Oxacillin Side Effects

Some side effects of oxacillin may not be reported. Always consult your doctor or healthcare specialist for medical advice. You may also report side effects to the FDA.

For the Consumer

Applies to oxacillin: oral capsule

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction while taking oxacillin: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• fever, sore throat, and headache with a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash;

• diarrhea that is watery or bloody;

• fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms;

• easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness;

• urinating less than usual or not at all;

• severe skin rash, itching, or peeling;

• agitation, confusion, unusual thoughts or behavior; or

• seizure (black-out or convulsions).

Less serious side effects of oxacillin may include:

• nausea, vomiting, stomach pain;

• vaginal itching or discharge;

• headache;

• swollen, black, or "hairy" tongue; or

• thrush (white patches or inside your mouth or throat).

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.

For Healthcare Professionals

Applies to oxacillin: injectable powder for injection, intravenous solution, oral capsule, oral powder for reconstitution

Gastrointestinal

Gastrointestinal side effects have included nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomatitis, black or hairy tongue, gastrointestinal irritation, and pseudomembranous colitis.

Hematologic

Hematologic adverse effects have included neutropenia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, bone marrow depression, and agranulocytosis.

Hematologic effects of oxacillin are uncommon and appear to be associated with higher doses given for prolonged periods. Oxacillin may exert a reversible toxic effect on the maturation of granulocytes. Some investigators have also suggested a possible hypersensitivity or immunologic component. Recovery generally occurs within several days to 2 weeks following discontinuation of therapy. Penicillin and some of its other semisynthetic derivatives are also associated with hematologic toxicities.

Hepatic

Hepatic side effects have included cholestatic jaundice associated with the use of high parenteral doses. A case of severe hepatitis has also been reported. Alkaline phosphatase and GGT serum levels may take several weeks to return to normal following discontinuation of therapy.

Serum liver enzyme levels have typically returned to normal soon after stopping therapy or changing to another antibiotic such as nafcillin, which is chemically related to oxacillin. Patients may be asymptomatic or have hepatic tenderness or enlargement and/or pronounced fever, nausea, and vomiting. Hepatotoxicity may also occur on a hypersensitivity basis and accompany some allergic manifestations such as pruritus, eosinophilia, and serum sickness.

Intravenous oxacillin has been associated with a higher incidence of hepatotoxicity than nafcillin, clindamycin, or other intravenous antimicrobials in children. The onset of hepatitis occurred after 6 to 43 days of oxacillin treatment (n=9).

Hypersensitivity

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

Local

Local side effects of parenteral administration have included thrombophlebitis and tissue necrosis following extravasation.

Renal

Renal side effects have included acute renal failure and interstitial nephritis.

Nervous system

Nervous system side effects including seizures have occurred when large parenteral doses of oxacillin were administered to patients with renal failure.

Metabolic

Metabolic side effects including severe hypokalemia, have been rarely associated with the use of high dose oxacillin (12 grams per day for 10 days).

Dermatologic

Intravenous oxacillin has been associated with a higher incidence of rash than nafcillin or other intravenous antimicrobials in children. The onset of rash occurred after a mean of 19.5 days of oxacillin treatment.

Dermatologic side effects included hypersensitivity-related urticaria, pruritus, and rash.

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