Penicillin VK Medical Information

• Penicillin VK uses
• Penicillin VK dosage
• Penicillin VK side effects
• Warnings & precautions
• Drug interactions
• Missed dose
• Overdose

Common Brand Names: Pen-Vee K, Robicillin VK, V-Cillin K, Veetids, Betapen-VK, Ledercillin VK, Pen-V

Generic Name: Penicillin VK

The following product information is not intended to replace the physician's or manufacturer's instructions.

Common Medical Uses:
Penicillin VK is a penicillin antibiotic. Penicillin V potassium is used to treat a variety of infections, most notably strep throat. This drug is also used to prevent bacterial endocarditis in patients with congenital heart disease or rheumatic or other acquired valvular heart disease. Penicillin is taken before dental procedures and surgical procedures in these patients.
Penicillin VK is indicated in the treatment of the following infections:

• mild to moderate upper respiratory tract infections
• scarlet fever
• mild erysipelas
• mild skin and soft tissues infections
• Vincent's Gingivitis
• pharyngitis

Penicillin VK dosage:
Take penicillin V potassium at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after meals.

The usual dosage recommendations for adults and children 12 years and over are as follows:

• For mild to moderately severe strep infections of the upper respiratory tract and skin, and scarlet fever: The usual dosage is 125 to 250 mg every 6 to 8 hours for 10 days.
• For mild to moderately severe pneumococcal infections of the respiratory tract, including middle ear infections: The usual dosage is 250 mg to 500 mg every 6 hours until you have been without a fever for at least 2 days.
• For mild staph infections of skin: The usual dosage is 250 mg to 500 mg every 6 to 8 hours.
• For mild to moderately severe gum infections (Vincent's gingivitis): The usual dosage is 250 mg to 500 mg every 6 to 8 hours.
• To prevent recurring rheumatic fever and/or chorea (infective disorder of the nervous system): The usual dosage is 125 mg to 250 mg 2 times a day on a continuing basis.
• Prevention of bacterial endocarditis (inflammation of the heart membrane) in people with heart disease who are undergoing dental or surgical procedures: For oral therapy, the usual dose is 2 grams of penicillin V taken one-half to 1 hour before the procedure, then 1 gram 6 hours later.

Penicillin VK Possible Side Effects:
Amoxicillin may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• nausea
• vomiting
• stomach upset or pain
• black, hairy tongue
• diarrhea

Some side effects can be serious. The following symptoms are uncommon, but if you experience any of them, call your doctor as soon as possible:

• severe skin rash
• itching
• hives
• difficulty breathing or swallowing

Penicillin VK Warnings & Precautions:

• Don't take if: you have ever had an allergic to any penicillin antibiotic. Penicillin should be used with caution in individuals with histories of significant allergies or asthma.
• Before taking Penicillin VK, tell your doctor or/and pharmacist:
• if you have had allergic reactions to any medications, especially to penicillin or other related antibiotics (such as ampicillin and amoxicillin), cephalosporin antibiotics, penicillamine, or griseofulvin
• if you have asthma
• if you have colitis (inflammatory bowel disease)
• if you have diabetes
• if you have kidney or liver disease.
• Pregnancy: Risk category B. Human experience with the penicillins during pregnancy has not shown any positive evidence of adverse effects on the fetus. There are, however, no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women showing conclusively that harmful effects of these drugs on the fetus can be excluded.
• Breast feeding: Penicillins are excreted in milk. Caution should be exercised when penicillins are administered to a nursing woman.
• Discontinuing: Don't discontinue without consulting doctor until you complete prescribed dose, even though symptoms diminish or disappear.
• Birth control pills may not be effective. Use additional birth control method.

Drug Interactions:
The following drugs and foods may interact with amoxicillin:

• ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) inhibitors
• Chloramphenicol (Chloromycetin)
• birth control pills
• other antibiotics such as erythromycin (Ery-Tab, E-Mycin, E.E.S., others), tetracycline (Sumycin, others), minocycline (Minocin), doxycycline (Doryx, Vibramycin, others)

Penicillin-V potassium should not be taken with fruit juice.

Tell your health care professional about all other medicines you are taking, including non-prescription medicines, nutritional supplements, or herbal products.

Missed Dose:
Take as soon as you remember. Don't double the dose.

Overdose:
Symptoms of large oral overdose of penicillin may cause nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea, and, in rare cases, major motor seizures. If other symptoms are present, consideration must also be given to the possibility of an allergic reaction or symptoms secondary to a concurrent medication or other underlying disease state, especially in adults.

See also:

• Penicillin VK
• Penicillin VK 500 mg no prescritpion