, vomiting
<1% (Limited to important or life-threatening): Acute interstitial nephritis, convulsions, exfoliative dermatitis, hemolytic anemia, hypersensitivity reaction, positive Coombs reaction, serum-sickness like reactions
Excretion is considerably delayed.
In neonates and young infants, excretion is considerably delayed.
Concerns related to adverse effects:
- Anaphylactic/hypersensitivity reactions: Serious and occasionally severe or fatal hypersensitivity (anaphylactic) reactions have been reported in patients on penicillin therapy, especially with a history of beta-lactam hypersensitivity or history of sensitivity to multiple allergens.). Use with caution in asthmatic patients. If a serious reaction occurs, treatment with supportive care measures and airway protection should be instituted immediately.
- Superinfection: Prolonged use may result in fungal or bacterial superinfection, including C. difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD) and pseudomembranous colitis; CDAD has been observed >2 months postantibiotic treatment.
Disease-related concerns:
- Renal impairment: Use with caution in patients with severe renal impairment.
- Seizure disorders: Use with caution in patients with a history of seizure disorder; high levels, particularly in the presence of renal impairment, may increase risk of seizures.
Concurrent drug therapy related issues:
- Drug-drug interactions: Potentially significant interactions may exist, requiring dose or frequency adjustment, additional monitoring, and/or selection of alternative therapy. Consult drug interactions database for more detailed information.
Dosage form specific issues:
- Benzyl alcohol and derivatives: Some dosage forms may contain sodium benzoate/benzoic acid; benzoic acid (benzoate) is a metabolite of benzyl alcohol; large amounts of benzyl alcohol ( ≥99 mg/kg/day) have been associated with a potentially fatal toxicity ( "gasping syndrome " �) in neonates; the "gasping syndrome " � consists of metabolic acidosis, respiratory distress, gasping respirations, CNS dysfunction (including convulsions, intracranial hemorrhage), hypotension, and cardiovascular collapse (AAP [Inactive" 1997]; CDC, 1982); some data suggests that benzoate displaces bilirubin from protein binding sites (Ahlfors 2001); avoid or use dosage forms containing benzyl alcohol derivative with caution in neonates. See manufacturer 's labeling.
Other warnings/precautions:
- Prolonged use: Extended duration of therapy or use associated with high serum concentrations (eg, in renal insufficiency) may be associated with an increased risk for some adverse reactions (neutropenia, hemolytic anemia, serum sickness).
Penicillin crosses the placenta and distributes into amniotic fluid. Maternal use of penicillins has generally not resulted in an increased risk of adverse fetal effects. Due to pregnancy-induced physiologic changes, some pharmacokinetic parameters of penicillin V may be altered in the second and third trimester. Higher doses or increased dosing frequency may be required.
Inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis by binding to one or more of the penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs); which in turn inhibits the final transpeptidation step of peptidoglycan synthesis in bacterial cell walls, thus inhibiting cell wall biosynthesis. Bacteria eventually lyse due to ongoing activity of cell wall autolytic enzymes (autolysins and murein hydrolases) while cell wall assembly is arrested.
Urine (as unchanged drug and metabolites)
Plasma: 80%
- Discuss specific use of drug and side effects with patient as it relates to treatment. (HCAHPS: During this hospital stay, were you given any medicine that you had not taken before? Before giving you any new medicine, how often did hospital staff tell you what the medicine was for? How often did hospital staff describe possible side effects in a way you could understand?)
- Patient may experience nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. Have patient report immediately to prescriber bruising, bleeding, or signs of Clostridium difficile (C. diff)-associated diarrhea (stomach pain or cramps, very loose or watery stools, or bloody stools) (HCAHPS).
- Educate patient about signs of a significant reaction (eg, wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; seizures; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat). Note: This is not a comprehensive list of all side effects. Patient should consult prescriber for additional questions.
Intended Use and Disclaimer: Should not be printed and given to patients. This information is intended to serve as a concise initial reference for health care professionals to use when discussing medications with a patient. You must ultimately rely on your own discretion, experience, and judgment in diagnosing, treating, and advising patients.