Patient leaflet - Phenoxymethylpenicillin Potassium tablets 250 mg
1. WHAT PHENOXYMETHYLPENICILLIN TABLET IS AND WHAT IT IS USED FOR
Phenoxymethylpenicillin tablet is one of a group of antibiotic medicines called penicillins. They are used to treat infections caused by bacteria that are sensitive to penicillins.
Phenoxymethylpenicillin tablet is used to treat a range of bacterial infections:
- Chest (bronchitis or pneumonia) infections
- To treat ear and throat infections (such as otitis media and pharyngitis)
- To treat skin and soft tissue infections such as scarlet fever and erysipelas
- To prevent rheumatic fever or chorea (infection of the nervous system) recurring
- To prevent lung infections in patients with no spleen or sickle cell disease.
2. BEFORE YOU TAKE PHENOXYMETHYLPENICILLIN TABLETS
Do not take Phenoxymethylpenicillin Tablets:
- If you are allergic (hypersensitive) to phenoxymethylpenicillin potassium
- If you are allergic (hypersensitive) to any of the other ingredients in this medicine
- If you are allergic (hypersensitive) to cephalosporin antibiotics
Take special care with Phenoxymethylpenicillin tablets
Tell your doctor before you start to take this medicine if you:
- Have a history of allergies
- Suffer from any stomach or kidney problem
- Are pregnant, trying to become pregnant
- Are breast-feeding
- Have suffered severe diarrhoea following previous treatment with antibiotics
- Have a severe illness
Are feeling or being sick or are suffering from any gut disorder which may affect the
way your body absorbs the medicine.
If you have your urine tested for glucose using a non-enzymatic test, then
Phenoxymethylpenicillin Tablets may give a false positive result.
Taking other medicines
Talk to your doctor if you are taking any of the following:
The contraceptive pill, as phenoxymethylpenicillin tablet may reduce the effect of
the pill, you should therefore take extra contraceptive precautions such as using a condom or a diaphragm with spermicide
- Other antibiotics (such as tetracyclines, erythromycin, chloramphenicol, sulphonamides)
- Probenecid (used to treat gout)
- Methotrexate (used in the treatment of severe rheumatoid arthritis, severe psoriasis and cancer)
- Guar gum (used in the treatment of diabetes)
- Neomycin (anti fungal)
- Coumarin & Phenindione (anti-coagulants)
- Sulfinpyrazone (used to treat gout)
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.
Phenoxymethylpenicillin tablets contains lactose.
If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicinal product.
3. HOW TO TAKE PHENOXYMETHYLPENICILLIN TABLETS
Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. You should check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure. The dosage prescribed will depend on the type and severity of the infection.
In general, the treatment must be continued 2-3 days after improvement of the symptoms. It is important that you complete the entire course of medicine your doctor has prescribed for you.
You should take your medicine with water about half an hour before meals. The usual dose is:
Treatment of Infection:
Adults: 250-500mg (one or two tablets) every 6 hours or as directed by your doctor. Children aged 1-5 years of age: 125mg (half a tablet) every 6 hours. Children aged 6-11 years of age: 250mg (one tablet) every 6 hours or as directed by your doctor.
Prevention of Infection:
Rheumatic fever: 250mg (one tablet) twice a day.
Lung infection in patients with no spleen or sickle cell disease: Adults: 500mg (two tablets) every 12 hours.
Children 6-12 years of age: 250mg (one tablet) every 12 hours.
Children under 5 years of age: 125mg (half a tablet) every 12 hours. To avoid late complications (rheumatic fever), infections with β-haemolytic streptococci should be treated for 10 days.
Patients with kidney problems may have a lower dose recommended by their doctor. The treatment of acute otitis media with penicillin V should be limited to 5 days. However, 5-10 days treatment may be recommended in patients with potential for complications. Do not stop taking the medicine if you feel better, as your infection may come back or get worse.
You should take your medicine with water about half an hour before food. 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
Take this medicine when your stomach is empty. This means at least 30mins before food and preferably not less than two hours after food. You should swallow Penicillin VK Tablets whole with water. Do not chew them.
If you take more Phenoxymethylpenicillin tablets than you should
If you (or someone else) swallow a lot of the tablets all at once, or if you think a child has swallowed any of the tablets,
contact your nearest hospital casualty department or your doctor immediately. 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 tablets;
If you forget to take your medicine take it as soon as you remember. Do NOT take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
If you stop taking Penicillin VK Tablets
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 have any further questions on the use of this product, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
4. POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS
Like all medicines, Phenoxymethylpenicillin tablets can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
STOP taking your medicine and tell your doctor immediately or go to your nearest accident and emergency department if you notice any of the following:
pseudomembranous colitis (severe bloody diarrhoea) unusual bleeding or bruising
seizures
- peeling/blistering of the skin
Serum sickness-like reactions(characterised by fever, chills, joint pains and
oedema)
Rarely allergic reactions (symptoms include shortness of breath, skin rash or itching, hives, swelling of lips, face or tongue, chills or fever, or painful joints) can occur, which can be severe. If any of the following happen stop taking the medicine and contact your doctor immediately.
- Skin rashes which may be itchy, raised or red
- Fever
- Joint pains
- Swelling of the face, lips, throat or tongue
- Breathing difficulties
- Dizziness
- Allergic reactions may also cause effects to the blood and kidneys.
The following side effects have also been reported:
- Soft stools
- Nausea or vomiting.
If you notice any of the following side effects you should contact your doctor:
- Severe diarrhoea, which may contain blood
Fits or convulsions (usually following high doses or if you suffer from severe kidney
damage)
- Numbness or tingling of the hands and feet
- Black hairy tongue
- Jaundice (yellow colouring of the skin and whites of the eyes)
Hepatitis
- Thrush (a yeast infection of the vagina, mouth or skin folds)
- Blood disorders. Possible symptoms might include unexplained bruising and bleeding, sore throat, fever or other infections
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 at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side affects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. HOW TO STORE PHENOXYMETHYLPENICILLIN TABLETS Keep out of the sight and reach of children.
Phenoxymethylpenicillin tablets should be stored in a dry place below 25°C. Do not use phenoxymethylpenicillin tablets after the expiry date that is stated on the outer packaging. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month. Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help to protect the environment.
6. FURTHER INFORMATION
What Phenoxymethylpenicillin tablet contains:
- The active ingredient is phenoxymethylpenicillin potassium (equivalent to 250mg of phenoxymethylpenicillin).
- The other ingredients are lactose, maize starch, magnesium stearate and pregelatinised starch.
What Phenoxymethylpenicillin tablet looks like and contents of the pack:
- Shiny white, flat tablets plain on one side and score line on the other side. The score line is only to facilitate breaking for ease of swallowing and not to divide into equal doses.
This product comes in bottles of 28, 100, 500 and 1000 tablets and blister packs of
28, 100, 112, 250, 252, 500, 504, 1000 and 1008 tablets.
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Marketing Authorisation Holder:
Rudipharm Limited
Unit 6, Salbrook Road Industrial Estate
Salbrook Road, Redhill, Surrey, RH1 5GJ, United Kingdom
Manufacturer:
Rudipharm Limited
Oak House, Reeds Crescent,
Watford, WD24 4QP, UK.
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Please be ready to give the following information:
Product name Reference number PHENOXYMETHYLPENICILLIN
PL 49565/0013
250mg TABLETS
This leaflet was last revised in December 2025.
Phenoxymethylpenicillin Tablets
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