Patient leaflet - Phenoxymethylpenicillin 125 mg / 5 ml powder for oral solution
1. What Phenoxymethylpenicillin Oral Solution is and what it is used for
Phenoxymethylpenicillin Oral Solution is available in two strengths as a powder for reconstitution. The powder for reconstitution is prepared by the pharmacist before dispensing by adding water to the powder to give 100ml of oral solution. The strength you are given will be decided by your doctor. Phenoxymethylpenicillin, the active ingredient, is an antibiotic, which belongs to a group of medicines called penicillins, which are used to kill bacteria that cause infections in your body.
Your medicine is used to:
- treat bacterial infections of the ear, throat, respiratory tract, skin and soft tissues
- prevent infections such as rheumatic fever or chorea recurring
- prevent pneumococcal infection (e.g. in asplenia and in patients with sickle cell disease).
2. What you need to know before you take Phenoxymethylpenicillin Oral Solution
Do not take Phenoxymethylpenicillin Oral Solution if:
- You are allergic to Phenoxymethylpenicillin or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
- You have ever had a bad reaction or allergic reaction to any penicillin-type antibiotic including cephalosporin antibiotic or other drugs
- You have ever had a skin rash or swelling of the face or neck or shortness of breath when taking any antibiotic
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Phenoxymethylpenicillin Oral Solution if:
- You suffer from any stomach problems, accompanied by vomiting or diarrhea - your doctor may decide that an oral antibiotic is not of benefit to you
- You suffer from any kidney problems, as you may be given a lower dose than normal
- You suffer from allergies and/or asthma
- You suffer from allergic reactions to penicillin, cephalosporins or other drugs
- You have an intolerance to some sugars, as this medicine contains sorbitol
Potentially life-threatening skin rashes (Stevens Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis) have been reported with the use of some penicillin's appearing initially as reddish target- like spots or circular patches often with central blisters on the trunk. Additional signs to look for include ulcers in the mouth, throat, nose, genitals and conjunctivitis (red and swollen eyes). If you develop a rash or these skin symptoms, stop taking Phenoxymethylpenicillin Powder for Oral Solution, seek urgent advice from a doctor and tell them that you are taking this medicine. Prolonged use of an antibiotic may result in infections due to bacteria resistance to the antibiotic.
Other medicines and Phenoxymethylpenicillin Oral Solution
Your medicine may interfere with other medicines that you may be taking. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines even those not prescribed, including herbal and homeopathic remedies.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking:
- Methotrexate (a drug used to treat cancers and psoriasis)
- Some other antibiotics (tetracyclines, erythromycin, neomycin and chloramphenicol have been reported to reduce the effect of penicillin)
- Sulfinpyrazone or probenecid (medicines used to treat gout)
- Anti-coagulants (e.g. warfarin - to prevent blood clots)
- Oral typhoid vaccine (penicillin can stop this from working)
Laboratory tests
In patients undergoing long-term treatment with phenoxymethylpenicillin, blood counts and also liver and kidney function should be monitored.
Tell your doctor if you are having urine tests for diabetes or certain liver function tests, as the medicine can affect the results of some tests.
Package leaflet: Information for the patient Phenoxymethylpenicillin 125mg/5ml
Powder for Oral Solution Phenoxymethylpenicillin 250mg/5ml
Powder for Oral Solution Pictorial presentation “How to take your medicine”
You should note that if you test your urine for glucose using a non- enzymatic test phenoxymethylpenicillin may give a false positive result. Please ask your pharmacist for advice on this.
Phenoxymethylpenicillin Oral Solution with food and drink
Guar gum (used as a thickening agent and normally found in puddings and ice-cream and benefiber) can reduce the absorption of phenoxymethylpenicillin.
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.
Driving and using machines
This medicine should not affect your ability to drive or to use machinery however some of the side effects may affect your ability to drive and use machines.
Phenoxymethylpenicillin Oral Solution contains Sorbitol, Sodium benzoate and potassium
The 125mg/5ml solution contains 764.73 mg of sorbitol in each 5 ml dose.
The 250mg/5ml solution contains 750.73 mg of sorbitol in each 5 ml dose.
Sorbitol is a source of fructose. If your doctor has told you that you (or your child) have an intolerance to some sugars, or if you have been diagnosed with hereditary fructose intolerance (HFI), a rare genetic disorder in which a person cannot break down fructose, talk to your doctor before you (or your child) take or receive this medicine. Sorbitol may cause gastrointestinal discomfort and mild laxative effect.
This medicine contains 16 mg sodium benzoate in each 5ml dose. Sodium benzoate may increase jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes) in newborn babies (up to four weeks old). This medicine contains 1/3 mmol potassium per 125 mg. This should be taken into consideration by patients with reduced kidney function or patients on a controlled potassium diet.
Information on sodium content
This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23mg) per unit in each 5 ml dose, that is essentially to say ‘sodium-free’.
3. How to take Phenoxymethylpenicillin Oral Solution
Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
The dose will depend on the patient and will be decided by your doctor.
The recommended doses for each age group are as follows:
Adults including the elderly and children over 12 years
250 mg to 500 mg every six hours (one to two 5 ml to spoonful’s of 250 mg/ 5ml every six hours)
Use in children
Infants (up to 1 year): 62.5 mg every 6 hours (a half 5 ml spoonful of 125/ 5ml every six hours)
1-5 years: 125 mg every six hours (one 5 ml spoonful of 125mg/5ml)
6-12 years: 250 mg every six hours (one 5 ml spoonful of 250mg/5ml or two 5ml spoonful’s of 125mg/5ml)
For preventing the recurrence of rheumatic fever or chorea:
The usual dose is 250 mg twice daily (one 5ml spoonful of 250mg/5ml twice daily) on a continuing basis.
For the prevention of infection in patients without a spleen or patients with sickle cell disease:
For adults and children over 12 years, the dosage is 500mg every 12 hours. For children aged between 6 and 12 years, the dosage is 250mg every 12 hours.
For children below 5 years, the dosage is 125mg every 12 hours. For children over 12 years the dose should not exceed the maximum adult doses.
For elderly, the dosage is as for adult. The dosage should be lowered in poor renal function.
Patients with kidney and liver problems
- If you have kidney problems the dose might be changed by your doctor.
- Dosage might be changed by your doctor if you have liver problems along with kidney problem.
When to take your medicine
Phenoxymethylpenicillin Oral Solution is usually prescribed to be taken four times a day. It is best to take it as evenly spaced as possible.
Take this medicine when your stomach is empty. This means at least 30 mins before food and preferably not less than three hours after food.
If you take more Phenoxymethvylpenicillin Oral Solution than you should
If you accidentally take too much medicine, contact your doctor or pharmacist who will recommend what action you should take.
If you forget to take Phenoxymethylpenicillin Oral Solution
If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember, unless it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
If you stop taking Phenoxymethylpenicillin Oral Solution
Keep taking this medicine until your doctor tells you to stop. Do not stop taking it just because you feel better. If you stop taking the medicine, your condition may re-occur or get worse. If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
4. Possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Hypersensitivity/Allergic reactions of all intensity levels - to the point of anaphylactic shock have also been observed after oral penicillin use. Severe anaphylactoid reactions, which occur significantly less often after oral administration of penicillin than after intravenous or intramuscular administration, may require appropriate emergency management.
STOP taking the medicine and tell your doctor IMMEDIATELY if you experience any of the following:
Hypersensitivity of all severities (allergic reaction)
- symptoms may include: difficulty breathing, muscle weakness, fever, joint pain, changes in blood counts, sudden swelling of the lips, cheeks, eyelids, tongue and throat, laryngeal oedema (accumulation of fluid in the larynx), bronchospasm (wheezing, shortness of breath), increase in the heartbeat, vasculitis (inflammation of blood vessels) and a sudden drop in blood pressure up to life threatening shock
- Allergic reactions including rash, itching, hives and rarelysevere peeling/ blistering of the skin (frequency rare)
- Serum sickness-like reactions (characterised by fever, chills, joint pains and oedema) (frequency not known)
- Seizures (frequency not known)
- profuse watery diarrhoea usually with blood and mucus, stomach pain and fever (frequency not known)
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice any of the following and they worry you.
Very common (may affect more than 1 in 10 people):
- loss of appetite.
Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):
- stomach pain
- pain or discomfort in the upper abdomen (gastric discomfort)
- gas (flatulence)
- nausea (feeling sick)
- vomiting (being sick)
- cramps and diarrhea
- inflamed and sore mouth (stomatitis), inflammation of the tongue (glossitis)
- rash, itchy skin.
Uncommon (may affect up to 1 to 100 people):
- sore mouth
- black hairy tongue (discolouration of tongue)
- kidney problems, which might cause blood in the urine or reduced amounts of urine.
Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people):
- blistering and/or peeling of the skin, severe inflammation of the entire skin surface (shedding of the top layers of your skin (Exfoliative dermatitis)), Toxic epidermal necrolysis (which causes severe illness and flaking of the skin)
- dry mouth and changes in taste
- change in liver test results
- blood pressure decreased
allergic vasculitis (sudden blue colouring of the skin.
painful joints, kidney inflammation, mild fever).
Very rare (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people):
yellow colour of the skin and whites of the eyes, pale stools
(all symptoms of cholestatic jaundice)
- Hepatitis
Sore throats, infections, or fever/chills, faster heart rate
(may be caused by low white blood cells)
- lower-than-normal levels of white blood cells
- higher than normal level of white blood cells (eosinophilia)
- coagulation disorders (problems with blood clotting (easy bruising or prolonged bleeding)
haemolytic anaemia (may cause lack of energy or tiredness, cold hands/feet, pale skin)
Place the end of the oral
syringe inside the mouth with the tip touching the inside of either cheek. Slowly push the
plunger all the way down to
give the full dose. WARNING:
Avoid administration directly into the throat or pushing the plunger too fast.
Carefully turn the bottle upside down
and pull the plunger to measure out your dose. Avoid large air
bubble entrapment in syringe while measuring the dose.
To store the product keep the Adapter in to the neck of the bottle. Rotate the Cap clockwise from
Top.
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To reconstitute, Press & Rotate the Cap Anti-clockwise from Top and remove induction seal liner. Shake the bottle gently to reconstitute the product with volume of purified water as
specified in outer carton.
Place the Adapter into the neck of the bottle and insert the syringe into the Adapter. Unopened bottle
with reusable oral
syringe and Adapter
Bottle
5ml
4.5
3.5
4ml
3ml
2.5
2ml
1.5
1ml
0.5
Reusable
Oral Syringe
Adapter
1 2
5ml 4.5 3.5
4ml 3ml 2.5 2ml 1.5 1ml 0.5 3
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lower-than-normal levels of platelets (a type of blood cell)
(more bruises than normal, or worse than normal, small red dots under skin, unusually bleeding (gums/nose), blood in urine/stools)
kidney problems, which might cause blood in the urine or
increased amounts of urine (interstitial nephritis)
- severe skin reactions such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome
serum sickness-like reactions (characterised by fever, chills,
arthralgia and oedema)
- tooth discolouration
severe, watery diarrhoea, along with pus/mucus in stool,
severe cramps/abdominal tenderness, nausea (pseudomembranous enterocolitis).
Not known (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data):
- Pins and needles or numbness (paraesthesia)
central nervous system toxicity (symptoms including but
not limited to anxiety, dizziness, numbness, light- headedness, and tinnitus).
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, Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard, 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 Phenoxymethylpenicillin Oral Solution
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. Unconstituted powder: “Do not store above 25°C”. Store bottle in the original package.
Keep the bottle tightly closed in order to protect from light and moisture.
Reconstituted oral solution: Store for 7 days at 2°C-8°C in a refrigerator.
Store in the original container. Keep the bottle tightly closed. Discard after 7 days.
Do not transfer it to another container. Shake well before use. Keep it in a secure place where children cannot get at it. Rinse the 5 ml re-usable oral syringe immediately with lukewarm water to remove any medication residue after each use.
Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.
If your doctor tells you to stop your treatment return any left over to the pharmacist. Only keep it if your doctor tells you to.
6. Contents of the pack and other information
What Phenoxymethylpenicillin Oral Solution contains:
- Active ingredient: Each 5ml oral solution contains 125mg or 250mg of phenoxymethylpenicillin as phenoxymethyl- penicillin potassium.
- Other ingredients: Sucralose, Sodium benzoate (E 211), Sorbitol (E420), Ammonium glycyrrhizate, Orange Dry Flavour (610271E) and Colloidal Anhydrous silica.
What Phenoxymethylpenicillin Oral Solution looks like and contents of the pack
Phenoxymethylpenicillin Powder for Oral Solution is a white to off-white coloured powder which on reconstitution becomes an off white to pale yellow coloured solution free from visible particles, having orange odour.
140 mL flint plain glass bottle with a child resistant cap containing 100 ml of oral solution on reconstitution. Contains 5 mL reusable oral syringe with 0.25 mL graduations markings and adapter.
To request a copy of this leaflet in Braille or large print, please call, 02088311580 (UK only). Please be ready to give the following information:
Product name License number
Phenoxymethylpenicillin PL 21880/0287 125mg/5ml Powder for
Oral Solution
Phenoxymethylpenicillin PL 21880/0288 250mg/5ml Powder for
Oral Solution
Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer
MEDREICH PLC
Warwick House, Plane Tree Crescent,
Feltham TW13 7HF, UK
E-mail: info@medreich.co.uk
POM This leaflet was last revised in December 2025
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