Consumer Medicine Information
What is in this leaflet
Please read this leaflet carefully before you take Cilopen VK
capsules.
This leaflet answers some common questions about Cilopen VK.
It does not contain all available information, nor does it take the
place of talking to you doctor or pharmacist.
All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed
the risks of you taking Cilopen VK against the benefits this medicine
is expected to have for you.
You should ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions
about Cilopen VK or if you have any trouble before, during or after
taking Cilopen VK.
Keep this leaflet with the medicine. You may need to read it again later.
What Cilopen VK is used for
Cilopen VK is used to treat infections in different parts of
the body caused by bacteria. It contains the active ingredient phenoxymethylpenicillin.
Cilopen VK is a type of antibiotic that belongs to the group
of medicines called penicillin.
Cilopen VK works by killing the bacteria that are causing the
infection. Cilopen VK will not work against infections caused by viruses
such as colds or the flu.
Your doctor may have prescribed Cilopen VK for another reason.
If you are unsure why this medicine has been prescribed for you, speak
to your doctor.
This medicine is only available with a doctor’s prescription.
Before you take Cilopen VK
When you must not take Cilopen VK
Do not take Cilopen VK if you have an allergy to:
- Phenoxymethylpenicillin or any other medicine from
the penicillin family, cephalosporin; or any of the ingredients listed
at the end of this leaflet.
Symptoms of an allergic reaction to Cilopen VK 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.
If you are not sure if you have these allergies, you should
raise those concerns with your doctor or pharmacist.
Do not take Cilopen VK if:
- The packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering
- The expiry date on the pack has passed.
If you take this medicine after the expiry date has passed,
it may not work as well (or it may make you feel sick).
If you are not sure whether you should start taking Cilopen
VK, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Before you start to take Cilopen VK
You must tell your doctor or pharmacist if:
- You have any allergies to any foods, dyes, preservatives
or any other medicines. - If you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant.
Do not take Cilopen VK if you are pregnant or planning to
become pregnant unless you and your doctor have discussed the benefits
and risks of using it.
- If you are breast-feeding or plan to breast-feed.
Your doctor or pharmacist will discuss the possible risks
and benefits of using Cilopen VK during beast-feeding.
- You have or have had any other medical conditions
including:
– Kidney disease
– Asthma
– Any other
health problems
If you have not told your doctor any of the above, tell them
before you take any Cilopen VK.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines,
including medicines that you buy without a prescription from a pharmacy,
supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines may increase the effects of Cilopen VK. You may
need to take different amounts of your medicine or you made need to
take different medicines. Your doctor will advise you.
Your doctor or pharmacist may have more information on medicines
to be careful with or avoid while taking Cilopen VK.
Avoid drinking alcohol while taking Cilopen VK and for several
days after completing a course of treatment with Cilopen VK.
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 Cilopen VK.
Taking Cilopen VK
Follow all directions given to you by your doctor and pharmacist
carefully. They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.
If you do not understand the instructions on the box, ask your
doctor or pharmacist for help.
How much to take
The dose of Cilopen VK may be different for each person. Your
doctor will decide the right dose for you.
The usual dose is 250 mg – 500 mg every four to six hours or
250 mg twice daily
The dose will depend on the type of treatment required for a
patient. Your doctor will decide number of doses needed each day and
how long you will need to take Cilopen VK. The doses may differ from
the usual doses shown in this leaflet.
Take Cilopen VK capsules as directed by your doctor or pharmacist.
Never change the dose yourself.
How to take Cilopen VK
Swallow the capsules whole with a glass of water. Cilopen VK
should be taken preferably one hour before food. It should be taken
every four to six hours, as instructed by your doctor or pharmacist.
How long to take it
Do not take Cilopen VK for longer than your doctor says.
Take the whole course of Cilopen VK until it is finished.
Do not stop taking Cilopen VK even if you feel better. Your infection and symptoms may return.
If you forget to take Cilopen VK
If you forget to take a dose of Cilopen VK, take it as soon
as you remember and then go back to your normal dose times. Do not
take two doses within 3-4 hours of each other.
If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed
and take your next dose at the time it is due.
Do not take double dose to make up for the dose you missed.
If you are not sure what to do, check with your doctor or pharmacist.
If you have trouble remembering to take your medicine, ask your
pharmacist for some hints.
If you take too much Cilopen VK (overdose)
Immediately telephone your doctor or the Poisons Information
Centre (telephone 13 11 26) or go to casualty at your nearest hospital,
if you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much Cilopen
VK. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
You may need urgent medical attention.
While you are using Cilopen VK
Your doctor or pharmacist will be able to tell you whether there
are any special instructions while you are taking Cilopen VK.
Things you must do
Take Cilopen VK exactly as prescribed by your doctor.
Tell your doctor if you become pregnant while taking Cilopen
VK.
If you are about to start taking any new medicines, tell your
doctor and pharmacist that you are taking Cilopen VK.
Tell all the doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating
you that you are taking Cilopen VK.
If the symptoms do not improve within a few days, or if they
become worse, tell your doctor.
If you develop any form of skin rash and/or itching or difficulty
in breathing while taking Cilopen VK, do not take Cilopen VK any more.
Contact your doctor immediately.
If you get diarrhoea, nausea or vomiting, tell your doctor.
Consult your pharmacist or nurse in absence of your doctor. Do this
even if it occurs several weeks after you have stopped using Cilopen
VK. 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.
Things you must not do
Do not stop taking Cilopen VK until it is finished.
Do not stop taking Cilopen VK even if you feel better. Your infection and symptoms may not clear completely.
Your doctor has prescribed Cilopen VK especially for you and
your condition. If you use it for another condition, it may not work
or make the condition worse.
Do not give your Cilopen VK capsules to anyone else, even if
they have the same condition as you.
Do not use Cilopen VK to treat any other complaints unless your
doctor tells you to.
Things to be careful of
Tell your doctor if you get a sore mouth or tongue, vaginal
itching or discharge while taking or after you have stopped taking
Cilopen VK. This could be due to a fungal infection called Thrush. This
may also result in fever and irritation in stomach. Sometimes use
of this medicines allows fungi to grow, as Cilopen VK is ineffective
against fungi.
Take care while driving or operating machinery until you know
how Cilopen VK affects you. Cilopen VK generally does not affect your ability to drive
a car or operate machinery. However, as with many other medicines,
Cilopen VK may also cause dizziness, drowsiness and/or tiredness in
some people.
Side effects
Tell you doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do
not feel well while you are taking Cilopen VK. Cilopen VK helps most
people with infections, but it may have unwanted side effects in some
people. All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious,
most of the time they are not. You may need medical treatment if you
get some of the side effects.
If they occur, most are likely to be minor and temporary. However,
some may be serious and need medical attention.
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 or vomiting
- Difficulty in breathing
- Black hairy tongue
- Diarrhoea
- Epigastric distress
Other side effects not listed above may occur in some patients.
Tell your doctor if you notice anything else that is making you feel
unwell when you are taking, or soon after you have finished taking
Cilopen VK.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you don’t understand
anything in this list.
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects. You
may not experience any of them.
After taking Cilopen VK
Storage
Keep your Cilopen VK capsules in the blister pack until it is
time to take them. If you take the capsules out of their packaging,
they may not keep well.
Keep Cilopen VK where young children cannot reach it. A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half meters above the
ground is a good place to store medicines.
Keep Cilopen VK in a cool dry place where the temperature stays
below 25 deg C.
Do not store it or any other medicine in the bathroom or near
a sink. Do not leave it in the car or on windowsills. Heat and dampness
can destroy some medicines.
Disposal
If your doctor tells you to stop taking Cilopen VK or the capsules
have passed their expiry date, ask your pharmacist or doctor what
to do with the any capsules that are leftover.
Product Description
What it looks like
CILOPEN VK 250 mg capsules are a size 2 hard gelatin capsules,
with a white body and a yellow cap.
CILOPEN VK 500 mg capsules are a size 0 hard gelatin capsules,
with a white body and a yellow cap.
They are available in blister packs of 25 and 50 capsules.
Ingredients
Active Ingredient:
Each Cilopen VK capsules contains either 250 mg or 500 mg of
the active ingredient Phenoxymethylpenicillin (as the potassium salt).
Inactive Ingredients:
Each capsule also contains some inactive ingredients, these
are:
- gelatin
- titanium dioxide
- magnesium stearate
- Quinoline yellow (CI47005)
Cilopen VK does not contain gluten, lactose, tartrazine or any
other azo dyes.
Sponsor
Cilopen VK Capsules are supplied in Australia by:
Douglas Pharmaceuticals Australia Ltd
3/10 Inglewood Place
Baulkham Hills NSW 2153
Australia
CILOPEN VK 250 mg capsulesAUST R 58627
CILOPEN VK 500 mg
capsulesAUST R 58628
Date of TGA Approval: 21st February 1997
This leaflet was
prepared on 28th March 2006.
Published by MIMS March 2009