NAFCILLIN - INJECTION
Common Brand Name(s): Nallpen
Phonetic Pronunciation: (naff-SIL-in)
Information last revised August 2010
What does NAFCILLIN-INJ look like?
nafcillin 1 gram IV Solution
nafcillin 1 gram Solution for Injection
nafcillin 2 gram IV Solution
nafcillin 1 gram Solution for Injection
nafcillin 2 gram Solution for Injection
nafcillin 2 gram Solution for Injection
Uses:
This medication is used to treat a wide variety of bacterial infections. This medication is known as a penicillin-type antibiotic. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria.
Missed Dose
For the best possible benefit, it is important to receive each scheduled dose of this medication as directed. If you miss a dose, contact your doctor or pharmacist immediately to establish a new dosing schedule.
How To Use
This medication is given by injection into a vein as directed by your doctor, usually every 4 to 6 hours. The dosage is based on your medical condition and response to therapy. For children, the dosage is also based on weight. If you are giving this medication to yourself at home, learn all preparation and usage instructions from your health care professional. Before using, check this product visually for particles or discoloration. If either is present, do not use the liquid. Learn how to store and discard medical supplies safely. Antibiotics work best when the amount of medicine in your body is kept at a constant level. Therefore, use this drug at evenly spaced intervals. Continue to use this medication until the full prescribed amount is finished, even if symptoms disappear after a few days. Stopping the medication too early may allow bacteria to continue to grow, which may result in a return of the infection. Tell your doctor if your condition persists or worsens.
Drug Interactions
Drug interactions may change how your medications work or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicines without your doctor's approval. Some products that may interact with this drug include: "blood thinners" (e.g., warfarin), cyclosporine, live bacterial vaccines, methotrexate, probenecid, tetracyclines. This medication may decrease the effectiveness of combination-type hormonal birth control (e.g., pills, patch). This can result in pregnancy. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for details. Discuss whether you should use additional reliable birth control methods while you are using hormonal birth control along with nafcillin. This medication may interfere with certain laboratory tests (including certain urine protein tests), possibly causing false test results. Make sure laboratory personnel and all your doctors know you use this drug.
Notes
Laboratory and/or medical tests (e.g., kidney/liver function, complete blood count) may be performed periodically to monitor your progress or check for side effects. Consult your doctor for more details.
Overdose
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).
Precautions
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 (such as corn for products containing dextrose), 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: asthma, kidney disease, liver disease. This medication contains sodium. This could affect you if you are on a salt-restricted diet or if you have a condition which could be worsened with an increase in salt intake (e.g., congestive heart failure). Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more information. Liver and kidney functions decline as you grow older. This medication is removed by the liver. Therefore, elderly people may be at greater risk for side effects while using this drug. Liver and kidney functions are not fully developed in newborns and infants. This medication is removed by the liver. Therefore, newborns and infants may be a 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.
Storage
Consult the product instructions and your pharmacist for storage details. Keep all medications away from children and pets. Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company.
Side Effects
If this medication is injected into a muscle, pain at the injection site may occur. If this effect persists or worsens, notify 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 right away if you have any serious side effects, including: pain/swelling/skin peeling at injection site (if this drug is injected into a vein), joint/muscle pain, dark/cloudy urine, change in the amount of urine, extreme tiredness, easy bruising/bleeding, new signs of infection (e.g., fever, persistent sore throat), seizures, uncontrolled movements, confusion, irregular heartbeat, muscle cramps, weakness. 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, get medical help right away 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 is a summary and does NOT have all possible information about this product. This information does not assure that this product is safe, effective, or appropriate for you. This information is not individual medical advice and does not substitute for the advice of your health care professional. Always ask your health care professional for complete information about this product and your specific health needs.
The information contained in the First DataBank databases is intended to supplement the knowledge of physicians, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals regarding drug therapy problems and patient counselling information. This information is advisory only and is not intended to replace sound clinical judgment in the delivery of healthcare services. First DataBank disclaims all warranties, whether expressed or implied, including any warranty as to the quality, accuracy, and suitability of this information for any purpose.
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