PHENOXYMETHYLPENICILLIN 250 MG TABLETS BP - patient leaflet, side effects, dosage

PHENOXYMETHYLPENICILLIN 250 mg TABLETS BP

Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine because it contains important information for you.

• Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
• If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
• This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their signs of illness are the same as yours.
• If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See Section 4.

What is in this leaflet

• 1. What Penicillin tablets are and what they are used for

• 2. What you need to know before you take Penicillin tablets

• 3. How to take Penicillin tablets

• 4. Possible side effects

• 5. How to store Penicillin tablets

• 6. Contents of the pack and other information

1. What Penicillin tablets are and what they are _____________­______used for ___________________ The name of your medicine is Phenoxymethyl­penicillin 250mg tablets BP referred as Penicillin tablets in this leaflet. The active ingredient is Phenoxymethyl­penicillin potassium.

• Phenoxymethyl­penicillin belongs to a group of medicines called penicillins, which are used to fight bacteria that cause infections.
• These tablets are used to treat a wide range of bacterial infections of the ear, throat, respiratory tract, skin and soft tissues.
• It may also be used to prevent:

• – rheumatic fever or chorea (infection of the nervous system) recurring

• – infection in patients without a spleen (abdominal organ) – prevent pneumococcal infection (e.g. in asplenia and in patients with sickle cell disease).

2. what you need to know before you take __________________penicillin tablets__________________ do not take this medicine if you:

• are allergic to phenoxymethyl­penicillin, any other penicillins or cephalosporins or any other ingredients (listed in Section 6)

Warnings and Precautions

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking this medicine, if you have or have had any medical conditions, and especially if you:

• – if you suffer from bronchial asthma or suffer from a tendency to develop allergic conditions

• – if you suffer with persistent diarrhoea or vomiting caused by stomach or intestinal problems or being sick, or are suffering from any gut disorder which may affect the way your body absorbs the medicine

• – if you have severe illness

• – if you have history of sensitivity to penicillins, cephalosporins and other allergens

• – suffer from any stomach or kidney problems

• – are pregnant, trying to become pregnant or breast-feeding

Other medicines and Penicillin tablets

Your medicine may interfere with other medicines you are taking. Please inform your doctor or your pharmacist if you are taking, or have recently taken, any other medicines even those not prescribed.

Tell your doctor or Pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines including:

Examples of medicines which can affect phenoxymethyl­penicillin are:

• tetracycline, neomycin, erythromycin, chloramphenicol (other types of antibiotics)
• the oral contraceptive pill
• probenecid, sulfinpyrazone (used to treat gout – painful inflammation of the joints)
• methotrexate (a drug used to treat cancer and psoriasis

– a chronic skin disease)

• anti-coagulants (medication used to prevent blood clots e.g. Warfarin)

Phenoxymethyl­penicillin Solution with food and drink

• Guar gum (used as a thickening agent and normally found in puddings and ice-cream and benefiber (a soluble dietary fibre) can reduce the absorption of phenoxymethyl­penicillin.

Pregnancy, breast-feeding and fertility

• 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.

| 3. How to take Penicillin tablets |

• Always take these tablets exactly as advised by your doctor. You should check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure. Do not take more than your doctor has recommended
• The dosage and duration of treatment will depend on the type and severity of the infection.
• It should be given in divided doses (4 times a day). Take this medicine when your stomach is empty. This means at least 30mins before food and preferably not less than two hours after food.

Adults including the elderly and children over 12 years The usual adult dosage is 125mg or 250mg every six hours depending on your condition.

Children

6 to 12 years of age: 250mg every 6 hours

1 to 5 years of age: 125mg every 6 hours

Infants (up to 1 year): 62.5mg every 6 hours

Long-term treatment:

Up to 6 years of age: 125mg twice daily

6 to 12 years of age: 250mg twice daily

The liquid form of this medicine may be more suitable for children under 6 years of age and those with difficulty in swallowing. For preventing the recurrence of rheumatic fever or chorea: The usual dose is 250mg 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

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every 12 hours and 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 the 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.

If you take more tablets than you should

If you accidently take too many tablets, tell your doctor immediately or contact your nearest Hospital Casualty/Accident and Emergency Department even if there are no signs of discomfort. Take your medicine in its original packaging with you in order to enable the doctor to identify your medication easily.

If you forget to take the tablets

If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember, however, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and then take your next dose when it is due.

DO NOT TAKE A DOUBLE DOSE TO MAKE UP FOR THE FORGOTTEN DOSE

If you stop taking this medicine

Take all the tablets that have been prescribed for you, even if you start to feel better. Your symptoms may start to improve before the condition is completely treated. If you stop taking the tablets 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 may sometimes cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. If they occur, they are likely to be temporary and not serious. However, some may be serious and need medical attention.

STOP TAKING this medicine and tell your doctor immediately if you suffer from any of the following:

• an allergic reaction (symptoms include shortness of breath, dizziness skin rash or itching, hives, swelling of lips, face or tongue, chills or fever, or painful joints)
• unusual bleeding or bruising
• seizures
• Pseudomembranous colitis (severe bloody diarrhoea)
• peeling/blistering of the skin
• Serum sickness-like reactions (characterised by fever, chills, joint pains and oedema)

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice any of the following and they worry you:

• upset stomach
• diarrhoea
• nausea
• vomiting
• black hairy tongue
• thrush (a yeast infection of the vagina, mouth or skin folds)
• jaundice (yellow colouring of the skin and whites of the eyes)
• hepatitis
• sore throats, infections or fever (may be caused by low white blood cells)
• anaemia (lack of energy or tiredness)
• kidney problems, which might cause blood in the urine or reduced amounts of urine
• convulsions, especially with high doses or in patients with severe kidney problems
• pins and needles or numbness

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 Penicillin tablets |

• Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
• Blisters: Do not store above 25°C. Store in the original package Containers: Do not store above 25°C. Keep the container tightly closed.
• Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the label or carton (EXP.). The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
• 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.

• | 6. Contents of the pack and other informatio~n~|

What these tablets contain

• The active substance is phenoxymethyl­penicillin (as phenoxymethyl­penicillin potassium).
• The other ingredients are maize starch, magnesium stearate, povidone, hypromellose, purified talc, macrogol and the colouring agent titanium dioxide (E171).

What these tablets look like and contents of the pack

• The tablets are White to off white, round, biconvex film- coated tablets with BL/250 debossed on one side.
• The tablets come in packs containing 28 or 1000 tablets.
• Not all pack sizes may be marketed.