Penicillin Drug Study

In making a Drug Study, the following elements must be present: Generic Name and the Brand name (not all brands, just the brand used by the patient), Action, Indication, Pregnancy Category, Drug Classification, and Contraindication, Adverse Effect, Drug interaction and Nursing Consideration/Intervention…. Most clinical instructors preferred this to be in a long bond paper in printed or handwritten with paper in landscape.

Penicillin V (pencillin V potassium)

Brand Name: Beepen VK, Nadopen-V (CAN), Novo-Pen VK (CAN), Pen-Vee-K, Veetids

Pregnancy Category B

Drug classes: Antibiotic, Penicillin (acid stable),

Therapeutic actions

Bactericidal: inhibits cell wall synthesis of sensitive organisms, causing cell death.

Indications

· Mild to moderately severe infections caused by sensitive organisms--streptococci, pneumococci, staphylococci, fusospirochetes

· Prophylaxis against bacterial endocarditis in patients with valvular heart disease undergoing dental or upper respiratory tract surgery

· Unlabeled uses: prophylactic treatment of children with sickle cell anemia, mild to moderate anaerobic infections, Lyme disease

Contraindications

· Contraindicated with allergies to penicillins, cephalosporins, or other allergens.

Adverse effects

Lethargy, hallucinations, seizures

Glossitis, stomatitis, gastritis, sore mouth, furry tongue, black “hairy” tongue, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea, enterocolitis, pseudomembranous colitis, nonspecific hepatitis

Nephritis--oliguria, proteinuria, hematuria, casts, azotemia, pyuria

Anemia, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, neutropenia, prolonged bleeding time

Rash, fever, wheezing, anaphylaxis (sometimes fatal)

Superinfections, sodium overload leading to CHF; potassium poisoning--hyperreflexia, coma, cardiac arrhythmias, cardiac arrest (potassium preparations)

Drug Interactions:

· Decreased effectiveness with tetracyclines

Nursing considerations

· Culture infection before beginning treatment; reculture if response is not as expected.

· Continue therapy for at least 2 days after infection has disappeared, usually 7–10 days.

· Do not administer oral drug with milk, fruit juices, or soft drinks; a full glass of water is preferred; this oral penicillin is less affected by food than other penicillins.