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| Pronunciation |
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 (pen
i SIL in vee poe TASS ee
um) |
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| Brand Names |
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| Suspen®; Truxcillin®;
Veetids® |
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| Foreign Brand
Names |
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| Anapenil (Mexico); Apo-Pen® VK (Canada);
Nadopen-V® (Canada); Novo-Pen-VK® (Canada); Nu-Pen-VK
(Canada); Pen-Vi-K (Mexico); PVF® K
(Canada) |
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| Therapeutic
Categories |
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Antibiotic, Penicillin |
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| Reasons not to take this
medicine |
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- If you have an allergy to another penicillin, penicillin V potassium,
or any other part of the medicine.
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| What is this medicine used
for? |
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- This medicine is used as a treatment for a variety of bacterial
infections.
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| How does it work? |
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- Penicillin makes the cell wall (skin) of the bacteria leaky and kills
the bacteria.
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| How is it best taken? |
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- To gain the most benefit, do not miss doses.
- Take with or without food. Take with food if this medicine causes an
upset stomach.
- For children 5 years of age and younger, may be best to give on an
empty stomach if possible.
- A liquid (solution) is available if you cannot swallow pills. Those
who have feeding tubes can also use the liquid. Flush the feeding tube before
and after medicine is given.
- Use entire prescription as directed, even if feeling
better.
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| What do I do if I miss a
dose? |
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- Take a missed dose as soon as possible.
- If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one. Return to
your regular schedule.
- Do not take a double dose or extra
doses.
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| What are the precautions when
taking this
medicine? |
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- Avoid alcohol (includes wine, beer, and liquor). Can make infection
more difficult to treat.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make
sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling
about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of
face, lips, tongue, throat; or any other symptoms involved.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting
pregnant.
- Birth control pills may not work. Use another form of birth control
while taking this medicine.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are
breast-feeding.
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| What are the common side effects
of this
medicine? |
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- Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking
hard candy, or chewing gum may help.
- Diarrhea. Yogurt, Bifidobacterium bifidum
, or Lactobacillus acidophilus
may help. These products are available at health food stores or in some
pharmacies.
- Rash.
- Vaginal irritation. Report itching or discharge to healthcare
provider.
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| What should I monitor? |
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- If you are diabetic, this medicine may interfere with
Clinitest®. Use another method of urine glucose testing
like Clinistix® or Tes-Tape®.
- Watch for change in temperature or worsening of
infection.
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| Reasons to call healthcare
provider
immediately |
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- Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing;
tightness in the chest; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits;
swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
- Fever and/or chills.
- Severe nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea.
- Any rash.
- No improvement in condition or feeling
worse.
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| How should I store this
medicine? |
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- Refrigerate liquid (solution). Throw away if medicine is not used in 2
weeks.
- Store tablets in a tight container at room
temperature.
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| General statements |
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- Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's
medicine.
- Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
- Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, herbal/supplements,
vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider
(doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physician assistant).
- Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new
medicines.
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