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Last updated: November 2021
Therapeutic action
- Penicillin antibacterial
Indications
- Streptococcal pharyngitis, scarlet fever
- Alternative to first-line antibiotic treatment of diphtheria
- Completion treatment following parenteral therapy with penicillin
Forms and strengths
- 250 mg tablet (400 000 IU)
- Powder for oral suspension, 125 mg/5 ml (200 000 IU/5 ml), to be reconstituted with filtered water
Dosage
Streptococcal pharyngitis, scarlet fever
- Child under 1 year: 125 mg 2 times daily
- Child 1 to < 6 years: 250 mg 2 times daily
- Child 6 to < 12 years: 500 mg 2 times daily
- Child 12 years and over and adult: 1 g 2 times daily
|
Age |
Weight |
125 mg/5 ml oral susp. |
250 mg tablet |
|---|---|---|---|
|
< 1 year |
< 10 kg |
1 tsp x 2 |
− |
|
1 to < 6 years |
10 to < 21 kg |
2 tsp x 2 |
− |
|
6 to < 12 years |
21 to < 39 kg |
4 tsp x 2 |
2 tab x 2 |
|
≥ 12 years and adult |
≥ 39 kg |
− |
4 tab x 2 |
Diphtheria
- Child under 40 kg: 10 to 15 mg/kg (max. 500 mg) 4 times daily
- Child 40 kg and over and adult: 500 mg 4 times daily
Duration
- Streptococcal pharyngitis, scarlet fever: 10 days
- Diphtheria: 14 days
Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions
- Do not administer to patients with allergy to penicillin.
- Administer with caution to patients with allergy to cephalosporin (cross-sensitivity may occur) or severe renal impairment (reduce dose).
- May cause: diarrhea, nausea; allergic reactions sometimes severe.
- Do not combine with methotrexate.
- Pregnancy: no contra-indication
- Breast-feeding: no contra-indication
Remarks
- Take between meals.
- Phenoxymethylpenicillin is also used in children for the prevention of pneumococcal infections in sickle cell disease and recurrence of acute rheumatic fever.
Storage
For the oral suspension (powder or reconstituted suspension): follow manufacturer’s instructions.