Accidentally taking an extra dose of phenoxymethylpenicillin is unlikely to harm you or your child. Speak to your pharmacist or doctor if you're worried, or if you take more than 1 extra dose. Like all medicines, phenoxymethylpenicillin can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them.
If you're taking phenoxymethylpenicillin to prevent infections, your doctor will usually ask you to have blood tests. This is to make sure you're not getting any unexpected side effects. These common side effects happen in 1 in 10 people. Keep taking the medicine, but tell your doctor or pharmacist if they bother you or don't go away:. Around 1 in 10 people have an allergic reaction to phenoxymethylpenicillin.
Mild allergic reactions can usually be successfully treated by taking antihistamines. In rare cases, phenoxymethylpenicillin can cause a serious allergic reaction anaphylaxis. You could be having a serious allergic reaction and may need immediate treatment in hospital. You can report any suspected side effect to the UK safety scheme. It's usually safe to take phenoxymethylpenicillin during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. For safety, tell your doctor if you're trying to get pregnant, already pregnant, or breastfeeding.
There are many medicines that don't mix well with phenoxymethylpenicillin. Tell your doctor if you're taking these medicines before you start taking phenoxymethylpenicillin:. There are no known problems with taking herbal remedies and supplements with phenoxymethylpenicillin. For safety, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal remedies, vitamins or supplements.
Phenoxymethylpenicillin is an antibiotic. It works by killing the bacteria that cause infection. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have had an allergic reaction to penicillin or any other medicine in the past. If you're allergic to penicillin, you'll be allergic to all penicillin-based medicines , including phenoxymethylpenicillin, and your doctor will prescribe a different type of antibiotic. It's very important that you keep taking phenoxymethylpenicillin until your course is finished.
Do this even if you feel better. It'll help stop the infection coming back. Tell your doctor if you don't start feeling better after taking phenoxymethylpenicillin for 3 days. If you're taking phenoxymethylpenicillin to prevent infection for example, if you have sickle cell disease or have had chorea, rheumatic fever or your spleen removed , you may have to take it for the rest of your life.
Phenoxymethylpenicillin is generally safe when prescribed long term to prevent infections. There are no additional known side effects. But if you develop diarrhoea that lasts for more than a couple of days, ask your pharmacist or doctor for advice. Phenoxymethylpenicillin and other penicillins, like amoxicillin , are antibiotics that are widely used to treat a variety of infections, including skin infections, chest infections and urinary tract infections UTIs.
Not all antibiotics are suitable for every infection. Your doctor will choose an antibiotic that's suitable for the type of infection you have. If used…. However, they might not be safe for every person that…. Extended-spectrum beta-lactamases are specific enzymes released by a bacteria that neutralizes the effects of antibiotics. These enzymes can…. How do penicillins work? Medically reviewed by Zara Risoldi Cochrane, Pharm. Quick facts Function History Resistance Side effects Risks Takeaway Penicillins are a group of antibacterial drugs that attack a wide range of bacteria.
Fast facts on penicillin. Share on Pinterest Penicillins work by bursting the cell wall of bacteria. Side effects. Share on Pinterest Nausea is a common side effect of taking penicillins. Adolescent depression: Could school screening help? Related Coverage. Alexander Fleming, speaking in his Nobel Prize acceptance speech in , said:.
As the man who discovered the first antibiotic almost 70 years ago predicted, drug resistance is starting to become commonplace. Antibiotics are ineffective against viruses.
A doctor prescribes antibiotics for the treatment of a bacterial infection. It is not effective against viruses. Viruses cause most upper respiratory tract infections URTIs , such as the common cold and flu. Antibiotics do not work against these viruses. If people overuse antibiotics or use them incorrectly, the bacteria might become resistant. This means that the antibiotic becomes less effective against that type of bacterium, as the bacterium has been able to improve its defenses.
A doctor can prescribe a broad-spectrum antibiotic to treat a wide range of infections. A narrow-spectrum antibiotic is only effective against a few types of bacteria. Some antibiotics attack aerobic bacteria, while others work against anaerobic bacteria.
Aerobic bacteria need oxygen and anaerobic bacteria do not. In some cases, a healthcare professional may provide antibiotics to prevent rather than treat an infection, as might be the case before surgery.
People commonly use these antibiotics before bowel and orthopedic surgery. Some people, especially older adults, may experience bowel inflammation , which can lead to severe, bloody diarrhea. In less common instances, penicillins, cephalosporins, and erythromycin can also cause inflamed bowels. Some people may develop an allergic reaction to antibiotics, especially penicillins.
Side effects might include a rash, swelling of the tongue and face, and difficulty breathing. Allergic reactions to antibiotics might be immediate or delayed hypersensitivity reactions. For example, gastrointestinal side effects are not considered a true allergy. In children, penicillin doses are typically calculated using milligrams per kilogram of body weight. Penicillin is generally safe for treating infectious diseases when given in appropriate doses. High doses of penicillin may lead to central nervous system toxicity , which can manifest as seizures.
The risk of central nervous system toxicity may be higher in people with renal, or kidney, problems. In rare cases, penicillin may cause anaphylactic reactions. Penicillin should be avoided in individuals with a history of hypersensitivity reactions to penicillin.
Symptoms of anaphylaxis include rash, itchiness, swelling, and trouble breathing. Anaphylactic reactions require immediate medical attention. Those with a history of allergic reactions to penicillin should also avoid taking penicillin derivatives, cephalosporins, carbapenems, and monobactam antibiotics.
In cases where an alternative to a penicillin-type antibiotic will not be appropriate, a patient can undergo skin testing to assess the presence of an allergic reaction to penicillin. If the skin test is positive, a desensitization process can be started to slowly administer the antibiotic until it is tolerable and effective. There are no current penicillin recalls as of February Penicillin is not used to treat infections caused by viruses or fungi. In order to prevent antibiotic resistance, penicillin should only be used to treat bacterial infections that are susceptible to penicillin.
Penicillin should only be used with a valid prescription from a doctor. Penicillin doses may need to be adjusted or reduced in patients with severe renal problems.
Penicillin is generally safe to use during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. Studies in animals have not shown that penicillins carry a risk of causing harm to the fetus. Penicillin G is an effective antibiotic for preventing the transmission of syphilis from the mother to the fetus. A healthcare provider should be consulted for appropriate antibiotic treatment during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Low white blood cell counts, or leukopenia, is a common adverse effect of nafcillin.
High doses of penicillin given intravenously may cause low platelet levels, which can increase the risk of bleeding. Penicillin can alter the growth of normal bacteria in the colon and cause an overgrowth of a bacteria called Clostridioides difficile formerly known as Clostridium difficile.
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