Benzathine Penicillin G
Description
Benzathine Penicillin G is an antibiotic that is used to treat upper respiratory tract infections and syphilis caused by susceptible bacteria. It is also used to prevent some infections such as rheumatic fever, and infection of the heart valves (bacterial endocarditis) in people with pre-existing heart disease. It is a type of natural penicillin, that works by stopping the growth of the bacteria by inhibiting cell wall formation. This kills the bacteria and hence the patient starts feeling better.
Benzathine Penicillin G is administered as a drip or as an injection by qualified healthcare professionals under medical supervision in a clinic or a hospital. The dose and duration of this medicine are different for every individual. Your doctor will decide how much medicine should be given for how many days, on the basis of your clinical condition. It is important to take this medicine at regularly spaced intervals, as scheduled by your doctor. You should complete the whole treatment even if you feel better midway, as it increases the chance of returning of infection or worsening of the condition.
Some common side effects of Benzathine Penicillin G are rash, allergic reactions or pain, swelling, and redness at the site of injection may be seen in some patients. These are temporary and usually resolve quickly. It is important to tell your doctor if you are allergic to this medicine before use. You will be monitored for around 30 minutes after receiving the medicine for any signs of allergic symptoms like swelling, redness, breathing difficulties etc. Do not start or stop taking Benzathine Penicillin G without your doctor's instructions.
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Side effects
Major & minor side effects for Benzathine Penicillin G
- Chills and fever
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Low blood pressure
- Fast heart rate
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Blurred vision
- Shortness of breath
- Blood in stools
Uses of Benzathine Penicillin G
What is it prescribed for?
- Upper Respiratory Tract Infection
- Syphilis
- Prophylaxis for Rheumatic Fever
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Concerns
Commonly asked questions
- Onset of actionBenzathine Penicillin G usually shows its therapeutic action quickly, as the absorption of this medicine through muscles (intramuscular) and skin (subcutaneous) is very fast. For the complete neutralization of the bacterial infection, it is important to complete the whole treatment as prescribed by your doctor. Stopping the treatment before time could lead to relapse of infection or an increase in the severity of the disease.
- Duration of effectThe amount of time for which Benzathine Penicillin G remains active in the body is not clinically established.
- Safe with alcohol?Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
- Is it habit forming?No habit-forming tendencies were reported for Benzathine Penicillin G.
- Usage in pregnancy?Benzathine Penicillin G is not recommended for use in pregnant women as sufficient studies are not done to claim the safety of you and your unborn baby. Your doctor may prescribe this medicine only if the benefits outweigh the risk. Do not take or stop this medicine without consulting with a doctor.
- Usage while breast-feeding?Benzathine Penicillin G is not recommended for use in breastfeeding women as not much study is done to understand if this medicine could affect breastfeeding or not. It is also not known if this medicine is passed through breast milk or not, therefore as a precautionary method, it is not recommended unless the benefits outweigh the risks. Consult your doctor to understand more about the risk and benefits before taking this medication.
Allergy
If you have any known history of allergy from Benzathine Penicillin G, it is not recommended for use. If used, it can lead to allergic reactions like redness, swelling, hives, breathing difficulties etc. Ask your doctor for another alternative medicine in such cases.
Warnings for special population
Pregnancy
Benzathine Penicillin G is not recommended for use in pregnant women as sufficient studies are not done to claim the safety of you and your unborn baby. Your doctor may prescribe this medicine only if the benefits outweigh the risk. Do not take or stop this medicine without consulting with a doctor.
Breast-feeding
Benzathine Penicillin G is not recommended for use in breastfeeding women as not much study is done to understand if this medicine could affect breastfeeding or not. It is also not known if this medicine is passed through breast milk or not, therefore as a precautionary method, it is not recommended unless the benefits outweigh the risks. Consult your doctor to understand more about the risk and benefits before taking this medication.
General warnings
Drug-resistance
Drug resistance is the reduction in the effectiveness of a medication in treating a disease or condition. Usage of Benzathine Penicillin G without sufficient proof or suspicion of a bacterial infection should be avoided. Irrational dosing might fail in providing benefits and may even cause toxicity. It may also increase the risk of the development of drug-resistant bacteria. When antibiotics are used, some bacteria die but resistant bacteria can survive and even multiply. The overuse of antibiotics makes resistant bacteria more common. The more antibiotics are used (irrationally), the more chances bacteria have to become resistant to them.
Kidney impairment
Benzathine Penicillin G should be administered with caution in patients with an impaired kidney function as a diseased kidney will not eliminate the medicine completely and this can increase the risk of toxicity in the blood. If required, ask for dose adjustments or other alternative medicine.
Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea
Discontinue the use of Benzathine Penicillin G as per the doctor's instructions if severe diarrhoea occurs after receiving this medicine. This medicine may cause an imbalance in the microbial flora of the large intestine, decreasing the gut-friendly bacteria and promoting the growth of a bacteria called clostridium difficile, resulting in severe diarrhoea.
Driving or Operating machinery
Use of Benzathine Penicillin G may cause symptoms such as blurred vision, confusion, dizziness, etc., in some patients. It is advised that you do not perform any activities such as driving a vehicle or operating machinery if you experience any of these symptoms during treatment with this medicine.
Hypersensitivity reactions
Benzathine Penicillin G may cause serious and occasionally fatal hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylactic shock in some patients. This risk is especially high in patients with a history of sensitivity to multiple allergens. If an anaphylactic reaction occurs, the treatment should be discontinued immediately and appropriate corrective measures should be undertaken.
Route of administration
Benzathine Penicillin G is recommended for deep intramuscular administration only. Do not administer this medicine into or near an artery or nerve due to the risk of cardiorespiratory arrest (sudden, unexpected loss of heart function, breathing and consciousness) and death.
Missed Dose
Since Benzathine Penicillin G is administered by a qualified healthcare professional in the clinical or hospital setting, the likelihood of a missed dose is very low. If you miss any scheduled dosing of this medicine, inform your doctor immediately for further instructions.
Overdose
Since Benzathine Penicillin G is administered in the hospital or clinical setting by a qualified healthcare professional, the likelihood of an overdose is very low. However, emergency medical treatment will be initiated by the doctor if an overdose is suspected to restore your health.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol
Description
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Instructions
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Interaction with Medicine
Live cholera vaccine
Methotrexate
Tetracycline
Ethinyl Estradiol
Warfarin
Disease interactions
Colitis
Benzathine Penicillin G should be used with extreme caution in patients having a history of gastrointestinal diseases, particularly colitis, as it alters the normal flora of the colon, leading to overgrowth of toxic pathogens, whose toxins contribute to CDAD ( Clostridioides difficile-associated diarrhoea) development. Symptoms include severe, persistent diarrhoea and severe abdominal cramps, and sometimes associated with the passage of blood and mucus. You may also ask for another suitable medicine or dose adjustments if required.
Food interactions
Information not available.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
Benzathine Penicillin G should be administered by a qualified healthcare professional in the clinical or hospital setting. You should tell your doctor if you have a known history of allergy from this medicine. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Ensure that the course of treatment is completed. Do not stop the use of this medicine without consulting your doctor.
Miscelleneous
How it works
Benzathine Penicillin G is a beta-lactam antibiotic that kills bacteria by preventing them from forming the bacterial protective covering (cell wall) which is responsible for bacteria to survive. this medicine works by reducing the severity of infection by killing the bacteria with the help of the body's immune system.
Legal Status
Classification
Category
Natural Penicillins
Schedule
Schedule H
Go.drugbank.com. 2021. Benzylpenicillin: Uses, Interactions, Mechanism of Action | DrugBank Online. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 5 July 2021].
Accessdata.fda.gov. 2021. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 5 July 2021].
Accessdata.fda.gov. 2021. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 5 July 2021].
Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. 2021. DailyMed - BICILLIN L-A- penicillin g benzathine injection, suspension. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 5 July 2021].
Information on this page was last updated on 6 Jul 2021
Disclaimer
We’ve made all possible efforts to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date and complete, however, it should not be treated as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Practo only provides reference source for common information on medicines and does not guarantee its accuracy or exhaustiveness. The absence of a warning for any drug or combination thereof, should not be assumed to indicate that the drug or combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Practo does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided above. If you have any doubts about your medication then we strongly recommend that you consult with your doctor, nurse or healthcare provider. See detailed T&C here.