What is Benzylpenicillin sodium?
Benzylpenicillin sodium, also known as penicillin G sodium, is an antibiotic medication used to treat various bacterial infections. It belongs to the penicillin class of antibiotics and works by inhibiting cell wall synthesis in bacteria. The medication is effective against a range of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, including Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Haemophilus influenzae. Benzylpenicillin sodium is typically administered intravenously or intramuscularly and has been used for over 80 years in the treatment of bacterial infections.
What is Benzylpenicillin sodium used for?
Benzylpenicillin sodium, also known as penicillin G sodium or crystalline penicillin, is a bacteriocidal antibiotic medication used to treat various bacterial infections. It belongs to the penicillin class of antibiotics and works by inhibiting cell wall synthesis in susceptible bacteria, ultimately leading to their death.
Benzylpenicillin sodium is primarily administered intramuscularly (IM) or intravenously (IV), depending on the severity and nature of the infection. The drug is effective against a wide range of gram-positive bacteria, including Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and group A beta-hemolytic streptococci. It is also used to treat certain infections caused by gram-negative bacteria such as Neisseria meningitidis and Haemophilus influenzae. The effectiveness of benzylpenicillin sodium is diminished against many strains of gram-negative bacteria due to the presence of beta-lactamases, enzymes that degrade penicillins.
Benzylpenicillin sodium side effects
- Injection site reactions: pain, redness, swelling, inflammation
- Allergic reactions: rash, hives, itching, difficulty breathing, anaphylaxis
- Gastrointestinal upset: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps
- Headache, dizziness, vertigo
- Flu-like symptoms: fever, chills, sore throat
- Increased or decreased appetite
- Fatigue, weakness
- Psychiatric changes: anxiety, agitation, confusion
- Bone marrow suppression: low white blood cell count, increased susceptibility to infection
- Hematologic abnormalities: changes in red blood cell count, hemoglobin level, and platelet count
- Hypersensitivity reactions (rare): fever, chills, arthritis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome
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