Details for: BICILLIN L-A
Company: PFIZER CANADA ULC
| DIN | DIN name | Active Ingredient(s) | Strength | Dosage Form | Route of Administration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02291924 | BICILLIN L-A | PENICILLIN G BENZATHINE | 1200000 UNIT / 2 ML | SUSPENSION | INTRAMUSCULAR |
Summary Reports
Consumer Information
This information was provided by the drug’s manufacturer when this drug product was approved for sale in Canada. It is designed for consumers and care givers. It is a summary of information about the drug and will not tell you everything about the drug. Contact your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions about the drug.
What the medication is used for
BICILLIN L-A is used to treat bacterial infections such as:
- strep throat [a disease that causes a sore throat (pharyngitis)]
- syphilis (a disease passed during sex)
- yaws, bejel and pinta (skin diseases passed by skin-to-skin contact)
BICILLIN L-A is also used to prevent infections that may occur after a strep throat such as:
- rheumatic fever which can cause illness in the heart, joints, skin, and brain
- glomerulonephritis (an inflammation of the kidney).
Antibacterial drugs like BICILLIN L-A treat only bacterial infections. They do not treat viral infections such as the common cold. Although you may feel better early in treatment, BICILLIN L-A should be used exactly as directed. Misuse or overuse of BICILLIN L-A could lead to the growth of bacteria that will not be killed by BICILLIN L-A (resistance). This means that BICILLIN L-A may not work for you in the future. Do not share your medicine.
What it does
BICILLIN L-A is an antibiotic that belongs to the penicillin class. It works by killing or stopping the growth of the bacteria that cause your infection.
When it should not be used
Do not use BICILLIN L-A if you are allergic to:
- penicillin G benzathine
- other penicillin antibiotics from the same group
- any other ingredients of BICILLIN L-A (see What are the ingredients in BICILLIN L-A?)
What the medicinal ingredient is
Medicinal ingredients: penicillin G benzathine
What the non-medicinal ingredients are
Non-medicinal ingredients: povidone, sodium citrate, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, lecithin, methylparaben, propylparaben, water for injection
What dosage form it comes in
BICILLIN L-A comes as a suspension (liquid) in a 2 mL prefilled disposable syringe Each 2 ml prefilled syringe contains1,200,000 IU penicillin G benzathine
Warnings and precautions
Mises en garde et précautions importantes
To help avoid side effects and ensure proper use, talk to your healthcare professional before you take BICILLIN L-A. Talk about any health conditions or problems you may have, including if you:
- are allergic to other penicillin antibiotics, cephalosporin antibiotics such as cefazolin, cephalexin etc. or any other medications. Ask your healthcare professional if you are not sure if a medication you are allergic to belongs to one of these groups of medications.
- have allergies to any food, dyes, preservative etc., hay fever, hives or asthma.
- have kidney problems.
- are pregnant or planning to become pregnant.
- are breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed. Penicillin is passed to the infant through human breast milk.
Other warnings you should know about:
Call your healthcare professional if:
- your symptoms do not improve or get worse while taking BICILLIN L-A
- you develop a severe skin rash or blisters with or without fever
- you experience any of the following symptoms during or over 2 months after your treatment with BICILLIN L-A: severe diarrhea (watery or bloody stools) with or without fever and stomach cramps
Interactions with this medication
Tell your healthcare professional about all the medicines you take, including any drugs, vitamins, minerals, natural supplements or alternative medicines.
The following may interact with BICILLIN L-A:
- tetracycline (an antibiotic) such as doxycycline, minocycline and tetracycline
- probenecid (to treat gout)
Proper use of this medication
Your healthcare professional will inject BICILLIN L-A into a muscle of the buttocks or the hip. In infants and small children, the healthcare professional may inject BICILLIN L-A into a muscle of the thigh.
Usual Dose
The dose of BICILLIN L-A will depend on the type of infection you may have.
Your healthcare professional will calculate the right dose for you.
Your healthcare professional will also tell you how long to use BICILLIN L-A.
Ask your healthcare professional if you have any questions about how many doses of BICILLIN L-A you will need or when you will receive them.
Overdose
If you think you have received too much BICILLIN L-A, contact your healthcare professional, hospital emergency department or regional poison control centre immediately, even if there are no symptoms.
Side effects and what to do about them
These are not all the possible side effects you may feel when taking BICILLIN L-A. If you experience any side effects not listed here, contact your healthcare professional.
If you are taking this medication to treat syphilis, you may experience side effects a few hours after the beginning of the treatment, including fever, chills, headache, muscle pain and skin reactions (Jarisch-Herzheimer reaction).
Other side effects may include:
- Itching
- Skin rash
- General tiredness
- Pain
- Headache
- Nausea, Vomiting
- Swollen glands
- Pain, inflammation, infection, bleeding, bruising in the area where the medication was injected
- Sweating
- Pain in your joints and bones
- Loss of muscle mass
- Nervousness
- Unintentional shaking (tremors)
- Dizziness
- Sleepiness
- Confusion
- Memory loss
- Anxiety
- Euphoria
- Ringing in your ears
- Difference in taste
- Difficulty obtaining an erection or orgasm
- Persistent and painful erection
If they occur, they are likely to be minor and temporary. However, some may be serious and need medical attention.
| Symptom / effect | Talk to your healthcare professional Only if severe | Talk to your healthcare professional In all cases | Stop taking drug and get immediate medical help |
|---|---|---|---|
| Common | |||
| Clostridium difficile colitis (bowel inflammation): severe diarrhea (bloody or watery) with or without stomach cramps and fever | ✔ | ||
| Rare | |||
Severe allergic reaction: with symptoms such as:
|
✔ | ||
Heart Problems:
|
✔ | ||
Lung Problems:
|
✔ | ||
Nerve and blood circulation problems in the area where the medication was injected:
|
✔ | ||
| Seizures | ✔ | ||
| Hallucinations: (seeing, hearing or even feeling something that is not really there) | ✔ | ||
| Rare | |||
Blood Problems: Hemolytic Anemia (a condition in which red blood cells are destroyed and removed from the bloodstream before their normal lifespan is over)
Low white blood cells:
Low platelets (cells in the blood that help the blood clot)
|
✔ | ||
Abnormal Muscle Breakdown: (Rhabdomyolysis) Symptoms may include:
|
✔ | ||
Kidney Problems: Symptoms may include:
|
✔ | ||
| Visions Changes: Blurred vision | ✔ | ||
| Blindness | ✔ | ||
Severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCAR)(severe skin reactions that may also affect other organs):
|
✔ | ||
If you have a troublesome symptom or side effect that is not listed here or becomes bad enough to interfere with your daily activities, talk to your healthcare professional.
How to store
Store under refrigeration (2°C to 8°C). May be removed from refrigerator and stored for 7 days at a temperature not exceeding 30°C. Protect from freezing.
Keep out of reach and sight of children.
Reporting side effects
You can report any suspected side effects associated with the use of health products to Health Canada by:
- Visiting the Web page on Adverse Reaction Reporting for information on how to report online, by mail or by fax; or
- Calling toll-free at 1-866-234-2345.
NOTE: Contact your health professional if you need information about how to manage your side effects. The Canada Vigilance Program does not provide medical advice..
More information
If you want more information about BICILLIN L-A:
- Talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
- Find the full product monograph that is prepared for healthcare professionals and includes this Patient Medication Information by visiting the Health Canada website; the manufacturer’s website or by calling 1-800-463-6001.
This leaflet was prepared by Pfizer Canada ULC
Last Revised April 8, 2020