Bicillin® L-A
Benzathine benzylpenicillin tetrahydrate Suspension for Injection
Consumer Medicine Information
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some common questions about Bicillin L-A. It does not contain
all the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor
or pharmacist.
All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you receiving
Bicillin L-A against the benefits they expect it will have for you.
If you have any questions about receiving this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet.
You may need to read it again.
What Bicillin L-A is used for
Bicillin L-A is used to treat infections in different parts of the body caused by
bacteria. Bicillin L-A is also used to prevent certain infections such as rheumatic
fever. Bicillin L-A will not work against infections caused by viruses such as colds
or flu.
Bicillin belongs to the group of penicillin antibiotics. It works by killing bacteria
or preventing their growth. This particular type of Bicillin is called Bicillin L-A
because it is long-acting. It is supplied in a syringe for once-only use.
Your doctor may have prescribed Bicillin L-A for another purpose. Ask your doctor
if you have any questions about why Bicillin L-A has been prescribed for you.
This medicine is available only with a doctor's prescription.
When you must not be given it:
Do not have Bicillin L-A if you have ever had an allergic reaction to Bicillin L-A,
other penicillin antibiotics, or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this
leaflet.
Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include skin rash; swelling of the
mouth, throat or face; difficulty breathing.
Do not have Bicillin L-A if you have had an allergic reaction to cephalosporins.
You may have an increased chance of being allergic to Bicillin L-A if you are allergic
to cephalosporins.
Do not have Bicillin L-A if the expiry date on the pack has passed.
It may have no effect at all, or worse, an unexpected effect might result if you are
given it after the expiry date.
Do not have Bicillin L-A if the packaging is damaged or shows any signs of tampering.
Before you are given it
You must tell your doctor if:
1. you have any type of allergic reaction to Bicillin L-A, any other penicillin, or cephalosporin antibiotics.
2. you have any allergies to any other medicines or any other substances, such as foods, preservatives or dyes.
This may include medicines that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy,
supermarket or health food shop.
3. you are pregnant, or intend to become pregnant, are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.
Your doctor will discuss the risks and benefits of using Bicillin L-A during pregnancy
and breastfeeding.
4. you have, or have ever had any other health problems including asthma, kidney or liver disease.
If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell them before you are
given Bicillin L-A.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including medicines you buy
without a prescription from a pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines may interfere with Bicillin L-A. These include:
Tetracycline antibiotics
Probenecid
These medicines may affect how well it works. You may need to take different amounts
of your medicine or you may need to take different medicines.
Your doctor or pharmacist has more information on medicines to be careful with while
using Bicillin L-A.
Bicillin L-A may interfere with some tests measuring glucose (sugar) in the urine.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are having this sort of test.
How Bicillin L-A is given
Bicillin L-A is usually only given by a doctor, pharmacist or nurse. It is injected
into a muscle. For adults this is usually the buttocks. With small children it may
be the thigh. It must not be injected near an artery or nerve. If the injection
is repeated, a new site must be chosen.
Your doctor will decide what dose and how many times you will receive Bicillin L-A.
This depends on your infection and other factors, such as your weight.
Sometimes only a single dose of Bicillin L-A is needed for the treatment or prevention
of certain infections.
Things you must do
If the symptoms of your infection do not improve within a few days, or if they become
worse, tell your doctor.
If you develop itching with swelling or skin rash or difficulty breathing after you
have been given Bicillin L-A, contact your doctor immediately as these are symptoms
of an allergic reaction.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you develop severe diarrhoea, even if it occurs
several weeks after you have stopped receiving Bicillin L-A.
Diarrhoea may mean that you have a serious condition affecting your bowel. You may
need urgent medical care. Do not take any diarrhoea medicine without first checking
with your doctor.
If you get a sore white mouth or tongue after you have been given Bicillin L-A, tell
your doctor. Also tell your doctor if you get vaginal itching or discharge.
This may mean you have a fungal infection called thrush. Sometimes the use of Bicillin
L-A allows fungi to grow and the above symptoms to occur. Bicillin L-A does not work
against fungi.
If you become pregnant while you are receiving Bicillin L-A injections tell your doctor.
If you are about to start taking any new medicines, tell your doctor or pharmacist
you are receiving Bicillin L-A.
If you have to have any blood or urine tests tell your doctor you have been given
Bicillin L-A. Bicillin L-A may affect the results of some tests.
Tell any doctor, dentist or pharmacist who is treating you that you have been given
Bicillin L-A.
Things to be careful of
Contact your doctor immediately if:
you experience any symptoms of an allergy
you have severe pain in the muscle where your Bicillin L-A injection was given
you get thrush or any other infection soon after receiving Bicillin L-A
Overgrowth of certain bacteria or fungi not killed by Bicillin L-A can sometimes occur.
Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how Bicillin L-A affects
you. Bicillin L-A generally does not cause any problems with your ability to drive
a car or operate machinery. However, as with many other medicines, Bicillin L-A may
cause dizziness, drowsiness, or tiredness in some people.
Side Effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you
are receiving Bicillin L-A.
Bicillin L-A helps most people with certain bacterial infections, but it may have
unwanted side effects in some people.
All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time
they are not. You may need medical treatment if you get some of the side effects.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist any questions you may have.
Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following side effects listed
below.
Allergic side effects to Bicillin L-A include:
skin rashes
hives
chills and fever
swelling, including swelling of the throat
difficulty breathing
headache
feeling faint
joint pain
Other possible side effects include:
fast or irregular heartbeat
blood disorders
damaged kidneys
damaged nerves
tissue damage at injection site
infection by other bacteria
nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea
stomach cramps
inflammation of the large bowel.
oral thrush - white, furry, sore tongue and mouth
vaginal thrush - sore and itchy vagina and / or vaginal discharge
Some of these side effects are rare. You may not experience any of them.
Some people may get other side effects whilst receiving Bicillin L-A.
Tell your doctor if you notice anything else that is making you feel unwell, even
if it is not on this list.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you do not understand anything in this list.
Storage
Bicillin L-A is usually stored by your doctor or pharmacist.
If you are storing Bicillin L-A, keep it where young children cannot reach it.
Bicillin L-A must be kept in a refrigerator (2-8°C). Do not keep it in the door of
the refrigerator, or the freezer.
Bicillin L-A may be stored below 30°C, for a single period of up to 2 months, prior
to expiry. The date the product is placed outside of refrigerated storage and stored
below 30°C should be written in the space provided on the carton. After storage outside
of refrigeration, the product should be discarded and cannot be returned to refrigerated
storage.
Disposal
Your doctor, pharmacist or nurse should dispose of the Bicillin L-A syringe and any
leftover contents after use. Do not handle or re-use the syringe.
Further information
This is not all the information that is available on Bicillin L-A. If you have any
more questions or are not sure about anything, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Ingredients
Each Bicillin L-A 1,200,000 Units/2.3 mL syringe contains a thick white liquid. This
liquid contains 1,200,000 Units equivalent to 1016.6 mg of the active ingredient,
benzathine benzylpenicillin tetrahydrate in 2.3 mL.
The liquid also contains the following inactive ingredients:
sodium citrate
carmellose sodium
lecithin
povidone
methyl hydroxybenzoate
propyl hydroxybenzoate
