Penicillin (Oral Route, Injection Route, Intravenous Route, Intramuscular Route)

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Side Effects

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Stop taking this medicine and get emergency help immediately if any of the following effects occur:

Less common
  • Fast or irregular breathing
  • Fever
  • Joint pain
  • Lightheadedness or fainting (sudden)
  • Puffiness or swelling around the face
  • Red, scaly skin
  • Shortness of breath
  • Skin rash, hives, itching

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

Rare
  • Abdominal or stomach cramps and pain (severe)
  • Abdominal tenderness
  • Convulsions (seizures)
  • Decreased amount of urine
  • Diarrhea (watery and severe), which may also be bloody
  • Mental depression
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Pain at place of injection
  • Sore throat and fever
  • Unusual bleeding or bruising
  • Yellow eyes or skin
Rare
  • Agitation or combativeness
  • Anxiety
  • Confusion
  • Fear of impending death
  • Feeling, hearing, or seeing things that are not real

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common
  • Diarrhea (mild)
  • Headache
  • Sore mouth or tongue
  • Vaginal itching and discharge
  • White patches in the mouth and/or on the tongue

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Precautions

DR600253

Portions of this document last updated:

Nov. 1, 2009

Source: Drug Information provided by: Micromedex

Copyright © 2010 Thomson Healthcare Inc. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.


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