Flucloxacillin 250mg/5ml Granules For Oral Solution
PATIENT INFORMATION LEAFLET
Flucloxacillin 250mg/5ml Granules for Oral Solution
Please read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine.
Keep the leaflet; you may need to read it again. If you have any questions or are not sure about anything, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
This medicine is for you. Only a doctor can prescribe it. Never give this medicine to someone else. It may harm them even if their symptoms are the same as yours.
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.
IN THIS LEAFLET:
1. What this medicine is and what it is used for
2. Before you take this medicine
3. How to take this medicine
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store this medicine
6. Further information
1. WHAT THIS MEDICINE IS AND WHAT IT IS USED FOR
Each 5ml of oral solution contains 250mg of flucloxacillin (as flucloxacillin sodium) as the active ingredient.
This medicine belongs to the penicillin group of antibiotics. It is used to treat various bacterial infections by killing the bacteria or preventing their growth. These include skin and soft tissue infections, throat and chest infections, other infections such as urinary tract infection and prevention of an infection occurring during surgery.
2. BEFORE YOU TAKE THIS MEDICINE Do not take this medicine if:
• you are allergic to any penicillin or other kind of antibiotic or to any of the other ingredients listed (see section 6)
• you have ever had any liver problems after taking flucloxacillin.
Check with your doctor before taking this medicine if:
• you have a history of allergy
• you have liver or kidney problems
• you have any serious illness
• you are 50 years old or over
• you are giving this medicine to a newborn child.
Taking other medicines
Check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking this medicine if you are taking other medicines, including any that you can buy without a prescription. This is important if you are taking other medicines, especially:
• probenecid or sulfinpyrazone - used for treatment of gout
• oral anti-coagulants e.g. warfarin - used for thinning blood
• methotrexate - a cancer drug which can also be used to treat psoriasis
• piperacillin (an antibiotic given by injection) or any other antibiotic (used to treat infections)
• the oral typhoid vaccine
• sugammadex (used with general anaesthetics)
• birth control pills
• warfarin (used to prevent blood clotting).
Tests:
Your doctor may want to carry out regular monitoring of your kidney or liver function if you are taking this medicine long term.
If you need to have a liver function test, tell your doctor you are taking this medicine as it may affect the results.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.
Driving and using machinery:
This medicine should not affect your ability to drive or operate machinery. However, if you think you are affected do not drive or operate machinery.
Important information about some of the ingredients of this medicine:
- Each 5ml dose contains 3.0g sucrose; this should be taken into account in patients with diabetes mellitus. Also if you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicine.
- Amaranth may cause allergic reactions.
- Aspartame contains a source of phenylalanine which may be harmful for people with phenylketonuria.
- E217 and E219 may cause allergic reactions (possibly delayed).
- Each 5ml dose contains approx 16mg of sodium. This may need to be taken into consideration in patients on a controlled sodium diet, particularly if you are prescribed more than the usual dose.
3. HOW TO TAKE THIS MEDICINE
For oral use. Sake the bottle well before use. Take the medicine half an hour to an hour before meals.
Follow your doctor’s instructions about taking your medicine. The label will also tell you how much to take and how often. The dose for this medicine may be different for different patients.
Adults (including the elderly): 250mg (one 5ml spoonful) 4 times a day; your doctor may prescribe double this dose where necessary
Children, over 10 years: The usual dose is the same as the adult dose.
Children 2 to 10 years of age: half the adult dose i.e. 125mg (2.5ml) 4 times a day.
Children under 2 years of age: A quarter of the adult dose i.e. 62.5mg (1.25ml) 4 times a day, (this 250mg/5ml strength medicine is not suitable for use).
The length of time for treatment varies depending on the severity and type of infection. However, it is important to finish your prescribed dose of this medicine. If you stop taking this medicine too soon, your symptoms may return.
If you forget to take a dose: take your dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your normal dosing schedule. DO NOT DOUBLE
THE DOSES.
If you have taken too much medicine: contact your doctor straight away or go to the nearest hospital casualty department. Take with you any remaining medicine and the pack so that the medicine can be identified.
4. POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
If you experience any of the following very rare effects (could happen to less than 1 in 10,000 people) while you are taking this medicine, STOP taking it and contact your doctor IMMEDIATELY:
• sudden wheeziness, difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, eyes, lips, tongue or throat, itching or itchy skin rashes (may be signs of allergy or a severe allergic reaction)
• severe bloody diarrhoea with fever and abdominal pain.
Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following side effects or notice any others not listed:
Common effects (that could happen to less than 1 in 10 people):
• minor stomach upsets such as feeling sick or diarrhoea.
Very rare effects (that could happen to less than 1 in 10,000 people):
• Inflammation of the kidney or liver and a type of jaundice (symptoms include swollen ankles, yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, loss of appetite, pale stools, dark urine). Some of these effects may be delayed and may not occur until up to 2 months after you have stopped taking this medicine
• changes in the numbers of blood cells which can cause unexplained bleeding, bruising, pale skin, weakness, tiredness
• joint or muscle pain or fever, which may develop 2 days or more from the start of treatment
• effects on the skin such as rashes, red patches, peeling, swelling, blistering.
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at: 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 THIS MEDICINE
Store in a refrigerator. Use within 7 days of preparation.
KEEP ALL MEDICINES OF THE SIGHT AND REACH OF CHILDREN.
Do not take this medicine if the expiry date on the pack has passes. If you have any medicines that are out of date, return them to your pharmacist for safe disposal.
6. FURTHER INFORMATION Ingredients
Each 5ml of oral solution contains 250mg of flucloxacillin (as flucloxacillin sodium) as the active ingredient.
It also contains the inactive ingredients: amaranth (E123), cherry flavour, sodium methyl parahydroxybenzoate (E219), sodium propyl parahydroxybenzoate (E217), sodium citrate, aspartame (E951), citric acid anhydrous, sucrose and water (when dispensed by the pharmacist).
Although the bottle of your medicine appears to be only partially full, it contains the correct amount of the solution. The extra space is to allow you to shake the medicine.
What the medicine looks like:
Flucloxacillin Oral Solution is a clear, red solution.
Each bottle contains 100ml.
Who makes this medicine and holds the product licence:
Crescent Pharma Limited, Units 3 & 4, Quidhampton Business Units, Polhampton Lane, Overton, Hants, RG25 3ED, UK.
Date leaflet prepared: April 2016.
If you would like this leaflet in a different format please contact the licence holder at the above address.