Nafcillin Side Effects

Please note - some side effects for Nafcillin 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 Nafcillin - for the Consumer

Nafcillin

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 Nafcillin:

Mild diarrhea; nausea; pain at the injection site; vomiting.

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

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); bloody stools; chills; fever; muscle pain; pain, redness, or swelling at the injection site; severe diarrhea; stomach pain or cramps ; vaginal irritation or discharge.

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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Nafcillin Side Effects - for the Professional

Nafcillin

Body as a Whole

The reported incidence of allergic reactions to penicillins ranges from 0.7 to 10 percent. 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 or vaccines.

Two types of allergic reactions to penicillins 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 2 to 4 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.

Local Reactions

Pain, swelling, inflammation, phlebitis, thrombophlebitis, and occasional skin sloughing at the injection site have occurred with intravenous administration of Nafcillin. Severe tissue necrosis with sloughing secondary to subcutaneous extravasation of Nafcillin has been reported.

Nervous System Reactions

Neurotoxic reactions similar to those observed with penicillin G could occur with large intravenous or intraventricular doses of Nafcillin especially in patients with concomitant hepatic insufficiency and renal dysfunction.

Urogenital Reactions

Renal tubular damage and interstitial nephritis have been associated infrequently with the administration of Nafcillin. Manifestations of this reaction may include rash, fever, eosinophilia, hematuria, proteinuria, and renal insufficiency.

Gastrointestinal Reactions

Pseudomembranous colitis has been reported with the use of Nafcillin. The onset of pseudomembranous colitis symptoms may occur during or after antibiotic treatment.

Metabolic Reactions

Agranulocytosis, neutropenia, and bone marrow depression have been associated with the use of Nafcillin.

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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, gastrointestinal irritation, and pseudomembranous colitis.

Local

Local side effects have included pain, swelling, phlebitis, thrombophlebitis, and skin sloughing after intravenous administration. Intramuscular injections may cause pain at the injection site. Extravasation may result in severe chemical irritation. Subcutaneous extravasation has been associated with severe tissue necrosis.

Hypersensitivity

Hypersensitivity reactions have included urticaria, pruritus, angioneurotic edema, laryngeal edema, laryngospasm, bronchospasm, hypotension, vascular collapse, anaphylaxis, serum sickness-like reactions, fever, and death.

Hematologic

Hematologic side effects have included agranulocytosis, neutropenia, bone marrow depression, and platelet dysfunction. These reactions are usually reversible upon discontinuation of nafcillin.

At least three cases of platelet dysfunction with prolonged bleeding times have been reported with nafcillin therapy. All cases resolved following discontinuation of nafcillin.

Renal

Renal side effects have included renal tubular damage and interstitial nephritis. Symptoms may include rash, fever, eosinophilia, hematuria, proteinuria, and renal insufficiency.

Hepatic

Hepatic adverse effects are rare, but cases of hepatotoxicity associated with nafcillin therapy have been reported.

Nervous system

Nervous system side effects have included neurotoxicity with high intravenous or intraventricular doses, especially in patients with both hepatic and renal impairment.

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