Bicillin L-A

Bicillin L-A is an antibiotic that is used to treat bacterial infections, including upper respiratory infections such as strep throat, certain sexually transmitted diseases such as syphilis, and other rare infections of the skin and bones found in certain countries.

Bicillin L-A is also used to prevent rheumatic fever and related heart problems from coming back and acute glomerulonephritis (a kidney inflammation that can occur after some infections).

Bicillin L-A may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Use only as directed. Tell your doctor if you use other medicines or have other medical conditions or allergies, especially to antibiotics such as other penicillins and cephalosporins.

You should not use Bicillin L-A if you are allergic to Bicillin L-A or similar medicines such as amoxicillin, ampicillin, penicillin, and others.

Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to cephalosporin antibiotics such as cephalexin, cefdinir, ceftriaxone, and others;
• any type of allergy;
• asthma, hay fever, or hives (urticaria); or
• kidney disease.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction (hives, difficult breathing, swelling in your face or throat) or a severe skin reaction (fever, sore throat, burning eyes, skin pain, red or purple skin rash with blistering and peeling).

Seek medical treatment if you have a serious drug reaction that can affect many parts of your body. Symptoms may include skin rash, fever, swollen glands, muscle aches, severe weakness, unusual bruising, or yellowing of your skin or eyes.

Bicillin L-A may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor at once if you have:

• severe stomach pain, diarrhea that is watery or bloody (even if it occurs months after your last dose);
• sudden numbness or weakness on one side of the body, chest pain, problems with vision, balance, or speech;
• numbness, burning pain, or tingly feeling;
• fast, slow, or uneven heart rate, fainting, slow breathing (breathing may stop), trouble breathing, sudden cough or coughing up blood;
• swelling, bruising, bleeding, blistering, peeling, discoloration, a lump or painful skin changes where the medicine was injected;
• seizures, confusion, trouble staying awake, agitation, hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not real), extreme fear;
• pale or yellowed skin, bruising or bleeding, dark colored urine;
• kidney problems, urination problems, impotence, or sexual problems; or
• low blood cell counts--fever, chills, tiredness, mouth sores, skin sores, easy bruising, unusual bleeding, pale skin, cold hands and feet, feeling light-headed or short of breath.

Common side effects of Bicillin L-A may include:

• nausea, vomiting, diarrhea;
• itching, sweating, flushing (sudden warmth, redness, or tingly feeling);
• headache, muscle or joint pain; or
• bruising, itching, swelling, warmth, redness, oozing, or bleeding where an injection was given.

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.

Bicillin L-A is injected into a muscle. A healthcare provider will give you this injection.

Keep using this medicine even if your symptoms quickly improve. Skipping doses could make your infection resistant to medication. Bicillin L-A will not treat a viral infection (flu or a common cold).

Antibiotic medicines can cause diarrhea. Tell your doctor if you have diarrhea that is watery or bloody.

Bicillin L-A may be given for as long as needed after lab tests show that the infection has cleared, or for several weeks for very severe infections. Your doctor will determine how long to treat you with this medicine.

Call your doctor for instructions if you miss an appointment for your Bicillin L-A.

In a medical setting an overdose would be treated quickly.

Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity.

Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially:

• tetracycline; or
• probenecid.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may affect Bicillin L-A, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.