Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in
larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on
your prescription label.
Take the medicine with a full glass of water.
You may take penicillin V with or without food.
To be sure this medication is helping your condition, your blood will need to be tested on
a regular basis. Your kidney or liver function may also need to be tested. Do not miss any
scheduled visits to your doctor.
Shake the oral suspension (liquid) well just before you measure a dose. To be sure
you get the correct dose, measure the liquid with a marked measuring spoon or medicine cup, not
with a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for
one.
Take this medication for the entire length of time prescribed by your doctor. Your
symptoms may get better before the infection is completely treated. Penicillin V will not treat a
viral infection such as the common cold or flu.
Do not give penicillin V to another person, even if they have the same symptoms you
do.
This medication can cause you to have unusual results with certain medical tests. Tell any
doctor who treats you that you are using penicillin V.
Store penicillin V at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic
reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
diarrhea that is watery or bloody;
fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms;
easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness;
urinating less than usual or not at all;
severe skin rash, itching, or peeling;
agitation, confusion, unusual thoughts or behavior; or
seizure (black-out or convulsions).
Less serious side effects are more likely to occur, such as:
nausea, vomiting, stomach pain;
vaginal itching or discharge;
headache;
swollen, black, or "hairy” tongue; or
thrush (white patches or inside your mouth or throat).
Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your
doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.
Before taking penicillin V, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:
methotrexate (Rheumatrex, Trexall); or
probenecid (Benemid).
If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to use
penicillin V, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.
There may be other drugs not listed that can affect penicillin V. Tell your doctor about all
the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals,
herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication
without telling your doctor.
Antibiotic medicines can cause diarrhea, which may be a sign of a new infection. If you
have diarrhea that is watery or has blood in it, call your doctor. Do not use any medicine to stop
the diarrhea unless your doctor has told you to.
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this
medicine.
Symptoms of a penicillin V overdose may include confusion, behavior changes, a severe
skin rash, urinating less than usual, or seizure (black-out or convulsions).
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose,
skip the missed dose and take the medicine at your next regularly scheduled time. Do
not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to penicillin V or to any other penicillin
antibiotic, such as amoxicillin (Amoxil), ampicillin (Omnipen, Principen), carbenicillin
(Geocillin), dicloxacillin (Dycill, Dynapen), or oxacillin (Bactocill).
Before using penicillin V, tell your doctor if you are allergic to cephalosporins such as
Ceclor, Ceftin, Duricef, Keflex, and others, or if you have asthma, kidney disease, or a history of
any type of allergy.
Penicillin V can make birth control pills less effective, which may result in
pregnancy. Before taking penicillin V, tell your doctor if you use birth control pills.
Take this medication for the entire length of time prescribed by your doctor. Your
symptoms may get better before the infection is completely treated. Penicillin V will not treat a
viral infection such as the common cold or flu.
Do not give this medication to another person, even if they have the same symptoms
you do.
Antibiotic medicines can cause diarrhea, which may be a sign of a new infection. If you
have diarrhea that is watery or has blood in it, call your doctor. Do not use any medicine to stop
the diarrhea unless your doctor has told you to.
Before using penicillin V, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any
drugs (especially cephalosporins such as Ceclor, Ceftin, Duricef, Keflex, and others), or if you
have:
asthma;
kidney disease;
a bleeding or blood clotting disorder;
a history of diarrhea caused by taking antibiotics; or
a history of any type of allergy.
If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use
penicillin V, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.
FDA pregnancy category B. This medication is not expected to be harmful to an
unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
Penicillin V can make birth control pills less effective, which may result in
pregnancy. Before taking penicillin V, tell your doctor if you use birth control pills.
Penicillin V can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this
medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Penicillin V is available with a prescription generically and under several brand names.
Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about this medication, especially if it is new to you.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share
your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
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up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. In addition, the drug information contained herein may be time sensitive.
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that uses outside of the United States are appropriate. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy.
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to serve end-users viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare
practitioners. Healthcare practitioners should use their professional judgment in using the information provided. The absence of a warning for a
given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for
any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides.
The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions,
or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
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