nafcillin (injection)

	What is the most important information I should know about nafcillin?
	What is nafcillin?
	What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using nafcillin?
	How should I use nafcillin?
	What happens if I miss a dose?
	What happens if I overdose?
	What should I avoid while using nafcillin?
	What are the possible side effects of nafcillin?
	What other drugs will affect nafcillin?
	Where can I get more information?
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Do not use this medication if you are allergic to nafcillin or to any other penicillin antibiotic, such as amoxicillin (Amoxil), ampicillin (Omnipen, Principen), oxacillin (Bactocill), penicillin (Beepen-VK, Ledercillin VK, Pen-V, Pen-Vee K, Pfizerpen, V-Cillin K, Veetids), and others.

Before using nafcillin, tell your doctor if you are allergic to cephalosporins such as Ceclor, Ceftin, Duricef, Keflex, and others, or if you have asthma, liver or kidney disease, or a history of any type of allergy.

Use this medication for the entire length of time prescribed by your doctor. Your symptoms may get better before the infection is completely treated. Nafcillin will not treat a viral infection such as the common cold or flu.

Antibiotic medicines can cause diarrhea, which may be a sign of a new infection. If you have diarrhea that is watery or has blood in it, call your doctor. Do not use any medicine to stop the diarrhea unless your doctor has told you to.

Nafcillin is an antibiotic in the penicillin group of drugs. It fights bacteria in your body.

Nafcillin is used to treat many different types of infections, especially those caused by staphylococcus bacteria ("staph" infections).

Nafcillin may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Do not use this medication if you are allergic to nafcillin or to any other penicillin antibiotic, such as:

• amoxicillin (Amoxil, Amoxicot, Biomox, Dispermox, Trimox);
• ampicillin (Omnipen, Principen);
• carbenicillin (Geocillin);
• cloxacillin (Cloxapen);
• dicloxacillin (Dycill, Dynapen);
• oxacillin (Bactocill); or
• penicillin (Beepen-VK, Ledercillin VK, Pen-V, Pen-Vee K, Pfizerpen, V-Cillin K, Veetids, and others).

Before using nafcillin, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs (especially cephalosporins such as Ceclor, Ceftin, Duricef, Keflex, and others), or if you have:

• asthma;
• liver disease;
• kidney disease; or
• a history of any type of allergy.

If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.

FDA pregnancy category B. This medication is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

Nafcillin can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Use this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not use the medication in larger amounts, or use it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

To be sure this medication is helping your condition, your blood will need to be tested on a regular basis. Your kidney or liver function may also need to be tested. Do not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.

Use this medication for the entire length of time prescribed by your doctor. Your symptoms may get better before the infection is completely treated. Nafcillin will not treat a viral infection such as the common cold or flu.

Store the capsules at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Use the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and use the medicine at your next regularly scheduled time. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.

Overdose symptoms may include muscle spasms or weakness, muscle pain or twitching, numbness or tingly feeling, confusion, feeling light-headed, fainting, and seizure (black-out or convulsions).

Avoid drinking alcohol. It can increase stomach irritation caused by nafcillin.

Antibiotic medicines can cause diarrhea, which may be a sign of a new infection. If you have diarrhea that is watery or has blood in it, call your doctor. Do not use any medicine to stop the diarrhea unless your doctor has told you to.

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. A delayed allergic reaction to nafcillin can occur as few as 2 days to as many as 4 weeks after you use the medication.

Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• feeling light-headed, fainting;
• fever, weakness, muscle or joint pain, stomach pain;
• diarrhea that is watery or bloody;
• feeling short of breath;
• urinating more or less than usual;
• swelling, rapid weight gain; or
• severe skin rash, itching, or peeling.

Less serious side effects are more likely to occur, such as:

• pain, swelling, or skin changes where the medicine was injected;
• nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, black or "hairy" tongue;
• vaginal itching or discharge;
• headache; or
• thrush (white patches or inside your mouth or throat).

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before using nafcillin, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:

• cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune);
• a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin); or
• a tetracycline antibiotic such as demeclocycline (Declomycin), doxycycline (Adoxa, Doryx, Oracea, Vibramycin), minocycline (Dynacin, Minocin, Solodyn, Vectrin), or tetracycline (Brodspec, Panmycin, Sumycin, Tetracap).

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with nafcillin. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

Your pharmacist can provide more information about nafcillin.