This medication is used to treat a wide variety of
bacterial infections. This medication is known as a penicillin-type
antibiotic. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria.
This medication is given by injection into a vein as
directed by your doctor, usually every 4 to 6 hours. The dosage is based on
your medical condition and response to treatment. Children's dosage is also
based on weight.
If you are giving this medication to yourself at home,
learn all preparation and usage instructions from your health care
professional. Before using, check this product for particles or
discoloration. If either is present, do not use the liquid. Learn how to
store and discard medical supplies safely.
If you are using the frozen pre-mixed solution, thaw the
medication at room temperature or in the refrigerator. If the container is
thawed in the refrigerator, let it come to room temperature before using.
Do not thaw by putting in a water bath or microwave. After thawing, shake
well and squeeze the container to check for leaks. Discard the solution if
the container leaks. Do not re-freeze the solution after
thawing.
Give aminoglycosides (such as gentamicin) separately
from this medication. Do not mix together in the same IV
fluid.
For the best effect, use this antibiotic at evenly
spaced times. To help you remember, use this medication at the same time(s)
every day.
Continue to use this medication until the full
prescribed amount is finished, even if symptoms disappear after a few days.
Stopping the medication too early may result in a return of the
infection.
Tell your doctor if your condition lasts or gets
worse.
If this medication is injected into a muscle, pain at
the injection site may occur. If this effect lasts or gets worse, notify
your doctor or pharmacist promptly.
Remember that this medication has been prescribed
because your doctor has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the
risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious
side effects.
Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious side
effects, including:
- pain/swelling/skin peeling at injection site (if this drug is
injected into a vein)
- joint/muscle pain
- signs of kidney problems (such as change in the amount of
urine, pink/bloody/frothy/dark/cloudy urine)
- extreme tiredness
- easy bruising/bleeding
- new signs of infection (such as sore throat that doesn't go
away, fever)
- seizures
- uncontrolled movements
- confusion
- irregular heartbeat
- muscle cramps
- weakness
This medication may rarely cause a severe intestinal
condition due to a bacteria called C. difficile. This condition may occur
during treatment or weeks to months after treatment has stopped. Tell your
doctor right away if you develop:
- diarrhea that doesn't stop
- abdominal or stomach pain/cramping
- blood/mucus in your stool
If you have these symptoms, do not use anti-diarrhea or
opioid products because they may make symptoms worse.
Use of this medication for prolonged or repeated periods
may result in oral thrush or a new vaginal yeast infection. Contact your
doctor if you notice white patches in your mouth, a change in vaginal
discharge, or other new symptoms.
A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare.
However, get medical help right away if you notice any symptoms of a
serious allergic reaction, including:
- rash
- itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat)
- severe dizziness
- trouble breathing
This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If
you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or
pharmacist.
In the US - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.
You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or at
www.fda.gov/medwatch.
In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about
side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at
1-866-234-2345.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor or
pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to penicillin or cephalosporin
antibiotics; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain
inactive ingredients (such as corn for products containing dextrose), which
can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for
more details.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor or
pharmacist your medical history, especially of:
- asthma
- kidney disease
- liver disease
This medication contains sodium. This could affect you
if you are on a salt-restricted diet or if you have a condition which could
be worsened with an increase in salt intake (such as heart failure).
Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
Nafcillin may cause live bacterial vaccines (such as
typhoid vaccine) to not work well. Tell your health care professional that
you are using nafcillin before having any
immunizations/vaccinations.
Older adults may be at greater risk for side effects
while using this drug.
Newborns and infants may be a greater risk for side
effects while using this drug.
During pregnancy, this medication should be used only
when clearly needed. Discuss the risks and benefits with your
doctor.
This drug passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor
before breastfeeding.
Drug interactions may change how your medications work
or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not
contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you
use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and
share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the
dosage of any medicines without your doctor's approval.
Some products that may interact with this drug
include:
- "blood thinners" (such as warfarin)
- methotrexate
- tetracyclines
This medication can speed up the removal of other
medications from your body, which may affect how they work. Examples of
affected drugs include daridorexant, elacestrant, certain products used to
treat chronic hepatitis C (asunaprevir, ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir),
mavacamten, quizartinib, revumenib, among others.
This medication may decrease the effectiveness of
hormonal birth control such as pills, patch, or ring. This could cause
pregnancy. Discuss with your doctor or pharmacist if you should use
reliable backup birth control methods while using this medication. Also
tell your doctor if you have any new spotting or breakthrough bleeding,
because these may be signs that your birth control is not working
well.
This medication may interfere with certain lab tests
(such as urine protein tests), possibly causing false test results. Make
sure lab personnel and all your doctors know you use this
drug.
If someone has overdosed and has serious symptoms such
as passing out or trouble breathing, call 911. Otherwise, call a poison
control center right away. US residents can call 1-800-222-1222. Canada
residents can call 1-844-764-7669. Symptoms of overdose may include:
seizures, confusion, mental/mood changes (such as
agitation).
Lab and/or medical tests (such as kidney/liver function,
complete blood count) may be done while you are using this medication. Keep
all medical and lab appointments. Consult your doctor for more
details.
It is important to get each dose of this medication as
scheduled. If you miss a dose, ask your doctor or pharmacist right away for
a new dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.
Consult the product instructions and your pharmacist for
storage details. Keep all medications away from children and
pets.
Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them
into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when
it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste
disposal company.