Bicillin L-A

This medication is used to treat a wide variety of bacterial infections. It may also be used to prevent certain bacterial infections (e.g., rheumatic fever). This medication is known as a long-acting natural penicillin antibiotic. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria. This antibiotic treats only bacterial infections. It will not work for viral infections (e.g., common cold, flu). Unnecessary use or misuse of any antibiotic can lead to its decreased effectiveness.

If you miss a dose, contact your doctor or pharmacist immediately for a new dosing schedule.

See also Warning section. This medication is given by injection into a large muscle by a health care professional. The dosage is based on your medical condition and response to treatment. For children, the dosage may also be based on weight. Antibiotics work best when the amount of medicine in your body is kept at a constant level. Therefore, if more than one dose is needed, receive this drug at evenly spaced intervals as prescribed by your doctor, and make sure not to miss any doses. Continue to receive this medication until the full prescribed amount is finished, even if symptoms disappear after a few days. Stopping the medication too early may result in a return of the infection. Tell your doctor if your condition persists or worsens.

Your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor or pharmacist first. Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use, especially of: "blood thinners" (e.g., warfarin), live bacterial vaccines, methotrexate, NSAIDs (e.g., aspirin, indomethacin), probenecid, tetracyclines, "water pills"/diuretics (e.g., furosemide, thiazide diuretics such as hydrochlorothiazide). Low-dose aspirin should be continued if prescribed by your doctor for specific medical reasons such as heart attack or stroke prevention (usually at dosages of 81-325 milligrams per day). Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details. This medication may decrease the effectiveness of combination-type hormonal birth control (e.g., pills, patch). This effect can result in pregnancy. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for details. Discuss whether you should use additional reliable birth control methods (e.g., condoms, diaphragm) while you are using hormonal birth control along with penicillin. This medication may interfere with certain laboratory tests (including certain urine glucose tests), possibly causing false test results. Make sure laboratory personnel and all your doctors know you use this drug. This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist.

Laboratory and/or medical tests (e.g., kidney function, complete blood count) may be performed periodically to monitor your progress or check for side effects. Consult your doctor for more details.

If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call the US National Poison Hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center. Symptoms of overdose may include: seizures, confusion, mental/mood changes (e.g., agitation).

Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to penicillin or cephalosporin antibiotics; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details. Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: kidney disease, asthma. Kidney function declines as you grow older. This medication is removed by the kidneys. Therefore, elderly people may be at greater risk for side effects while using this drug. Kidney function is not fully developed in newborns/infants. This medication is removed by the kidneys. Therefore, newborns/infants may be at greater risk for side effects while using this drug. During pregnancy, this medication should be used only when clearly needed. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor. This drug passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Not applicable. This medication is given in a hospital or clinic and will not be stored at home.

Pain at the injection site, nausea, or vomiting may occur. If these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly. Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects. Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: severe pain/peeling skin at injection site, joint/muscle pain, headache, shortness of breath, dizziness. Tell your doctor immediately if any of these rare but very serious side effects occur: vision changes, fast/slow/pounding heartbeat, numbness/tingling of arms/legs, pain/redness/swelling of arms or legs, change in skin color near injection site or on arms/legs, uncontrolled movements, inability to move, change in the amount of urine, new signs of infection (e.g., fever, persistent sore throat), easy bruising/bleeding, extreme tiredness, dark/cloudy urine, seizures, mental/mood changes (e.g., depression, agitation). Seek immediate medical attention if any of these rare but very serious side effects occur: trouble breathing, chest pain, slurred speech, confusion, fainting. If used to treat syphilis, this medication may cause a condition known as Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction. This condition may occur 1 to 2 hours after you receive the medication and can last up to 24 hours. Notify your doctor immediately if you experience any of these symptoms: fever/chills, muscle pain, worsening of skin sores, fast heartbeat, fast breathing, dizziness, flushing. This medication may rarely cause a severe intestinal condition (Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea) due to a type of resistant bacteria. This condition may occur during treatment or weeks to months after treatment has stopped. Do not use anti-diarrhea products or narcotic pain medications if you have any of the following symptoms because these products may make them worse. Tell your doctor immediately if you develop: persistent diarrhea, abdominal or stomach pain/cramping, blood/mucus in your stool. Use of this medication for prolonged or repeated periods may result in oral thrush or a new vaginal yeast infection. Contact your doctor if you notice white patches in your mouth, a change in vaginal discharge, or other new symptoms. A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing. This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist. In the US - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.

This medication must not be injected into a vein or mixed with solutions that will be injected into a vein.