Aspecillin VK

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NOTICE: This Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) is intended for persons living in Australia.

phenoxymethylpenicillin (as potassium)

Consumer Medicine Information

What is in this leaflet

This leaflet answers some common questions about ASPECILLIN VK.

It does not contain all the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.

All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you taking ASPECILLIN VK against the benefits they expect it will have for you.

If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Keep this leaflet with your medicine.

You may need to read it again.

What ASPECILLIN VK is used for

This medicine contains the active ingredient phenoxymethylpenicillin.

It is a type of antibiotic that belongs to a group of medicines called penicillins.

ASPECILLIN VK is used to treat infections in different parts of the body caused by bacteria. It works by killing the bacteria that are causing the infection.

ASPECILLIN VK will not work against infections caused by viruses such as colds or the flu.

Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why this medicine has been prescribed for you.

Your doctor may have prescribed ASPECILLIN VK for another purpose.

This medicine is only available on a doctor’s prescription.

Before you take ASPECILLIN VK

When you must not take it

Do not take ASPECILLIN VK if you have an allergy to:

any medicine containing phenoxymethylpenicillin

any other penicillin medicines or cephalosporins

any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet

If you have an allergic reaction to cephalosporins, you may have an increased chance of being allergic to ASPECILLIN VK.

Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include:

shortness of breath

wheezing or difficulty breathing

swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body

rash, itching or hives on the skin

Do not take this medicine after the expiry date printed on the pack or if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.

If it has expired or is damaged, return to your pharmacist for disposal.

If you are not sure whether you should start taking this medicine, talk to your doctor.

Before you start to take it

Tell your doctor if you have any allergies to any other medicines or any other foods, preservatives or dyes.

Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had any of the following medical conditions:

diarrhoea after taking antibiotics previously

bleeding disorders

kidney problems

liver problems

any other health problems

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant or are breast-feeding.

Your doctor can discuss with you the risks and benefits involved.

The active ingredient in ASPECILLIN VK passes into breast milk and there is a possibility that your baby may be affected.

If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell them before you start taking ASPECILLIN VK.

Taking other medicines

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you get without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.

Some medicines and ASPECILLIN VK may interfere with each other. These include:

probenecid, a medicine used to treat gout

antacids, medicines used to reduce heartburn or indigestion

oral contraceptive pills, medicines used for contraception

You may need to use other birth control methods while you are taking ASPECILLIN VK.

aminoglycosides, medicines used treat some bacterial infections

methotrexate, a medicine used treat rheumatoid arthritis, some cancers and inflammatory conditions

These medicines may be affected by ASPECILLIN VK or may affect how well it works. You may need different amounts of your medicines, or you may need to take different medicines.

Your doctor and pharmacist have more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking this medicine.

How to take ASPECILLIN VK

Follow all directions given to you by your doctor or pharmacist carefully.

They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.

If you do not understand the instructions on the bottle, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.

How much to take

The usual dose is:

Adults

250 mg to 500 mg every four to six hours.

To prevent recurrence of rheumatic fever

250 mg twice a day for as long as your doctor tells you to.

The dose you take will depend on the type of treatment you are to receive. Your doctor will decide your dose and how long you take ASPECILLIN VK for.

How to take it

Swallow the tablets whole with a glass of water.

When to take it

Take your medicine 1 hour before food.

How long to take it

Continue taking your medicine until you finish the pack or for as long as your doctor tells you.

It is important to keep taking your medicine even if you feel well.

If you forget to take it

If it is less than 4 hours before your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next dose when you are meant to.

Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember, and then go back to taking you medicine as you would normally.

Do not take double dose to make for the dose that you missed.

If you are not sure what to do, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

If you have trouble remembering to take your medicine, ask your pharmacist for some hints.

If you take too much (overdose)

Immediately telephone your doctor or the Poison Information Centre (telephone 13 11 26) for advice, or go the Accident and Emergency at the nearest hospital, if you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much ASPECILLIN VK. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.

You may need urgent medical attention.

While you are using ASPECILLIN VK

Things you must do

If you are about to be started on any new medicine, remind your doctor and pharmacist that you are taking ASPECILLIN VK.

Tell any other doctors, dentists, and pharmacists who treat you that you are taking this medicine.

If you become pregnant while taking this medicine, tell your doctor immediately.

If your symptoms do not improve within a few days, or if they become worse, tell your doctor immediately.

If you get diarrhoea, nausea or vomiting, tell your doctor or pharmacist immediately. Do this even if it occurs several weeks after you have stopped taking ASPECILLIN VK.

Diarrhoea may mean that you have a serious condition affecting your bowel. You may need urgent medical care.

If you are about to have any blood or urine tests, tell your doctor that you are taking this medicine.

It may interfere with the results of some tests.

Things you must not do

Do not take any medicine for diarrhoea without first checking with your doctor or pharmacist.

Do not take ASPECILLIN VK to treat any other complaints unless your doctor tells you to.

Do not give your medicine to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you.

Do not stop taking ASPECILLIN VK without checking with your doctor.

Your infection and symptoms may not clear completely.

Things to be careful of

Tell your doctor if you get a sore mouth or tongue while taking or after you have stopped taking ASPECILLIN VK.

This could be due to a fungal infection called thrush. This may also result in fever and irritation in your stomach.

Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how ASPECILLIN VK affects you.

Side effects

Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are using ASPECILLIN VK.

This medicine helps most people but it may have some unwanted side effects in a few people.

All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical attention if you get some of the side effects.

Do not be alarmed by the following lists of side effects. You may not experience any of them.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice any of the following and they worry you:

skin rash

nausea or vomiting

black hairy tongue

diarrhoea

upset stomach

difficulty in breathing

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything that is making you feel unwell.

Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some people.

After using ASPECILLIN VK

Storage

Keep your tablets in the bottle until it is time to take them.

If you take the tablets out of the bottle they may not keep well.

Keep your tablets in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 25°C.

Do not store ASPECILLIN VK or any other medicine in the bathroom or near a sink. Do not leave it on a window sill or in the car.

Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.

Keep it where children cannot reach it.

A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.

Disposal

If your doctor tells you to stop taking this medicine or the expiry date has passed, ask your pharmacist what to do with any medicine that is left over.

Product description

What it looks like

ASPECILLIN VK 250 mg tablets are bright yellow, smooth, round film coated tablets. Odour characteristic. Free of visible contamination and imperfections.

ASPECILLIN VK 500 mg tablets are bright yellow, smooth, film coated capsule shaped tablets. Plain on one side and a break bar on the other. Odour characteristic. Free of visible contamination and imperfections.