$Unique_ID{BRK02075}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{PENICILLIN VK}
$Subject{Beepen-VK (Beecham)
Betapen-VK (Bristol)
Ledercillin VK (Lederle)
Penapar-VK (Parke-Davis)
penicillin VK (various manufacturers)
Pen-Vee K (Wyeth)
Robicillin VK (Robins)
Suspen (Circle)
Uticillin VK (Upjohn)
V-Cillin K (Lilly)
Veetids (Squibb)}
$Volume{}
$Log{
Pen-Vee K*0207501.scf}

Copyright (C) 1991 Publications International, Ltd.


PENICILLIN VK
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BRAND NAMES (Manufacturers):
     Beepen-VK (Beecham)
     Betapen-VK (Bristol)
     Ledercillin VK (Lederle)
     Penapar-VK (Parke-Davis)
     penicillin VK (various manufacturers)
     Pen-Vee K (Wyeth)
     Robicillin VK (Robins)
     Suspen (Circle)
     Uticillin VK (Upjohn)
     V-Cillin K (Lilly)
     Veetids (Squibb)
TYPE OF DRUG:
     Penicillin antibiotic
INGREDIENT:
     penicillin potassium phenoxymethyl
DOSAGE FORMS:
     Tablets (125 mg, 250 mg, and 500 mg)
     Oral solution (125 mg and 250 mg per 5-ml spoonful)
STORAGE:
     Penicillin VK tablets should be stored at room temperature in a tightly
       closed container.  The oral solution should be stored in the
       refrigerator in a tightly closed container.  Any unused portion of the
       solution should be discarded after 14 days because the drug loses its
       potency after that time.  This medication should never be frozen.

USES

     Penicillin VK is used to treat a wide variety of bacterial infections,
including infections of the middle ear, the respiratory tract, and the urinary
tract.  It acts by severely injuring the cell membranes of infecting bacteria,
thereby preventing them from growing and multiplying.  Penicillin VK kills
susceptible bacteria, but it is not effective against viruses, parasites, or
fungi.

TREATMENT

     Penicillin VK should be taken on an empty stomach or with a glass of
water one hour before or two hours after a meal.  This medication should never
be taken with fruit juices or carbonated beverages because the acidity of
these drinks destroys the drug in the stomach.
     The oral solution should be measured carefully with a specially designed
5-ml measuring spoon.  An ordinary kitchen teaspoon is not accurate enough.
     Penicillin VK works best when the level of medicine in your bloodstream
is kept constant.  It is best, therefore, to take the doses at evenly spaced
intervals day and night.  For example, if you are taking four doses a day, the
doses should be spaced six hours apart.
     If you miss a dose of this medication, take the missed dose immediately.
However, if you do not remember to take the missed dose until it is almost
time for the next dose, take it; space the following dose about halfway
through the regular interval between doses; then return to your regular dosing
schedule.  Try not to skip any doses.
     It is important to continue to take this medication for the entire time
prescribed by your doctor (usually seven to 14 days), even if the symptoms of
infection disappear before the end of that period.  If you stop taking the
drug too soon, resistant bacteria are given a chance to continue growing, and
the infection could recur.

SIDE EFFECTS

     Minor.

     Diarrhea, heartburn, nausea, or vomiting.  These side effects should
disappear as your body adjusts to the drug.

     Major.

     Tell your doctor about any side effects that are persistent or
particularly bothersome.  IT IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO TELL YOUR DOCTOR about
bloating, chills, cough, darkened tongue, difficulty in breathing, fever,
irritation of the mouth, muscle aches, rash, rectal or vaginal itching, severe
diarrhea, or sore throat.  Also, if the infection seems to be getting worse
rather than improving, you should contact your physician.

INTERACTIONS

     Penicillin VK interacts with several other types of drugs:
     1. Probenecid can increase the blood concentrations of this medication.
     2. Oral neomycin may decrease the absorption of penicillin from the
gastrointestinal tract.
     3. Penicillin VK may decrease the effectiveness of oral contraceptives
(birth control pills), and pregnancy could result.  You should, therefore, use
a different or additional form of birth control while taking this medication.
Discuss this with your doctor.
     BE SURE TO TELL YOUR DOCTOR about any medications you are currently
taking, especially any of those listed above.

WARNINGS

     * Tell your doctor about unusual or allergic reactions you have had to
any medications, especially to penicillin or other penicillin antibiotics
(such as ampicillin and amoxicillin), cephalosporin antibiotics,
penicillamine, or griseofulvin.
     * Tell your doctor if you now have or if you have ever had kidney
disease, asthma, or allergies.
     * This medication has been prescribed for your current infection only.
Another infection later on, or one that someone else has, may require a
different medicine.  You should not give your medicine to other people or use
it for other infections, unless your doctor specifically directs you to do so.
     * Diabetics taking penicillin should know that this drug can cause a
false-positive sugar reaction with a Clinitest urine glucose test.  To avoid
this problem while taking penicillin, you should switch to Clinistix or
Tes-Tape to test your urine for sugar.
     * Be sure to tell your doctor if you are pregnant.  Although penicillin
appears to be safe during pregnancy, extensive studies in humans have not been
conducted.  Also, tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding an infant.  Small
amounts of this medication pass into breast milk and may temporarily alter the
bacterial balance in the intestinal tract of a nursing infant, resulting in
diarrhea.

----------------

The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace 
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your 
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical 
problem.
