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Penicillin V (Penicillin V Potassium) - Summary

 
 



PENICILLIN V SUMMARY

Penicillin V is the phenoxymethyl analog of penicillin G. Penicillin V potassium is the potassium salt of penicillin V.

To reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria and maintain the effectiveness of penicillin V potassium and other antibacterial drugs, penicillin V potassium should be used only to treat or prevent infections that are proven or strongly suspected to be caused by susceptible bacteria. When culture and susceptibility information are available, they should be considered in selecting or modifying antibacterial therapy. In the absence of such data, local epidemiology and susceptibility patterns may contribute to the empiric selection of therapy.

Penicillin V potassium tablets are indicated in the treatment of mild to moderately severe infections due to penicillin G-sensitive microorganisms. Therapy should be guided by bacteriologic studies (including sensitivity tests) and by clinical response.

NOTE: Severe pneumonia, empyema, bacteremia, pericarditis, meningitis, and arthritis should not be treated with penicillin V during the acute stage. Indicated surgical procedures should be performed.

The following infections will usually respond to adequate dosage of penicillin V.

Streptococcal infections (without bacteremia). Mild-to-moderate infections of the upper respiratory tract, scarlet fever, and mild erysipelas.

NOTE: Streptococci in groups A, C, G, H, L, and M are very sensitive to penicillin. Other groups, including group D (enterococcus), are resistant.

Pneumococcal infections Mild to moderately severe infections of the respiratory tract.

Staphylococcal infections – penicillin G-sensitive. Mild infections of the skin and soft tissues.

NOTE: Reports indicate an increasing number of strains of staphylococci resistant to penicillin G, emphasizing the need for culture and sensitivity studies in treating suspected staphylococcal infections.

Fusospirochetosis (Vincent’s gingivitis and pharyngitis) – Mild to moderately severe infections of the oropharynx usually respond to therapy with oral penicillin.

NOTE: Necessary dental care should be accomplished in infections involving the gum tissue.

Medical conditions in which oral penicillin therapy is indicated as prophylaxis: For the prevention of recurrence following rheumatic fever and/or chorea: Prophylaxis with oral penicillin on a continuing basis has proven effective in preventing recurrence of these conditions.

Although no controlled clinical efficacy studies have been conducted, penicillin V has been suggested by the American Heart Association and the American Dental Association for use as an oral regimen for prophylaxis against bacterial endocarditis in patients who have congenital heart disease or rheumatic or other acquired valvular heart disease when they undergo dental procedures and surgical procedures of the upper respiratory tract1. Oral penicillin should not be used in those patients at particularly high risk for endocarditis (e.g., those with prosthetic heart valves or surgically constructed systemic pulmonary shunts). Penicillin V should not be used as adjunctive prophylaxis for genitourinary instrumentation or surgery, lower-intestinal tract surgery, sigmoidoscopy, and childbirth. Since it may happen that alpha hemolytic streptococci relatively resistant to penicillin may be found when patients are receiving continuous oral penicillin for secondary prevention of rheumatic fever, prophylactic agents other than penicillin may be chosen for these patients and prescribed in addition to their continuous rheumatic fever prophylactic regimen.

 NOTE: When selecting antibiotics for the prevention of bacterial endocarditis, the physician or dentist should read the full joint statement of the American Heart Association and the American Dental Association1.


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NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

Published Studies Related to Penicillin V

Once-daily amoxicillin versus twice-daily penicillin V in group A beta-haemolytic streptococcal pharyngitis. [2008.06]
BACKGROUND: Rheumatic fever is a preventable chronic disease preceded by group A beta-haemolytic streptococcal (GABHS) pharyngitis. OBJECTIVE: To test the non-inferiority of once-daily (QD) oral amoxicillin to the recommended twice-daily (BID) oral penicillin V in GABHS pharyngitis... CONCLUSION: In this adequately powered study, once-daily oral amoxicillin is not inferior to twice-daily penicillin V for the treatment and eradication of GABHS in children with pharyngitis.

Comparative bioavailability study of two phenoxymethylpenicillin potassium tablet formulations in healthy volunteers. [2007.12]
CONCLUSION: Since the 90% CI for AUC0-t, AUC0-infinity and Cmax ratios were all within the 80 - 125% interval proposed by the US FDA and accepted by ANVISA, it was concluded that the Meracilina formulation (manufactured by AchA(c) S.A.) is bioequivalent to Pen-Ve-Oral (manufactured by Eurofarma) for both the rate and the extent of bioavailability.

Evaluation of phenoxymethylpenicillin treatment of acute otitis media in children aged 2-16. [2007.09]
OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical recovery from acute otitis media (AOM) in children, 2-16 years of age, managed with or without treatment with phenoxymethylpenicillin (PcV)... CONCLUSIONS: Our investigation supports that PcV treatment of AOM does not affect the recovery time or complication rates. PcV provided some symptomatic benefit in the treatment of AOM in otherwise healthy children, aged 2-16 years.

A randomized prospective controlled trial of antibiotic prophylaxis in intraoral bone-grafting procedures: preoperative single-dose penicillin versus preoperative single-dose clindamycin. [2006.05]
In this comparative study, 150 consecutive patients undergoing local intraoral bone grafting randomly received either an oral single dose of 600 mg clindamycin or 2 g of the penicillin phenethicillin 1 h before incision. Primary endpoint was wound infection at the receptor site within 8 weeks of surgery...

Comparison of a two- or three-week regimen and a review of treatment of erythema migrans with phenoxymethylpenicillin. [2006]
BACKGROUND: A longer duration treatment is preferred in erythema migrans (EM) to prevent late complaints. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether 20 (20d-pt) or 14 days (14d-pt) of phenoxymethylpenicillin (PenV) have similar efficacy in treating EM and preventing further sequelae... CONCLUSION: A 2-week treatment regimen of PenV seems to be as effective as a 3-week course with no statistical differences for clinical and serological findings after treatment. Copyright (c) 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel.

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Clinical Trials Related to Penicillin V

Penicillin and Metronidazole in Treatment of Peritonsillar Abscess [Completed]
Treatment of peritonsillar abscess varies. To study whether broad spectrum antibiotics are required in addition to abscess drainage we perform a prospective, double blind, placebo-controlled, randomised study on 200 adult patients with peritonsillar abscess. 100 patients are given penicillin and metronidazole and 100 patients get penicillin and placebo. Recovery and recurrence and analyzed.

Penicillin Skin Testing in Patients With History of Allergic Reactions to Betalactams [Completed]
This study aims to compare the readings of skin testing results in patients with suspected penicillin allergy between in-house penicillin test preparation and commercial available penicillin testing kit.

Evaluation of Skin Testing Reagents for Penicillin Allergy [Completed]
A self- or parent-reported history of penicillin allergy excludes approximately 10% of the US population from receiving penicillin (Kerr 1994, Kagy, Blaiss 1998, Solensky et al. 2000, Neugut et al. 2001). Yet approximately 80% of patients labeled as allergic to the penicillins can safely take these antibiotics without fear of a life-threatening reaction (Gadde et al. 1993, Macy et al. 1997). The outcomes of this erroneous classification of patients include unnecessary denial of an effective and well-tolerated class of antibiotics, which are often the treatment of choice. The primary aim of skin testing with the Penicillin Skin Test Kit is to identify subjects at very low risk of developing acute IgE-dependent reactions when given a penicillin or cross-reacting drug. The negative predictive value (NPV) of skin testing is assessed by oral challenge with a penicillin.

Oral Penicillin and Penicillin Levels in Venous Umbilical Cord Blood [Recruiting]
Pregnant,laboring women will receive 2 grams of oral penicillin V before delivery. At the time of delivery of the infant, umbilical vein cord blood will be obtained from the umbilical cord. These cord blood samples will be sent for bioassay of penicillin levels.

Treating Patients With a History of Non-Life Threatening Allergic Reaction to Penicillin With Penicillin [Terminated]
The purpose of this study is to examine whether oral challenge with penicillin for patients with a known history of non-life threatening allergic reaction to penicillin is well-tolerated irrespective of skin-testing results

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Reports of Suspected Penicillin V Side Effects

Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (7)Oedema Peripheral (5)Blindness Transient (5)Pyrexia (4)LIP Swelling (3)Skin Exfoliation (3)Tunnel Vision (3)Hyperchlorhydria (3)Oedema Mouth (3)Skin Swelling (3)more >>


PATIENT REVIEWS / RATINGS / COMMENTS

Based on a total of 1 ratings/reviews, Penicillin V has an overall score of 9. The effectiveness score is 10 and the side effect score is 8. The scores are on ten point scale: 10 - best, 1 - worst.
 

Penicillin V review by 30 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Highly Effective
Side effects:   Mild Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   strep throat
Dosage & duration:   200 milligrams (dosage frequency: twice a day) for the period of 10 days
Other conditions:   none
Other drugs taken:   none
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   The treatment effectively got rid of my infection and also alleviated my pain after taking twice(on day).
Side effects:   The only side effects were I felt a little sick if I took the pill on an empty stomach and I got diarrhea a couple of times
Comments:   After seeing my doctor I was prescribed Penicillin V and took it for ten days twice a day.

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Page last updated: 2008-06-22

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