Dicloxacillin Description

Generic Name : DICLOXACILLIN

Pronunciation : (dye klox a sill' in)

Trade Name(s) : Dycil, Dynapen, Pathocil

Why it is prescribed: Dicloxacillin, a penicillin-like antibiotic, eliminates bacteria that cause infections, including pneumonia and infections of the ear, urinary tract, bone, and skin.

When it is to be taken: Follow the instructions on your prescription label carefully. Doses should be taken as far apart as possible throughout the day. For example, if you are to take dicloxacillin four times a day, take a dose every six hours. However, if you cannot take the drug around the clock, take it at evenly spaced intervals between the time you wake up in the morning and the time you go to bed at night.

How it should be taken: Dicloxacillin comes in the form of capsules and oral liquid. Your prescription label tells you how much to take at each dose. Dicloxacillin should be taken on an empty stomach, one hour before or two hours after meals. Liquid dicloxacillin should be shaken well before use to mix the medication evenly.

Special Instruction :
1. Take all of the medication prescribed, even after the infection appears to have gone away. Failure to do so could allow the infection to return.
2. If you forget to take a dose, take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. Take any remaining doses for that day at evenly spaced intervals. However, if it is almost time for another dose, you may either double the next dose or space the missed dose and the next dose one to two hours apart.

Side Effects :
1. Diarrhea, nausea, vomiting. Contact your doctor if this problem is severe or lasts for more than two days.
2. Shortness of breath, wheezing, rash, itching, hives. Call your doctor or go to a hospital immediately.

Other Precautions :
1. Women who are breast-feeding should inform their doctors because dicloxacillin can pass from a mother to her baby in the milk.
2. If you are allergic to penicillin or any medication or have asthma, hay fever, allergies, or kidney disease, tell your doctor before you take this medication.
3. Tell your doctor about all prescription and nonprescription drugs you are taking.
4. Consult your doctor before using any other medication while taking dicloxacillin. If your doctor tells you to stop taking dicloxacillin, throw away any unused medication. Dicloxacillin may lose its effectiveness over time and should not be used to treat another infection.

Storage Conditions :
1. Keep this medication in the container it came in and out of the reach of children.
2. Store liquid dicloxacillin in the refrigerator.
3. The container will have an expiration date on it Do not take the liquid after the expiry date. Throw it away and, if you need more dicloxacillin, get a new supply.