Drug Database: Penicillin G Benzathine

What is penicillin G benzathine? What is penicillin G benzathine?

What is penicillin G benzathine?

Penicillin G benzathine is an antibacterial prescription medicine approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of certain bacterial infections, such as upper respiratory tract infections; syphilis; and yaws, bejel, and pinta (skin infections). Penicillin G benzathine is also FDA-approved to prevent certain bacterial diseases, such as rheumatic fever.

Syphilis can be an opportunistic infection (OI) of HIV. An OI is an infection that occurs more frequently or is more severe in people with weakened immune systems—such as people with HIV—than in people with healthy immune systems. To learn more about OIs, read the HIVinfo What is an Opportunistic Infection? fact sheet.

How is penicillin G benzathine used in people with HIV? How is penicillin G benzathine used in people with HIV?

How is penicillin G benzathine used in people with HIV?

The Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Opportunistic Infections in Adults and Adolescents With HIV and/or the Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Opportunistic Infections in Children With and Exposed to HIV include recommendations on the use of penicillin G benzathine in people with HIV to treat syphilis and to prevent syphilis from occurring the first time after exposure.

The recommended uses may not always be consistent with FDA-approved uses of penicillin G benzathine. See the Adult and Pediatric Opportunistic Infection Guidelines for complete information on recommended uses of penicillin G benzathine in adults and children with HIV. Penicillin G benzathine may have other recommended uses not listed above.

What should I tell my health care provider before using penicillin G benzathine? What should I tell my health care provider before using penicillin G benzathine?

What should I tell my health care provider before using penicillin G benzathine?

Before using penicillin G benzathine, tell your health care provider:

• If you are allergic to penicillin G benzathine, penicillin- or cephalosporin-class antibiotics, or any other medicines.
• About any medical conditions you have or have had, including asthma, allergies, or kidney problems.
• About any health conditions that may prevent you from receiving medicine by injection.
• If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Talk to your health care provider about the risks and benefits of using penicillin G benzathine during pregnancy. The Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Opportunistic Infections in Adults and Adolescents With HIV may include other recommendations on the use of penicillin G benzathine during pregnancy. Please refer to these guidelines for additional information.
• If you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. For mothers with HIV in the United States, the Guideline recommends speaking with your health care provider to discuss options for feeding your baby. Mothers with suppressed viral load have a less than 1% chance of transmitting HIV to their baby via their own milk. Although most medicines are safe to use while breastfeeding, some medicines should be avoided. Always let your health care provider know about all the medicines and supplements you are using before you start breastfeeding.
• About other prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Penicillin G benzathine may affect the way other medicines or products work, and other medicines or products may affect how penicillin G benzathine works. Ask your health care provider if there are interactions between penicillin G benzathine and the other medicines you take.

How should I use penicillin G benzathine? How should I use penicillin G benzathine?

How should I use penicillin G benzathine?

Penicillin G benzathine is given by deep intramuscular injection. It is usually administered by a health care provider. Your health care provider will determine the amount of penicillin G benzathine you receive and how often you receive it.

It is important to complete the full prescribed course of treatment with penicillin G benzathine, even if you begin to feel better. If you stop using penicillin G benzathine too soon or skip doses, your infection may not be fully treated, and the bacteria may become harder to treat (resistant).

Read any printed information that your health care provider gives you about penicillin G benzathine.

What side effects can penicillin G benzathine cause? What side effects can penicillin G benzathine cause?

What side effects can penicillin G benzathine cause?

Penicillin G benzathine may cause side effects that can be mild or serious. To learn about possible side effects of penicillin G benzathine, see the FDA drug label or talk to your health care provider or pharmacist. Tell your health care professional if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. Your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some side effects.

You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088) or online.

How should penicillin G benzathine be stored? How should penicillin G benzathine be stored?

How should penicillin G benzathine be stored?

• Store penicillin G benzathine injectable suspension in a refrigerator, between 36°F and 46°F (2°C and 8°C). Do not freeze.
• Do not use penicillin G benzathine if the original seal over the container opening is broken or missing.
• Throw away penicillin G benzathine that is no longer needed or expired (out of date). Follow FDA guidelines on how to safely dispose of unused medicine. For information on disposing of needles and other sharps, please refer to these guidelines or ask your health care provider or pharmacist.
• Keep penicillin G benzathine and all medicines out of reach of children.

Where can I find more information about penicillin G benzathine? Where can I find more information about penicillin G benzathine?

Where can I find more information about penicillin G benzathine?

• Recommendations on the HIV-related uses of penicillin G benzathine, from the Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Opportunistic Infections in Adults and Adolescents With HIV and the Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Opportunistic Infections in Children With and Exposed to HIV.
• This Patient Version drug summary is based on the following FDA label(s): Injection (suspension).
• The American Hospital Formulary Service (AHFS) Patient Medication Information for penicillin G benzathine injection available from MedlinePlus.
• Research studies related to penicillin G benzathine, from ClinicalTrials.gov. (The ClinicalTrials.gov search can be modified so that you can get results that better match your interests.)