(Phenoxymethylpenicillin)
Consumer Medicine Information
What is in this leaflet?
This leaflet answers some common questions about ASPECILLIN.
It does not contain all the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you taking ASPECILLIN against the benefits they expect it will have for you.
If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet with your medicine. You may need to read it again.
Use ASPECILLIN only on the advice of your doctor and contact your doctor if you suffer from any unwanted effects.
What ASPECILLIN is used for
ASPECILLIN belongs to a group of medicines called penicillins.
ASPECILLIN is used to treat infections in different parts of the body caused by bacteria.
It works by killing the bacteria that are causing the infection. ASPECILLIN will not work against infections caused by viruses such as colds or the flu. Your doctor however, may have prescribed this medicine for another purpose. Ask your doctor (or pharmacist) if you have any questions about why ASPECILLIN has been prescribed for you.
The medicine brand name is:
ASPECILLIN V®
Active ingredient name:
phenoxymethylpenicillin benzathine – also called Penicillin V
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why this medicine has been prescribed for you. Your doctor may have prescribed it for another reason.
ASPECILLIN is not addictive.
This medicine is only available on a doctor’s prescription.
Before you take it
When you must not take it
Do not take ASPECILLIN if:
- you have an allergy to:
- ASPECILLIN
- other penicillins
- any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet
Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty breathing; swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body; rash, itching or hives on the skin; nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.
- you have had an allergic reaction to cephalosporins.
You may have an increased chance of being allergic to ASPECILLIN if you are allergic to cephalosporins.
Do not take ASPECILLIN if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.
Do not take ASPECILLIN if the expiry date printed on the pack has passed. If you take this medicine after the expiry date has passed, it may not work as well.
If you are not sure whether you should start taking ASPECILLIN, contact your doctor.
Before you start to take it
Tell your doctor if:
- you have any allergies to any other medicines or any other foods, preservatives or dyes
- you have or have ever had any other health problems/ medical conditions, including:
- asthma
- kidney problems
- you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant or are breastfeeding.
Like most medicines, ASPECILLIN is not recommended during pregnancy of breast-feeding. Your doctor will discuss the possible risks and benefits of involved.
If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell him/her before you start ASPECILLIN.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you get without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop. Some medicines and ASPECILLIN may interfere with each other. Your doctor and pharmacist have more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking ASPECILLIN.
Avoid drinking alcohol while taking ASPECILLIN and for several days after completing a course of treatment.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any oral contraceptive pills. You may need to use other birth control methods while you are taking ASPECILLIN.
How to take it
Follow all directions given to you by your doctor or pharmacist carefully. They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.
If you do not understand the instructions on the box/bottle, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.
How much to take
Adults: 250 mg to 500 mg every four to six hours, preferable one hour before food. Prevention of recurrence following rheumatic fever: 250 mg twice a day continuously.
Children: the dose varies depending on their age, weight and how sick they are.
Your doctor may adjust your dose depending on the type and severity of the infection.
How to take ASPECILLIN
For suspensions
Shake the bottle well before each dose and accurately measure the dose with a medicine measure.
When to take it
Take your medicine at about the same time each day. Taking it at the same time each day will have the best effect. It will also help you remember when to take it.
Your medicine is best taken on an empty stomach (one hour before meals and at bedtime), unless otherwise directed by your doctor
How long to take it
Continue taking your medicine for as long as your doctor tells you.
If you forget to take it
If it almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take you next dose when you are meant to.
Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember, and then go back to taking you medicine as you would normally.
Do not take double dose to make for the dose that you missed. This may increase the chance of you getting an unwanted side effect.
If you are not sure what to do, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
If you have trouble remembering to take your medicine, ask your pharmacist for some hints.
If you take too much (overdose)
Immediately telephone your doctor or the Poison Information Centre (telephone 13 11 26) for advice, or go the Accident and Emergency at the nearest hospital, if you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much ASPECILLIN. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. You may need urgent medical attention.
What if I am feeling better?
The whole course of antibiotics should be taken, even if you are feeling better. If you stop taking antibiotics too soon the infection may start up again because not all the infection has been killed.
If your symptoms do not improve within a few days of starting ASPECILLIN, or if they have become worse, check with your doctor.
While you are using it
Things you must do
If the symptoms of your infection do not improve within a few days, or if they become worse, tell your doctor.
If you develop itching with swelling of skin rash or difficulty breathing while you are taking ASPECILLIN do not take any more and contact your doctor immediately.
If you get severe diarrhoea tell your doctor, pharmacist or nurse immediately. Do this even if it occurs several weeks after your medication has been stopped. Diarrhoea may mean that you have a serious condition affecting your bowel. You may need urgent medical care. Do not take any diarrhoea medicine without first checking with your doctor.
If you get a sore white mouth or tongue while taking or soon after stopping ASPECILLIN, tell your doctor. Also tell your doctor if you get vaginal itching or discharge. This may mean you have a fungal infection called thrush. Sometimes the use of ASPECILLIN allows fungi to grow and the above symptoms to occur. This medicine does not work against fungi.
If you become pregnant while taking it tell your doctor.
If you are about to be started on any new medicine, remind your doctor and pharmacist that you are taking ASPECILLIN.
Tell your doctor that you are taking this medicine if you are about to have any blood tests. It may interfere with the results of some tests.
Tell any other doctors, dentists, and pharmacists who treat you that you are taking this medicine.
Things you must not do
Do not stop taking ASPECILLIN because you are feeling better, unless advised by your doctor. If you do not complete the full course prescribed by your doctor, all of the bacteria causing your infection may not be killed. These bacteria may continue to grow and multiply so that your infection may not clear completely or it may return.
Do not take ASPECILLIN to treat any other complaints unless your doctor tells you to.
Do not give your medicine to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you.
Things to be careful of
Be careful when drinking alcohol while you are taking this medicine.
ASPECILLIN generally does not cause any problems with your ability to drive a car or operate machinery. However, as with many other medicines, ASPECILLIN may cause dizziness/ drowsiness/ tiredness in some people.
Side effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are using ASPECILLIN. It helps most people with infections, but it may have some unwanted side effects in a few people.
All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical attention if you get some of the side effects.
Do not be alarmed by the following lists of side effects. You may not experience any of them.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice any of the following and they worry you:
- skin rash
- nausea & vomiting
- black hairy tongue
- diarrhoea
- epigastric distress
- difficulty in breathing
If any of the following happen, tell your doctor immediately or go the Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital:
- shortness of breath
- wheezing or difficulty breathing
- swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body
- rash, itching or hives on the skin
- nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.
The above list includes very serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation. These side effects are very rare. Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some people.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything that is making you feel unwell.
Tell you doctor immediately if you notice any of the following side effects, particularly if they occur several weeks after stopping treatment with ASPECILLIN.
- Severe abdominal cramps or stomach cramps
- Watery and severe diarrhoea, which may also be bloody
- Fever, in combination with one or both of the above
These are rare but serious side effects. ASPECILLIN can change bacteria, which is normally present in the bowel and normally harmless, to multiply and therefore cause the above symptoms. You may need urgent medical attention. However, this side effect is rare.
Do not take any diarrhoea medicine without first checking with your doctor.
After using it
Storage
Keep your suspension in the bottle until it is time to take it.
Store ASPECILLIN V oral suspensions in a refrigerator, preferably between 2 to 8 oC. Do not freeze. Shake well before use.
Do not store ASPECILLIN or any other medicine in the bathroom or near a sink. Do not leave it on a window sill or in the car. Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.
Keep it where children cannot reach it A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.
Disposal
If your doctor tells you to stop using ASPECILLIN or it has passed its expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with any ASPECILLIN left over.
Product description
What it looks like
ASPECILLIN V 150 mg/5 mL is a beige coloured, apricot flavoured viscous suspension.
Ingredients
Active ingredients
Phenoxymethylpenicillin as the benzathine salt is the active ingredient.
List of inactive ingredients
ASPECILLIN V 150 mg/5mL suspension contains: Butylated hydroxyanisole, Sodium methyl hydroxybenzoate, Sodium propyl hydroxybenzoate, potassium sorbate, sodium citrate, sucrose, xanthan gum, apricot flavour, polysorbate 80.
Registration Number
AUST R 151597
Sponsor
Aspen Pharma Pty Ltd
34-36 Chandos Street
St Leonards NSW 2065
Australia
This leaflet was revised in August 2016
Published by MIMS October 2017