What is carbenicillin?
Carbenicillin is an antibiotic in the penicillin group of drugs. It fights bacteria in your
body.
Carbenicillin is used to treat many different types of infections caused by bacteria, such as
bladder infection.
Carbenicillin may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking carbenicillin?
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to carbenicillin or to any other
penicillin antibiotic, such as:
-
amoxicillin (Amoxil, Amoxicot, Biomox, Dispermox, Trimox);
-
ampicillin (Omnipen, Principen);
-
dicloxacillin (Dycill, Dynapen);
-
oxacillin (Bactocill); or
-
penicillin (Beepen-VK, Ledercillin VK, Pen-V, Pen-Vee K,
Pfizerpen, V-Cillin K, Veetids, and others).
Before using carbenicillin, 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 need a dose adjustment
or special tests to safely take carbenicillin.
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.
Carbenicillin can make birth control pills less effective, which may result in
pregnancy. Before taking carbenicillin, tell your doctor if you use birth control pills.
Carbenicillin 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.
How should I take carbenicillin?
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.
Carbenicillin should be taken on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before or 2 hours
after eating a meal.
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.
Take this medication for the entire length of time prescribed by your doctor. Your
symptoms may get better before the infection is completely treated. Carbenicillin will not treat a
viral infection such as the common cold or flu.
Do not give carbenicillin to another person, even if they have the same symptoms you
have.
This medication can cause you to have unusual results with certain medical tests. Tell any
doctor who treats you that you are using carbenicillin.
Store carbenicillin at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.
What happens if I miss a dose of carbenicillin?
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.
Where can I get more information about carbenicillin?
Your pharmacist has information about carbenicillin written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of carbenicillin?
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 may include:
-
nausea, vomiting, stomach pain;
-
vaginal itching or discharge;
-
headache;
-
swollen, black, or "hairy" tongue; or
-
thrush (white patches or inside your mouth or throat).
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell
your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.
What is the most important information I should know about carbenicillin?
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to carbenicillin or to any other
penicillin antibiotic, such as amoxicillin (Amoxil), ampicillin (Omnipen, Principen),
dicloxacillin (Dycill, Dynapen), oxacillin (Bactocill), penicillin (Beepen-VK, Ledercillin VK,
Pen-V, Pen-Vee K, Pfizerpen, V-Cillin K, Veetids), and others.
Before using carbenicillin, tell your doctor if you are allergic to cephalosporins such as
Ceclor, Ceftin, Duricef, Keflex, and others, or if you have asthma, kidney disease, a bleeding or
blood clotting disorder, or a history of any type of allergy.
Carbenicillin can make birth control pills less effective, which may result in
pregnancy. Before taking carbenicillin, 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. Carbenicillin will not treat a
viral infection such as the common cold or flu.
Do not share this medication with another person, even if they have the same
symptoms you have.
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.
What should I avoid while taking carbenicillin?
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.
What other drugs will affect carbenicillin?
Before taking carbenicillin, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact
with carbenicillin. 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.
What happens if I have an overdose of carbenicillin?