Benzathine benzylpenicillin is an antibiotic. It is used to prevent or treat certain bacterial infections of the lungs, heart, brain, skin, and sexually transmitted diseases.
This medicine may be used to prevent or treat other infections as decided by your doctor.
Benzathine benzylpenicillin injection is to be given intramuscularly (into the muscle, usually into the muscles of the thigh or buttocks).
Your doctor or nurse will administer the injection for you.
The dose of this medicine will be decided by your doctor. Your doctor will advise you on the course of treatment depending on the type and severity of your infection and your response to the medication.
Use Benzathine benzylpenicillin at regular intervals. Do not skip any doses. You must complete the entire course of this medicine. If you don’t, the infection will not be properly controlled.
Ensure that you keep all appointments with your doctor so that you do not miss any doses. Your doctor also needs to regularly monitor your response to Benzathine benzylpenicillin.
If you miss an appointment or miss an injection, alert your doctor or nurse. A replacement appointment or injection should be given as soon as possible.
Do not use Benzathine benzylpenicillin if you ever had an allergic reaction (e.g. rashes, breathlessness, swollen eyes) to this medicine or similar antibiotics such as other penicillins, cephalosporins, carbapenems, or monobactams.
Inform your doctor if you have the following conditions:
- asthma
- history of fits or seizures
- liver disease
- kidney disease
Let your doctor know if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Be sure to check with your doctor or pharmacist before giving Benzathine benzylpenicillin to children or the elderly. Children and elderly people may be more sensitive to the side effects.
If you are going to have certain laboratory tests (e.g. tests for sugar in urine, blood protein test), inform your doctor that you are using this medicine.
If you are being treated with Benzathine benzylpenicillin for a sexually transmitted disease, you should follow your doctor's advice on ways to prevent passing the disease to others. You should also avoid sexual contact until the doctor certifies that you are cleared of the infection.
Why is it important to keep my appointments with the doctor?
- Culture and susceptibility tests must be done before treatment to know if this medicine is suited for you to use.
- Regular monitoring for signs and symptoms of allergic reactions may also be needed.
Benzathine benzylpenicillin may cause dizziness, or blurred vision. If affected, do not drive, or take part in any activity in which you need to be alert or need to see clearly.
Other side effects include any of the following: vomiting, sleepiness, tiredness, muscle or joint pain, oral or vaginal thrush, feeling nervous or anxious, tremors, and injection site reactions (e.g. pain, irritation, swelling, redness, or bruising).
You may experience diarrhoea, nausea, stomach discomfort, and headache while being treated with Benzathine benzylpenicillin. These side effects are usually mild and will get better with rest. If you have diarrhoea, drink lots of water to replace the fluids lost. However, if you have severe diarrhoea or diarrhoea with severe stomach cramps or bloody stools, alert your doctor immediately.
Some side effects may need immediate medical help. Alert your doctor quickly if you experience any of the following:
- rashes, breathlessness, swelling of the deep layers of the skin usually around the face, throat, and lips
- rashes with peeling of the skin or blistering of the lips, mouth, or eyes accompanied by fever
If you are being treated for syphilis (a type of sexually transmitted disease [STD]), you may experience Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction (certain responses to bacterial toxins) which may last up to several days. Usual symptoms are sudden fever (with or without chills), pale skin then will progress to skin redness, severe headache, weakness, or painful muscles or joints. Your doctor will start appropriate treatment to stop or lessen this reaction.
Inform your doctor if any of these side effects do not go away or are severe, or if you experience other side effects.
Inform your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking any of these medicines:
- medicines for pain and inflammation e.g. indometacin, phenylbutazone
- certain antibiotics e.g. tetracycline
- blood-thinning medicines
- probenecid [medicine for gout (high uric acid level in the blood)]
- methotrexate (medicine for cancer)
- birth control pills
This list does not include all medicines that may interact with Benzathine benzylpenicillin.
Always notify your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including herbal tonics such as traditional Chinese medicines, supplements, and medicines that you buy without a prescription.
Avoid alcohol.
Store in a cool, dry place away from the reach of children.
Medicines must not be used past the expiry date.
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