Dicloxacillin Side Effects

Brand Names: Dynapen

Please note - some side effects for Dicloxacillin may not be reported. Always consult your doctor or healthcare specialist for medical advice. You may also report side effects to the FDA.

Side Effects of Dicloxacillin - for the Consumer

Dicloxacillin

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome when using Dicloxacillin:

Diarrhea; fever; gas; general body discomfort; heartburn; joint pain; muscle aches; nausea; second infection; stomach pain; vomiting.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur when using Dicloxacillin:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); black tongue; bloody stools; mouth irritation; severe diarrhea; severe stomach cramps/pain; shortness of breath; sore throat; swollen joints; unusual bleeding or bruising; vaginal irritation or discharge; wheezing.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.

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Dicloxacillin Side Effects - for the Professional

Dicloxacillin

Body as a Whole

The reported incidence of allergic reactions to penicillin ranges from 0.7% to 10%. Sensitization is usually the result of treatment, but some individuals have had immediate reactions to penicillin when first treated. In such cases, it is thought that the patients may have had prior exposure to the drug via trace amounts present in milk and vaccines.

Two types of allergic reactions to penicillin are noted clinically, immediate and delayed.

Immediate reactions usually occur within 20 minutes of administration and range in severity from urticaria and pruritus to angioneurotic edema, laryngospasm, bronchospasm, hypotension, vascular collapse and death. Such immediate anaphylactic reactions are very rare and usually occur after parenteral therapy, but have occurred in patients receiving oral therapy. Another type of immediate reaction, an accelerated reaction, may occur between 20 minutes and 48 hours after administration and may include urticaria, pruritus and fever. Although laryngeal edema, laryngospasm and hypotension occasionally occur, fatality is uncommon.

Delayed allergic reactions to penicillin therapy usually occur after 48 hours and sometimes as late as two to four weeks after initiation of therapy. Manifestations of this type of reaction include serum sickness-like symptoms (i.e., fever, malaise, urticaria, myalgia, arthralgia, abdominal pain) and various skin rashes. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomatitis, black or hairy tongue and other symptoms of gastrointestinal irritation may occur, especially during oral penicillin therapy.

Nervous System Reactions

Neurotoxic reactions similar to those observed with penicillin G may occur with large intravenous doses of the penicillinase-resistant penicillins, especially with patients with renal insufficiency.

Urogenital Reactions

Renal tubular damage and interstitial nephritis have been associated with the administration of methicillin sodium and, infrequently, with the administration of nafcillin and oxacillin. Manifestations of this reaction may include rash, fever, eosinophilia, hematuria, proteinuria and renal insufficiency. Methicillin-induced nephropathy does not appear to be dose-related and is generally reversible upon prompt discontinuation of therapy.

Metabolic Reactions

Agranulocytosis, neutropenia and bone marrow depression have been associated with the use of methicillin sodium and nafcillin. Hepatotoxicity, characterized by fever, nausea and vomiting associated with abnormal liver function tests, mainly elevated SGOT levels, has been associated with the use of oxacillin.

RECOMMENDED DOSAGES FOR Dicloxacillin IN MILD TO MODERATE AND SEVERE INFECTIONS

* Patients weighing less than 40 kg (88 lbs)
DRUG	ADULTS		CHILDREN
	Mild to Moderate	Severe	Mild to Moderate	Severe
Dicloxacillin	125 mg every	250 mg every	12.5 mg/kg/day*	25 mg/kg/day*
	6 hours	6 hours	in equally	in equally
			divided doses	divided doses
			every 6 hours	every 6 hours

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Side Effects by Body System - for Healthcare Professionals

Gastrointestinal

Gastrointestinal side effects have included nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomatitis, black or hairy tongue, epigastric discomfort, flatulence, loose stools, and pseudomembranous colitis.

Hematologic

Hematologic side effects have included neutropenia, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia. Other penicillins have been associated with agranulocytosis and bone marrow depression.

Hepatic

Hepatic side effects have included transient changes in SGOT, hepatotoxicity, and cholestatic hepatitis. Serum transaminase levels may take several weeks to return to normal following discontinuation of therapy.

Hypersensitivity

Hypersensitivity reactions have included rash, fever, eosinophilia, pruritus, urticaria, angioneurotic edema, anaphylactic reactions (bronchospasm, hypotension, vascular collapse, death), laryngeal edema, laryngospasm, serum-sickness-like symptoms, fever, chills and myalgias.

Renal

Renal side effects have rarely included renal failure. Increases in serum creatinine and acute renal failure have been reported with higher doses (3 to 4 grams daily) using an intravenous formulation, in postoperative patients with advanced age. Other penicillins have been associated with renal tubular damage and interstitial nephritis (rash, fever, eosinophilia, hematuria, proteinuria, renal insufficiency).

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