Penicillin VK

Penicillin VK is an antibiotic medication used in the treatment of certain infections which include:certain upper and lower respiratory tract infections, some dental infections, certain infections that occur in the heart, middle ear infections, rheumatic and scarlet fever, and some infections of the skin. Penicillin VK is only an effective antibiotic against certain types of bacteria. Penicillin is an antibiotic that is unable to treat fungi, viruses, and parasites.

Penicillin VK Directions

Penicillin VK is indicated to be taken on a full or empty stomach. However, it is most effective and more efficiently absorbed when the stomach is empty. It's important that you take this medication for the full length of the specified treatment.

Penicillin VK Side Effects

Side effects of Penicillin are hard to predict since they can vary among individuals. If any side effects develop or change in intensity, it's very important that you notify your doctor as soon as you can. Only your doctor is able to decide whether or not it is safe for you to continue taking Penicillin if any side effects do come about. Side effects of Penicillin can include but are not limited to:experiencing a black or hairy tongue, a fever, anemia, hives, diarrhea, nausea, upset stomach or stomach pain, skin eruptions, vomiting, or throat swelling.

Penicillin VK Precautions

It's important if you know that you are allergic to either penicillin or cephalosporin antibiotics in any form that you notify your doctor of this before you begin taking any sort of Penicillin VK regimen. There is always a chance that if you are allergic to both types of medication; that if you do experience a reaction, that it could be extremely severe. If you are taking Penicillin and you feel like you are experiencing any type of reaction, be sure to notify your doctor immediately.

Missed Dose of Penicillin VK

If you miss a dose of your Penicillin VK, you can take the missed dose as soon as you remember.If you are taking penicillin two times daily, and the time for your next dose is near, you should take the missed dose and the next one about five to six hours later. If your doctor has you on three or more doses per day, you should take the missed dose, then take your next dose about two to four hours later. Otherwise you can take a double dose after taking the missed dose. After you have caught up, you should return to the normal schedule your doctor has you taking.

Penicillin - 80 years of Efficient Treatment

In 1928, Sir Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin, after carefully analyzing the Penicillium mold. Throughout time, many scientists and medical professionals got involved in the study of penicillin, bringing their own contribution. Today, we know that penicillin is a beta-lactam antibiotic, efficient for treating bacterial infections, often caused by gram positive microorganisms.

It took almost 20 years from the discovery of the penicillin for the first successful treatment to be applied. Patients suffering from streptococcal blood poisoning were given penicillin and recovered wonderfully. The efficiency of penicillin was also noticeable during the Second World War, where many soldiers were saved from bacterial infections (caused by infected wounds or limb surgical removal, resulting in septicemia).

As modern medicine advanced, derivates of penicillin were released on the market, having a broader spectrum of activity. Still, penicillin remained one of the most used antibiotic agents. There are several types of penicillin out there, having diverse indications and prescribed doses. Penicillin G is also known as benzylpenicillin, being usually administered through parenteral means. The antibiotic is not to be given by oral route, losing its efficiency once it gets into contact with gastric acid. Penicillin G is a powerful antibiotic, dispersing increased concentrations of active medicine to suffering tissues.

The following list contains several medical conditions where penicillin G is recommended:

• skin infections - cellulitis, inflammation caused by bacterial infection below the tegument;
• bacterial carditis - inflammation of the endocardium and heart valves;
• venereal disease - gonorrhea, caused by Neisseria gonorrhea, affecting the urinary tract; syphilis, induced by Treponema palidum spirochete;
• infectious disease of the meninges (surrounding the brain and the spinal cord) - caused by bacterial infection;
• pneumonia - inflammatory and infectious respiratory disease;
• pulmonary abscess - localized collection of pus surrounded by inflammatory tissue, bacteria-related;
• septicemia - virulent bacterial infection of the blood.

When it comes to orally-administered forms, penicillin V is often indicated. Known as phenoxymethylpenicillin, this antibiotic has less strength than PG and has different recommendations. Patients suffering from inflammation of the tonsils, sore throat and mild skin infections are administered penicillin V in diverse doses. Many doctors also prescribe PV in order to prevent severe infectious diseases, such as rheumatic fever (appears in children, causing joint inflammation and destruction of heart valves). Recently, dentists have also started to recommend penicillin V for periodontal disease (gum inflammation) and similar infections.

Procaine benzylpenicillin is another choice for bacterial infections. The combination of penicillin with procaine (anesthetic agent) is administered through intramuscular injection, being absorbed into the blood stream gradually, until it undergoes hydrolysis and becomes benzylpenicillin. Procaine was introduced in order to eliminate the pain felt by patients with intramuscular administration. Thus, procaine penicillin is considered for patients suffering from venereal disease (particularly syphilis), respiratory tract and skin infections (cellulitis, erysipelas - acute streptococcal infection). There are certain cases when this type of antibiotic can be used as adjuvant therapy for infectious animal-transmitted disease (anthrax for example, caused by bacillus anthracis).

Intramuscular administration is also preferred in case of benzathine benzylpenicillin, the antibiotic being slowly assimilated into the circulation. One single dose of Bicillin L-A (commercial name) provides antibiotic effect for two to four weeks, eliminating low doses of active substance. General recommendations include prevention of rheumatic fever and other similar infectious disease, plus syphilis.

Beta-lactam antibiotics usually share the same adverse reactions and penicillin does not make an exception. If taken in higher doses or for longer periods of time, penicillin is likely to cause nausea and vomiting, frequent bowel movements (diarrhea), rashes and other skin itchy eruptions. Other symptoms appearing less often include: rise in the temperature of the body (pyrexia), inflammation of the skin (with blisters or red maculae), convulsions (high risk for epileptic patients), and inflammatory bowel disease (colitis). Penicillin presents a very small risk for anaphylactic reactions, being manifested through angioedema.

Before taking penicillin, you should seek professional medical advice from your doctor or at least consult with a pharmacist. Be sure to mention if you are allergic to any type of penicillin or other derivates, including ampicillin, amoxicillin or oxacillin. Penicillin V tablets contain 250 mg or 500 mg of active substance, meaning 400000 or 800000 units. These tablets also contain inactive ingredients such as lactose, magnesium stearate and starch. This antibiotic is also found as oral solution, 5 ml containing 400000 units of penicillin. General recommendations include infections caused by streptococcus, without bacteremia, affecting the respiratory system. Scarlet fever and erysipelas is also treated with PV. At the same time, the treatment with penicillin is contraindicated to those suffering from acute pneumonia, meningitis or pericarditis.

If you are suffering from asthma or any other allergies, you should be extra cautious when taking penicillin. Oral therapy is not recommended for patients with gastrointestinal disorders, with recurring symptoms such as nausea or vomiting.

The bioavailability of penicillin varies between 50 and 60%, with peak plasma levels being reached in almost one hour. Elimination of the drug is preponderantly renal. When benzylpenicillin is administered orally, the absorption rate is of 30%, the antibiotic being inactivated by the gastric acid. Intramuscular administration offers a better absorption rate, 70%. For those suffering from streptococcal angina, penicillin is administered orally, in a dosage of 0.5 million units, every 8 hours (minimum 10-day treatment). The intravenous route is preferred for endocarditis caused by streptococcus viridans, the dose being of 5 million units, every 6 hours. Endocarditis is treated with penicillin over a period of four weeks. Having so many recommendations and ways of administration, it's no wonder that penicillin is so widely used, in various medical centers and healthcare units.