Penicillin G Benzathine / Procaine Penicillin Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Apr 12, 2024.

Applies to penicillin g benzathine / procaine penicillin: intramuscular suspension.

Precautions

It is very important that your doctor check your or your child's progress closely while receiving the medicine to make sure this medicine is working properly. Blood and urine tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

This medicine may cause a serious allergic reaction, called anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention. Tell your doctor right away if you or your child has a rash, itching, hoarseness, trouble breathing, trouble swallowing, or any swelling of your hands, face, or mouth after receiving this medicine.

This medicine may cause serious skin reactions, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), or acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP). Check with your doctor right away if you or your child has black, tarry stools, blistering, peeling, loosening of the skin, chest pain, chills, cough, diarrhea, fever, itching, joint or muscle pain, painful or difficult urination, red irritated eyes, red skin lesions, often with a purple center, sore throat, sores, ulcers, or white spots in them mouth or on the lips, swollen glands, trouble breathing, unusual bleeding or bruising, or unusual tiredness or weakness.

This medicine may cause a rare, but serious blood problem called methemoglobinemia. The risk may be increased in children younger than 6 months of age, elderly patients, or patients with certain inborn defects. It is more likely to occur in patients receiving too much of the medicine, but can also occur with small amounts. Check with your doctor right away if you or your child has pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nails, confusion, headache, lightheadedness, fast heartbeat, or unusual tiredness or weakness after receiving this medicine.

Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve or get worse.

This medicine may cause diarrhea, and in some cases it can be severe. It may occur 2 months or more after you stop receiving this medicine. Do not take any medicine to treat diarrhea without first checking with your doctor. Diarrhea medicines may make the diarrhea worse or make it last longer. If you have any questions about this or if mild diarrhea continues, or gets worse, check with your doctor.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

Serious side effects

Along with its needed effects, penicillin g benzathine/procaine penicillin may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking penicillin g benzathine / procaine penicillin:

Other side effects

Some side effects of penicillin g benzathine / procaine penicillin may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

For healthcare professionals

Applies to penicillin g benzathine / procaine penicillin: intramuscular suspension.

Psychiatric adverse events

• Frequency not reported: Hoigne's syndrome (including severe agitation with confusion, visual and auditory hallucinations, fear of impending death, psychosis)

Parenteral Penicillin G Benzathine:

• Frequency not reported: Nervousness, confusion, anxiety, euphoria^[Ref]

Hoigne's syndrome, characterized by various central nervous system symptoms (e.g., severe agitation with confusion, visual and auditory hallucinations, fear of impending death), has been reported after use of procaine penicillin, and less commonly, after use of this drug. Other symptoms associated with this syndrome have included psychosis, seizures, dizziness, tinnitus, cyanosis, palpitations, tachycardia, and abnormal taste perception.^[Ref]

Nervous system

• Frequency not reported: Symptoms associated with Hoigne's syndrome (including seizures, dizziness, tinnitus, abnormal taste perception)

Parenteral Penicillin G:

• Frequency not reported: Neuropathy

Parenteral Penicillin G Benzathine:

• Frequency not reported: Headache, tremors, dizziness, somnolence, transverse myelitis, seizures, coma, vasovagal reaction, cerebrovascular accident, syncope^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

• Frequency not reported: Symptoms associated with Hoigne's syndrome (including cyanosis, palpitations, tachycardia)

Parenteral Penicillin G Benzathine:

• Frequency not reported: Cardiac arrest, hypotension, tachycardia, palpitations, vasodilation^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

Parenteral Penicillin G:

• Frequency not reported: Hypersensitivity reactions (including skin eruptions [maculopapular to exfoliative dermatitis], urticaria, laryngeal edema, fever, eosinophilia, other serum sickness-like reactions [including chills, fever, edema, arthralgia, prostration], anaphylaxis [including shock, death])

Parenteral Penicillin G Benzathine:

• Frequency not reported: Hypersensitivity reactions (including allergic vasculitis, pruritus, fatigue, asthenia, pain)^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

Parenteral Penicillin G:

• Frequency not reported: Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea, pseudomembranous colitis

Parenteral Penicillin G Benzathine:

• Frequency not reported: Nausea, vomiting, blood in stool, intestinal necrosis^[Ref]

Onset of pseudomembranous colitis symptoms have been reported during or after antibacterial therapy.^[Ref]

Renal

Parenteral Penicillin G:

• Frequency not reported: Nephropathy

Parenteral Penicillin G Benzathine:

• Frequency not reported: Elevated BUN, elevated creatinine, renal failure^[Ref]

Hematologic

Parenteral Penicillin G:

• Frequency not reported: Hemolytic anemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia

Parenteral Penicillin G Benzathine:

• Frequency not reported: Lymphadenopathy^[Ref]

Local

Parenteral Penicillin G Benzathine:

• Frequency not reported: Injection site reactions (including pain, inflammation, lump, abscess, necrosis, edema, hemorrhage, cellulitis, hypersensitivity, atrophy, ecchymosis, skin ulcer), neurovascular reactions (including warmth, vasospasm, pallor, mottling, gangrene, numbness of the extremities, cyanosis of the extremities, neurovascular damage)^[Ref]

Respiratory

Parenteral Penicillin G Benzathine:

• Frequency not reported: Hypoxia, apnea, dyspnea, pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary embolism^[Ref]

Hepatic

Parenteral Penicillin G Benzathine:

• Frequency not reported: Elevated AST^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

Parenteral Penicillin G Benzathine:

• Frequency not reported: Joint disorder, periostitis, myoglobinuria, rhabdomyolysis, exacerbation of arthritis^[Ref]

Ocular

Parenteral Penicillin G Benzathine:

• Frequency not reported: Blurred vision, blindness^[Ref]

Genitourinary

Parenteral Penicillin G Benzathine:

• Frequency not reported: Neurogenic bladder, hematuria, proteinuria, impotence, priapism^[Ref]

Other

Parenteral Penicillin G Benzathine:

• Frequency not reported: Aggravation of existing disorder^[Ref]

Dermatologic

Parenteral Penicillin G Benzathine:

• Frequency not reported: Diaphoresis^[Ref]

See also:

Further information

Penicillin g benzathine/procaine penicillin side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Note: Medication side effects may be underreported. If you are experiencing side effects that are not listed, submit a report to the FDA by following this guide.

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