Penicillin V

What is penicillin V?

Penicillin V is a medicine called an antibiotic. Antibiotics are used to treat or prevent certain types of infections caused by the germs called bacteria.

Penicillin V comes in tablet and liquid forms.

Before giving penicillin V to your child

Tell your doctor if your child has an allergy to penicillins or other antibiotics.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if your child has any of the following conditions. This medicine may not be right for your child if they have:

• kidney disease

How should you give your child penicillin V?

Follow these instructions when you give your child penicillin V:

• Give your child penicillin V exactly as your child's doctor or pharmacist tells you to, even if your child seems better. Talk to your child's doctor before you stop giving penicillin V for any reason.
• Give your child penicillin V at regular intervals and at the same times each day.
• Give your child penicillin V on an empty stomach, if possible (1 hour before or 2 hours after meals). If penicillin V upsets your child's stomach, you may give this medicine with food.
• Penicillin V liquid should be shaken well before each use and the dose should be measured with the special spoon or oral syringe that the pharmacist gave you.
• Penicillin V tablets may be swallowed whole with a full glass of water or crushed and mixed with liquid or a small amount of food.

What should you do if your child misses a dose of penicillin V?

• Give the missed dose as soon as you remember.
• If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose. Give the next dose at the regular time.
• Do not give your child two doses to make up for one missed dose.

How long does penicillin V take to work?

It may take several days for your child to start feeling better after starting this medicine and it may also take several further days before the full benefit is seen.

What are the possible side effects of penicillin V?

Your child may have some of these side effects while they take penicillin V. Check with your child's doctor if your child continues to have any of these side effects and they do not go away or they bother your child:

• stomach pain or heartburn
• upset stomach, either throwing up or mild diarrhea (watery bowel movements)

Call your child's doctor during office hours if your child has any of these side effects:

• no improvement in condition or if you believe your child's condition is worse
• mild skin rash

Most of the following side effects are not common, but they may be a sign of a serious problem. Call your child's doctor right away or take your child to the Emergency Department if your child has any of these side effects:

• swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat
• severe dizziness or passing out
• difficulty breathing, chest tightness, wheezing, or a bad cough
• severe nausea or vomiting or severe watery diarrhea (which may have blood or red streaks)
• unusual bruising or bleeding
• severe skin rash, itching

What safety measures should you take when your child is using penicillin V?

Birth control medicines may not work properly while taking penicillin V and for 7 days after the course of antibiotics is finished. If your child takes birth control pills, please tell her doctor/pharmacist.

Check with your child's doctor or pharmacist before giving your child any other medicines (prescription, non-prescription, herbal, or natural products).

If your child is diabetic, penicillins may cause false test results with some urine glucose (sugar) tests. Check with your child's pharmacist about what other glucose tests can be used.

What other important information should you know about penicillin V?

• Keep a list of all medications your child is on and show the list to the doctor or pharmacist.
• Do not share your child's medicine with others and do not give anyone else's medicine to your child.
• Make sure you always have enough penicillin V to finish the prescribed course. Call your pharmacy at least 2 days before your child runs out of medicine to order refills, if necessary.
• Keep penicillin V tablets at room temperature in a cool, dry place away from sunlight. Do NOT store it in the bathroom or kitchen.
• Keep penicillin V liquid in the refrigerator. Do not freeze this medicine. Throw away any unused portion of the liquid after 2 weeks.
  
• Do not keep any medicines that are out of date. Check with your pharmacist about the best way to throw away outdated or leftover medicines.
  

Keep penicillin v out of your child’s sight and reach and locked up in a safe place. If your child takes too much penicillin v, call your local Poison Information Centre at one of these numbers. These calls are free. 

• Call 1-844 POISON-X, or 1-844-764-7669, from anywhere in Canada except Quebec.
• Call 1-800-463-5060 if you live in Quebec.