Tenkicin
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking your medicine because it contains important information for you.
• Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
• If you have further questions, please ask your doctor or your pharmacist (chemist).
• This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their signs of illness are the same as yours.
• If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.
IN THIS LEAFLET:
1. What Penicillin VK Tablets are and what they are used for
2. What you need to know before you take Penicillin VK Tablets
3. How to take Penicillin VK Tablets
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Penicillin VK Tablets
6. Contents of the pack and other Information
The name of your medicine is Penicillin VK Tablets 250mg.
Penicillin VK Tablets belongs to a group of medicines called penicillins, which are used to fight bacteria that cause infections.
Penicillin VK Tablets are used to treat a wide range of bacterial infections of the ear, throat, respiratory tract, skin and soft tissue.
It may also be used to prevent:
- rheumatic fever or chorea (infection of the nervous system) recurring
- infection in patients without a spleen (abdominal organ)
- prevent pneumococcol infection (e.g. in asplenia and in patients with sickle cell disease).
DO NOT take Penicillin VK Tablets if you:
- have ever had an allergic reaction to penicillin or any other penicillin- type antibiotic
- have ever had an allergic reaction to any of the ingredients of this medicine
Check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking this medicine if you:
- suffer from any stomach or kidney problems
- are pregnant, trying to become pregnant
- are breast-feeding
Other medicines and penicillin
Your medicine may interfere with other medicines you are taking. Please inform your doctor or your pharmacist if you are taking, or have recently taken, any other medicines even those not prescribed.
Tell your doctor or Pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines including:
- tetracycline, neomycin, erythromycin, chloramphenicol (other types of antibiotics)
- probenecid (used to treat gout - painful inflammation of the joints)
- the oral contraceptive pill
- methotrexate (a drug used to treat cancer and psoriasis - a chronic skin disease)
- anti-coagulants (medication used to prevent blood clots e.g. Warfarin)
- guar gum (used as a thickening agent and normally found in puddings and ice cream and benefiber (a soluble dietary fibre)) can reduce the absorption of penicillin
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
Before taking this medicine tell your doctor if you are pregnant, trying to become pregnant or you are breast-feeding.
Driving and using machines
This medicine should not affect your ability to drive or to use machinery.
Important information about some of the ingredients in your medicine
Penicillin contains lactose. If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicinal product. Refer to section 6 for further information on the ingredients.
3. HOW TO TAKE PENICILLIN VK TABLETS
Always take your medicine exactly as your doctor has instructed you. You should check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure. Do not take more than your doctor has recommended.
How much of your medicine to take
Adults including the elderly and children over 12 years
The usual adult dosage is 125mg or 250mg every six hours depending on your condition. Children
6 to 12 years of age: 250mg every 6 hours
1 to 5 years of age: 125mg every 6 hours
Infants (up to 1 year): 62.5mg every 6 hours
Long-term treatment: Up to 6 years of age: 125mg twice daily
6 to 12 years of age: 250mg twice daily
The liquid form of this medicine may be more suitable for children under 6 years of age and those with difficulty in swallowing.
For preventing the recurrence of rheumatic fever or chorea:
The usual dose is 250mg twice daily on a continuing basis.
For the prevention of infection inpatients without a spleen or patients with sickle cell disease: For adults and children over 12 years, the dosage is 500mg every 12 hours.
For children aged between 6 and 12 years, the dosage is 250mg every 12 hours and for children below 5 years, the dosage is 125mg every 12 hours.
For children over 12 years the dose should not exceed the maximum adult doses.
For elderly, the dosage is as for the adult. The dosage should be lowered in poor renal function.
Patients with kidney and liver problems
• If you have kidney problems the dose might be changed by your doctor.
• Dosage might be changed by your doctor if you have liver problems along with kidney problem.
When to take your medicine
Take this medicine on an empty stomach. This means at least 30mins before food and preferably not less than two hours after food.
You should swallow Penicillin VK Tablets whole with water. Do not chew them.
If you take more Penicillin VK Tablets than you should
If you (or somebody else) takes too much of your medicine talk to your doctor or pharmacist immediately.
If you forget to take Penicillin VK Tablets
If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember, then carry on as before. Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose you have missed.
If you stop taking Penicillin VK Tablets
Keep taking this medicine until your doctor tells you to stop. Do not stop taking it just because you feel better. If you stop taking this medicine, your condition may re-occur or get worse.
4. POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS
Like all medicines, Penicillin VK Tablets can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. If they occur, they are likely to be temporary and not serious. However, some may be serious and need medical attention.
STOP taking your medicine and tell your doctor immediately or go to your nearest accident and emergency department if you notice any of the following:
- an allergic reaction (symptoms include shortness of breath, dizziness skin rash or itching, hives, swelling of lips, face or tongue, chills or fever, or painful joints)
- pseudomembranous colitis (severe bloody diarrhoea)
- unusual bleeding or bruising
- seizures
- peeling/blistering of the skin
- Serum sickness-like reactions (characterised by fever, chills, joint pains and oedema)
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice any of the following and they worry you:
- upset stomach
- diarrhoea
- nausea
- vomiting
- black hairy tongue
- thrush (a yeast infection of the vagina, mouth or skin folds)
- jaundice (yellow colouring of the skin and whites of the eyes)
- hepatitis
- sore throats, infections or fever (may be caused by low white blood cells)
- anaemia (lack of energy or tiredness)
- kidney problems, which might cause blood in the urine or reduced amounts of urine
- convulsions, especially with high doses or in patients with severe kidney problems
- pins and needles or numbness
If any of the side effects get serious, or if you notice any side effect not listed in this leaflet, you should contact your doctor or pharmacist.
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. HOW TO STORE PENICILLIN VK TABLETS
KEEP THIS MEDICINE OUT OF THE SIGHT AND REACH OF CHILDREN Expiry Date
Do not use your medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the label. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
Storage Conditions
Store your medicine below 25°C and protect it from light and moisture.
Keep it in the pack in which it was given to you. Do not transfer your medicine to another container.
Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste.
Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help to protect the environment.
6. CONTENTS OF THE PACK AND OTHER INFORMATION
What penicillin VK Tablets contain
Each tablet contains 250mg of phenoxymethylpenicillin as phenoxymethylpenicillin potassium. Other Ingredients: lactose, magnesium stearate, purified talc and maize starch.
What Penicillin VK Tablets look like and contents of the pack Each tablet is marked with the characters “Pen 250”.
Penicillin VK Tablets are available in packs of 15, 18, 20, 21, 28, 30, or 1000 tablets.
This medicine is manufactured by: Athlone Laboratories Limited, Ballymurray, Co Roscommon, Ireland.
The licence holder is: Athlone Laboratories Limited, Ballymurray, Co. Roscommon, Ireland. This medicine is distributed by: **
Own Label Suppliers
**Kent Pharmaceuticals Limited, Repton Road, Measham, DE12 7DT, U.K (not commercialised)
**OPD Pharmaceuticals Limited, Wotton Road, Ashford, Kent TN23 6LL, UK (not commercialised)
**Athlone Laboratories, Ballymurray, Roscommon, Ireland (not commercialised)
PL 06453/0020
This leaflet was last revised: 14th January 2015
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