Commonly used medicines: Amoxicillin, Ampicillin, Bacampicillin, Carbenicillin, Cloxicillin, Dicloxacillin, Flucloxacillin, Methicillin, Mezlocillin, Nafcillin, Ocacillin, Penicillin G, Penicillin V, Piperacillin, Pivampicillin, Pivmecillinam, Ticarcillin.

Commonly used brand names: (In the U.S.) Amoxil, Bactocill, Beepen-VK, Betapen-VK, Bicillin L-A, Cloxapen, Crysticillin 300 A. S., Dynapen, Dycill, Geocillin, Geopen, Ledercillin VK, Mezlin, Nafcil, Nallpen, Omnipen, Omnipen-N, Pathocil, Pentids, Pen Vee K, Permapen, Pfizerpen, Pfizerpen-AS, Pipracil, Polycillin, Polycillin-N, Polymox, Principen, Prostaphilin, Spectrobid, Staphcillin, Tegopen, Ticar, Totacillin, Totacillin-N, Trimox, Unipen, V-Cillin K, Veetids, Wycillin, Wymox.

(In Canada) Amoxil, Ampicin, Apo-Amoxi, Apo-Ampi, Apo-Cloxi, Apo-Pen VK, Ayercillin, Bicillin L-A, Flucox, Geopen Oral, Ledercillin VK, Megacillin, Nadopen-V, Nadopen-V 200, Nadopen-V 400, Novamoin, Novo-Ampicillin, Novo-Cloxin, Novo-Pen-VK, Nu-Amoxi, Nu-Ampi, Nu-Cloxi, Nu-Pen-VK, Orbenin, Penbritin, Penglobe, Pen-Vee, Pipracil, Pondocillin, PVF, PVF K, Pyopen, Selexid, Tegopen, Ticar, Unipen, V-Cillin K, Wycillin.

Description:
Penicillins are used to treat infections caused by bacteria. They work by killing the bacteria or preventing their growth.

There are several different kinds of penicillins. Each is used to treat different kinds of infections. One kind of penicillin usually may not be used in place of another. In addition, penicillins are used to treat bacterial infections in many different parts of the body. They are sometimes given with other antibacterial medicines (antibiotics). Some of the penicillins may also be used for other problems as determined by your doctor. However, none of the penicillins will work for colds, flu, or other virus infections.

Precautions:
If your symptoms do not improve within a few days, or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

Penicillins may cause diarrhea in some patients. Check with your doctor if severe diarrhea occurs. Severe diarrhea may be a sign of a serious side effect. Do not take any diarrhea medicine without first checking with your doctor. Diarrhea medicines may make your diarrhea worse or make it last longer. For mild diarrhea, diarrhea medicine containing kaolin or attapulgite (e.g., Kaopectate tablets, Diasorb) may be taken. However, other kinds of diarrhea medicine should not be taken. They may make your diarrhea worse or last longer. If you have any questions about this or if mild diarrhea continues or gets worse, check with your health care professional.

Oral contraceptives (birth control pills) containing estrogen may not work properly if you take them while you are taking ampicillin, amoxicillin, or penicillin V. Unplanned pregnancies may occur. You should use a different or additional means of birth control while you are tking any of these penicillins. If you have any questions about this, check with your health care professional.

Diabetic patients: Penicillins may cause false test results with some urine sugar tests. Check with your doctor before changing your diet or the dosage of your diabetes medicine.

Before you have any medical tests, tell the doctor in charge that you are taking this
medicine. The results of some tests may be affected by this medicine.