FLUCLOXACILLIN SODIUM FOR INJECTION 500 MG - patient leaflet, side effects, dosage

WHAT FLUCLOXACILLIN IS AND WHAT IT IS USED FOR

Flucloxacillin is an antibiotic belonging to the group known as penicillins. Antibiotics are used to kill the bacteria or “germs” which cause infections. Flucloxacillin can be given as an injection or breathed-in using a nebulizer (a device used to give a medicine as a liquid mist).

Flucloxacillin is given to treat a wide range of infections caused by bacteria which may include:

• skin and soft tissue (boils, abscesses, carbuncles, impetigo, cellulitis, furunculosis, ulcers, eczema and acne)
• wounds, burns, heart (endocarditis)
• ears (otitis media and otitis external)
• those affecting the chest (pneumonia, emphysema and lung abscess)
• sinuses (sinusitis)
• pharynx (pharyngitis)
• tonsils (tonsillitis, quinsy)
• bones and joints (osteomyelitis)
• gut (enteritis)
• membranes of the brain (meningitis)
• blood (septicaemia) and the kidney, bladder or the urethra (the tube which carries urine from the bladder).

Flucloxacillin may also be used to prevent infections following skin graft or during major surgical procedures, particularly in heart or orthopaedic surgery.

2

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU ARE GIVEN

. FLUCLOXACILLIN

Do not take Flucloxacillin if you:

• are allergic to flucloxacillin or any other penicillin antibiotics (see symptoms in section 4)
• have ever had an allergic reaction to any of the other ingredients of this medicine – see list of ingredients in section 6
• have had liver problems after taking this medicine (flucloxacillin)

Warning and precautions

Talk to your doctor before taking Flucloxacillin if you:

• suffer from liver problems
• suffer from kidney problems, as you may require a lower dose than normal
• are 50 years or over
• have other serious illnesses (apart from the infection this medicine is treating)
• have human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
• are taking or will be taking paracetamol.

There is a risk of blood and fluid abnormality (high anion gap metabolic acidosis) which occurs when there is an increase in plasma acidity, when flucloxacillin is used concomitantly with paracetamol, particularly in certain groups of patients at risk, e.g. patients with severe renal impairment, sepsis or malnutrition, especially if the maximum daily doses of paracetamol are used. High anion gap metabolic acidosis is a serious disease that must have urgent treatment.

The use of flucloxacillin, especially in high doses, may reduce the potassium levels in the blood (hypokalaemia). Your doctor may measure your potassium levels regularly during the therapy with higher doses of flucloxacillin.

Other medicines and Flucloxacillin:

Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines. Especially:

• Probenecid (used to treat gout)
• The contraceptive pill as antibiotics can make these less effective (you will need to use extra precautions such as condoms while taking flucloxacillin and for a full 7 days after you finish taking it).
• Other antibiotics (used to treat infections)

Some medicines may affect the way others work. Always tell your doctor about all the medicines you are taking. This means medicines you have bought yourself as well as medicines on prescription from a doctor.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding:

If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.

Tests

Regular monitoring of liver and kidney function should be performed whilst taking flucloxacillin for a long period of time. Tell your doctor that you are taking Flucloxacillin if you are having urine tests or blood tests because it may affect the results.

Driving and using machines:

There should be no effect on the ability to drive and operate machinery.

Important information about some of the ingredients of Flucloxacillin:

Flucloxacillin injection contains sodium

• 250mg:

This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (12.68 mg) per vial, that is to say essentially “sodium free”

• 500mg:

This medicine contains 25.37mg sodium (main component of cooking/table salt) in each 500mg vial. This is equivalent to 1.27% of the recommended maximum daily dietary intake of sodium for an adult.

• 1g:

This medicine contains 50.74mg sodium (main component of cooking/table salt) in each 1g vial. This is equivalent to 2.54% of the recommended maximum daily dietary intake of sodium for an adult.

3.

HOW TO USE FLUCLOXACILLIN

Your medicine will usually be given to you by injection into the muscle (intramuscular) or injection into a vein (intravenous). It can also be given to you by injection into a joint (intra-articular) or injection into the lining of the lung (intrapleural), or by breathing in the medicine from a mask (nebuliser). Flucloxacillin should not be administered into the eye.

Flucloxacillin is usually given in a hospital by a doctor or nurse as an injection. Your doctor will decide how you are given Flucloxacillin and your dose.

The usual dose is:

Adults and elderly

Injections into the muscle (Intramuscular)

• 250 mg of Flucloxacillin four times a day

Injections into a vein (Intravenous)

• 250 mg to 1 g of Flucloxacillin four times a day

The dose may be doubled for certain serious infections, when necessary.

For treatment of infections inside the bones (osteomyelitis) or infections inside the heart (endocarditis) the amount of flucloxacillin may be increased up to 8 g each day, and given in equal doses every six to eight hours.

Prevention of infection during operations

• between 1 g to 2 g, given into a vein, just as you receive your anaesthetic. A further dose of 500 mg every six hours will be given for up to 72 hours.

Flucloxacillin may be given in other ways when you are receiving other treatments at the same time. These are:

• into the lining of the lung (intrapleural injections) – 250 mg once daily.
• breathing the drug in through a mask (by nebuliser) – 125 to 250 mg four times a day.
• into a joint (intra-articular injections) – 250 to 500 mg once daily. Flucloxacillin should not be given into the eye

Children aged 2–10 years

• half the adult dose

Children under 2 years

• one quarter of the adult dose

If you use more Flucloxacillin than you should

Your doctor or nurse will know how much to give you. If you think you have been given too much Flucloxacillin you should talk to your nurse or doctor.

If you have any further questions on the use of this product, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

4. possible side effects

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

STOP taking Flucloxacillin and contact your doctor straight away if you experience any of the following side effects:

• severe diarrhoea with bleeding
• notice your urine becoming darker or your faeces (otherwise known as poo) becoming paler
• notice your skin or the white of your eyes turning yellow
• notice any unexplained bleeding, bruising or skin discolouration
• convulsions (at high dosage)
• tiredness, breathlessness, light-headedness, a rapid weak pulse, palpitations or headaches, these may be signs of the destruction of red blood cells (causing anaemia).

Common side effects: may affect up to 1 in 10 people

• minor gastrointestinal disturbances e.g. stomach upset or diarrhoea.

Uncommon side effects: may affect up to 1 in 100 people

• allergic skin reactions e.g. ‘hives’ or ‘nettle’ rash. If you start to itch or get a rash tell your doctor or nurse at once, and treatment should be discontinued.

Very rare side effects: may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people

• hypersensitivity or severe allergic reaction including swollen face or breathing problems. An unexpected skin reaction, e.g. a rash and/or a sore mouth or eyes. Tell your doctor or nurse straight away if you notice any of these symptoms and STOP taking Flucloxacillin
• reduction (reversible) in blood cell counts
• inflammation of the kidney, bowel and/or liver. Liver problems may be severe and very rarely deaths have been reported (mainly in people with pre-existing liver problems or are 50 years of age or older).
• joint or muscle pain. This may develop after 2 days or more from the start of treatment with Flucloxacillin
• fever. This may develop after 2 days or more from the start of treatment with Flucloxacillin
• burning sensation at the site of injection
• very rare cases of blood and fluid abnormality (high anion gap metabolic acidosis) which occurs when there is an increase in plasma acidity, when flucloxacillin is used concomitantly with paracetamol, generally in the presence of risk factors (see section 2).

Not known: frequency cannot be estimated from the available data

• a red, scaly rash with bumps under the skin and blisters (exanthematous pustulosis).

Contact a doctor immediately if you get any of these symptoms.

• low potassium levels in the blood (hypokalaemia), which can cause muscle weakness, twitching or abnormal heart rhythm.

Some of these reactions can be delayed for several weeks after finishing treatment

Reporting of side effects

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at: or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

5. how to store flucloxacillin

Your doctor or pharmacist will know how to store Flucloxacillin.

Flucloxacillin must be stored below 25°C and kept in the original carton.

Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.

Do not use this medicine after the expiry date, which is stated on the label. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.

6. contents of the pack and other information

What Flucloxacillin contains

The active substance is Flucloxacillin Sodium.

What Flucloxacillin looks like and contents of the pack

• Flucloxacillin comes in Type III uncoloured glass vials with rubber stoppers.
• It is available in pack sizes of 5, 10, 50 and 100 vials.