Flucloxacillin

Flucloxacillin is a type of drug that kills bacteria. It is only given to you with a prescription from your healthcare provider.

Flucloxacillin can be used:

• When you have an infection on your skin (like boils), wound or in your bone that is caused by bacteria.
• When you have a bacterial infection in your chest (such as pneumonia), ear, nose and throat.
• Before a surgical procedure to prevent infection.
• When children have a bacterial infection in their ear, nose or throat.

Flucloxacillin is a antibiotic that kills bacteria. It is used for infections caused by bacteria, such as skin infections, ear, nose and throat infections, chest infections, bone infections and other conditions where your healthcare provider recommends it. Flucloxacillin will not work for viral infections like the common cold or flu. You will only get this medicine if you have a prescription from your healthcare provider.
You should not use this medicine if you have reacted badly to it or any other penicillin medicine before. People with liver disease should inform their healthcare provider before using this medicine.

• Flucloxacillin comes as capsules and suspension taken by mouth. It is also available as a powder for injection.
• The dosage is 250mg or 500mg taken four times a day, depending on how severe your infection is.
• If your child is taking the suspension form of Flucloxacillin, use the measuring device that comes with the medicine and not a tablespoon.
• You should take this medicine on an empty stomach. This is about 30-60 mins before a meal or 2 hours after a meal.
• You may feel better a few days after you start taking this medicine. You should continue and complete the dosage as prescribed to you by your healthcare provider. If you stop taking it, your infection may come back and may become more difficult to treat.
• If you miss a dose, use the missed dose as soon as you remember. If you remember close to the next dose, skip the missed dose, and continue with the next dose. Do not take two doses at once to make up for a missed dose.
• If you take an extra dose accidentally, consult your healthcare provider on what to do.

You may experience some unpleasant things while taking Flucloxacillin:

• You may experience nausea, vomiting and stomach irritation.
• You may have an upset stomach (indigestion).
• Your stomach may feel bloated.

See your healthcare provider if you notice any of the following side-effects:

• If you get a skin rash or itching, breathing problems or swelling of the face, throat or tongue while taking flucloxacillin.
•  If you get severe, prolonged or bloody diarrhoea.
• If you get itching, sickness and vomiting, pains in your belly, loss of appetite, yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, or unusually dark urine.

• Do not take Flucloxacillin if you have had an allergic reaction to Flucloxacillin or any other penicillin medicine before.
• Inform your healthcare provider of any disease or health challenge you have before taking this medicine.