Patient leaflet - Phenoxymethylpenicillin 250 mg film-coated tablets
WHAT PHENOXYMETHYLPENICILLIN FILM-COATED TABLETS ARE AND WHAT THEY ARE USED FOR
The name of your medicine is
Phenoxymethylpenicillin Film-Coated Tablets.
Phenoxymethylpenicillin Film-Coated Tablets
belong to a family of medicines called antibiotics, in a group called “penicillins”.
Antibiotics are used to kill the bacteria or “germs” which cause infections.
Your doctor, or dentist, will have prescribed
Phenoxymethylpenicillin Film-Coated Tablets for treating an infection which is caused by bacteria which are sensitive to penicillin antibiotics.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU TAKE
PHENOXYMETHYLPENICILLIN
FILM-COATED TABLETS
Do not take Phenoxymethylpenicillin
Film-Coated Tablets if:
- You are allergic to phenoxymethylpenicillin, or other “penicillins” antibiotics or medicines.
- You are allergic to any of the other ingredients in Phenoxymethylpenicillin Film-Coated
Tablets (see section 6 Contents of the pack
and other information).
- You are allergic (hypersensitive) to
cephalosporin antibiotics
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse before taking Phenoxymethylpenicillin Film-Coated
Tablets if:
- You have bronchial asthma or suffer from a
tendency to develop allergic conditions such as hayfever or eczema.
- You have any problems with your kidneys.
- You have suffered severe diarrhoea following previous treatment with antibiotics.
- You have a severe illness.
- You have persistent diarrhoea, are feeling or being sick, or are suffering from any gut
disorder which may affect the way your body absorbs the medicine.
- You are on a low potassium diet. Each
Phenoxymethylpenicillin 250mg Film-Coated Tablet contains 28mg of potassium. This
potassium content needs to be taken into
consideration by patients with kidney problems or patients on a controlled potassium diet.
You have your urine tested for glucose using a non-enzymatic test, then
Phenoxymethylpenicillin Film-Coated Tablets may give a false positive result.
- You are on long term treatment with penicillin. Your doctor will have to monitor your progress when taking this medicine.
- You are pregnant or thinking of becoming
pregnant
- You are breast-feeding.
Other Medicines and Phenoxymethylpenicillin Film-Coated Tablets
Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other
medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription.
In particular tell your doctor if you are using the following:
- Uricosuric drugs (medicines used to treat gout and other conditions which require lowering of blood uric acid levels, e.g. probenecid and sulfinpyrazone).
- Anticoagulants (medicines that prevent the clotting of blood, e.g. warfarin, coumarin and phenindione).
- Any other antibiotics (such as tetracycline, erythromycin, chloramphenicol, sulphonamide).
- Methotrexate (a medicine used to treat cancer, psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis).
- Guar gum (a medicine used to treat some types of diabetes).
- Neomycin (anti-fungal).
- The contraceptive pill, as
phenoxymethylpenicillin potassium may reduce the effect of the pill, you should therefore take extra contraceptive precautions such as using a condom or a diaphragm with spermicide
Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have recently been given or are due to receive a typhoid vaccination.
Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription.
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 is not expected to affect your ability to drive or use machinery.
Phenoxymethylpenicillin Film-Coated Tablets contain potassium
This medicine contains 28mg potassium per tablet. To be taken into consideration by patients with reduced kidney function or patients on a controlled potassium diet.
HOW TO TAKE
PHENOXYMETHYLPENICILLIN FILM-COATED TABLETS
Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
Each dose should be swallowed with a drink of water, at least 30 minutes before food. Try to space the doses as evenly as possible throughout the day.
The recommended dose is:
Adults:
The recommended dose for adults is 250mg or 500mg (i.e. one or two tablets) every 6 hours. This may vary depending on the type of infection you have. If you have poor kidney function the dose may be lowered.
Use in children and adolescents:
For children aged 6 - 12 years of age the recommended dose is 250mg (i.e. one tablet) every 6 hours.
For children aged 1 - 5 years of age the recommended dose is 125mg (i.e. half a tablet) every 6 hours.
How long to take your medicine for:
Your doctor will tell you how long to take your medicine for based on the type of infection you have. 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 this medicine, your condition may re-occur or get worse.
If you take more Phenoxymethylpenicillin Film-Coated Tablets than you should
Always take your medicine as recommended by your doctor. A large overdose may cause nausea (feeling sick), vomiting (being sick) and diarrhoea. Rarely seizures (fits) may occur. If you (or someone else) take too much medicine, or if you think a child has swallowed any of the tablets, tell your doctor immediately or go to your local hospital emergency department. Please take this leaflet, any remaining tablets and the container with you to the hospital or doctor so that they know which tablets were swallowed.
If you forget to take Phenoxymethylpenicillin Film-Coated Tablets
If you miss a dose, take another as soon as you remember and then carry on as before. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
If you stop taking Phenoxymethylpenicillin Film-Coated Tablets
Keep taking your medicine until the course is finished.
Do not stop taking your tablets just because you feel better - if you stop too soon the infection may start up again.
When you have finished
Phenoxymethylpenicillin Film-Coated Tablets
If your symptoms persist, tell your doctor. If you have any further questions on the use of this product, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS
Like all medicines Phenoxymethylpenicillin Film-Coated Tablets can cause side
effects, although not everybody gets them.
Tell your doctor if you think your medicine is making you feel unwell or if you get any of the following side effects:
The following side effects are rare, however if you think you are having an allergic reaction stop taking your tablets and tell your doctor immediately or go to your local hospital emergency department as severe allergic reactions may require emergency treatment.
An allergic reaction which may occur as:
- a rash on your skin (which might be severe).
- sudden wheeziness, breathing difficulties or tightness of the chest.
- swelling of your eyes, lips, throat or tongue.
- skin lumps and hives (“nettle rash”).
- fever or joint pain.
- dizziness.
- allergic reactions may also cause effects to the blood and kidneys.
Other reported side effects:
- Diarrhoea (which may contain blood)
Should the diarrhoea be persistent and severe, stop taking your tablets and tell your doctor immediately or go to your local hospital emergency department.
- Fits or convulsions (usually following high doses or if you suffer from severe kidney damage).
- Numbness or tingling of the hands and feet.
- Vomiting or nausea (a feeling of sickness).
- Inflammation of the tongue or mouth.
- Thrush or discharge from the vagina.
Blood disorders. Symptoms of blood disorders include tiredness, sore throat, fever,
unexplained bruising and bleeding, bruising easily and susceptibility to infection.
- Soft stools.
If any of the side effects get serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.
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.
HOW TO STORE
PHENOXYMETHYLPENICILLIN FILM-COATED TABLETS
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use Phenoxymethylpenicillin Film-Coated Tablets after the expiry date which is stated on the carton or blister strip. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
Do not store above 25°C. Store in the original packaging.
Do not use Phenoxymethylpenicillin Film-Coated Tablets if you notice any visible signs of deterioration.
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.
CONTENTS OF THE PACK AND OTHER INFORMATION
What Phenoxymethylpenicillin Film-Coated Tablets contain:
The active substance is phenoxymethylpenicillin. Each tablet contains 250mg of
phenoxymethylpenicillin (as
phenoxymethylpenicillin potassium).
The other ingredients are magnesium stearate, talc (E553b), macrogol 6000, povidone (E1201) and maltodextrin. The tablet coating contains titanium dioxide (E171), talc (E553b), and hypromellose (E464).
What Phenoxymethylpenicillin Film-Coated Tablets look like and contents of the pack
Phenoxymethylpenicillin 250mg Film-Coated Tablets are round and slightly cream in colour. The tablets are marked with PVK 250 and a notch on one side.
Phenoxymethylpenicillin Film-Coated Tablets come in blister packs of 10, 14, 20, 21, 28 or 30 tablets. Your pharmacist will give you the appropriate pack size with the correct number of tablets in accordance with your doctor’s instructions.
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Marketing Authorisation Holder
Kent Pharmaceuticals Limited,
Connect 38,
1, Dover Place,
Ashford,
Kent,
United Kingdom,
TN23 1FB.
Manufacturer
Athlone Laboratories Limited,
Ballymurray,
Co. Roscommon,
Ireland.
The leaflet was revised in July 2025.
PL 08215/0178
Customer: Kent Originated by: DOB (AWG)
Product: Phenoxymethylpenicillin Film Coated Tablets
Dimensions: 148mm x 335mm
280 C
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P223/14 P223/14