Penicillin V, Oral Tablet

Penicillin V is a prescription drug that comes as an oral tablet and an oral solution.

Penicillin V oral tablet is only available as a generic drug.

Why it’s used

Penicillin V oral tablet is used to treat certain infections caused by bacteria. It won’t work to treat infections caused by viruses, such as the common cold. Bacterial infections this drug is used to treat include:

• streptococcal upper respiratory tract infections, scarlet fever, and erysipelas infections
• pneumococcal upper respiratory infections
• staphylococcal skin and soft tissue infections
• fusospirochetosis (infection of the oropharynx or middle part of the throat)
• prevention of rheumatic fever and chorea

This drug may be used as part of a combination therapy. This means you may need to take it with other medications.

How it works

Penicillin V belongs to a class of drugs called antibiotics. A class of drugs is a group of medications that work in a similar way. These drugs are often used to treat similar conditions.

Penicillin V works by stopping the bacteria from multiplying. This kills off the bacteria that are causing your infection.

Penicillin V oral tablet doesn’t cause drowsiness. However, it may cause other side effects.

More common side effects

The more common side effects of penicillin V can include:

• nausea
• vomiting
• stomach upset
• diarrhea
• black hairy tongue

If these effects are mild, they may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. If they’re more severe or don’t go away, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Serious side effects

Call your doctor right away if you have serious side effects. Call 911 if your symptoms feel life-threatening or if you think you’re having a medical emergency. Serious side effects and their symptoms can include the following:

• Allergic reaction. Symptoms can include:
  • skin rash with or without blisters
  • flu-like symptoms, such as a fever, feeling ill, or joint pain
  • swelling of your throat, tongue, or mouth
• Diarrhea. Symptoms include:
  • bloody or watery diarrhea with or without stomach cramps and a fever

Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information. However, because drugs affect each person differently, we cannot guarantee that this information includes all possible side effects. This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Always discuss possible side effects with a healthcare provider who knows your medical history.

Penicillin V oral tablet can interact with other medications, vitamins, or herbs you may be taking. An interaction is when a substance changes the way a drug works. This can be harmful or prevent the drug from working well.

To help prevent interactions, your doctor should manage all of your medications carefully. Be sure to tell your doctor about all medications, vitamins, or herbs you’re taking. To find out how this drug might interact with something else you’re taking, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information. However, because drugs interact differently in each person, we cannot guarantee that this information includes all possible interactions. This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Always speak with your healthcare provider about possible interactions with all prescription drugs, vitamins, herbs and supplements, and over-the-counter drugs that you are taking.

This dosage information is for penicillin V oral tablet. All possible dosages and drug forms may not be included here. Your dosage, drug form, and how often you take the drug will depend on:

• your age
• the condition being treated
• the severity of your condition
• other medical conditions you have
• how you react to the first dose

Forms and strengths

Generic: Penicillin V

• Form: Oral tablet
• Strengths: 250 mg, 500 mg

Dosage for streptococcal infection

Adult dosage (ages 18 years and older)

• Typical dosage: 125–250 mg taken every 6–8 hours for 10 days.

Child dosage (ages 12–17 years)

• Typical dosage: 125–250 mg taken every 6–8 hours for 10 days.

Child dosage (ages 0–11 years)

It hasn’t been confirmed that this drug is safe and effective for use in people younger than 12 years.

Dosage for pneumococcal upper respiratory infection

Adult dosage (ages 18 years and older)

• Typical dosage: 250–500 mg taken every 6 hours until you no longer have a fever for at least 2 days.

Child dosage (ages 12–17 years)

• Typical dosage: 250–500 mg taken every 6 hours until you no longer have a fever for at least 2 days.

Child dosage (ages 0–11 years)

It hasn’t been confirmed that this drug is safe and effective for use in people younger than 12 years.

Dosage for staphylococcal skin or soft tissue infection

Adult dosage (ages 18 years and older)

• Typical dosage: 250–500 mg taken every 6–8 hours.

Child dosage (ages 12–17 years)

• Typical dosage: 250–500 mg taken every 6–8 hours.

Child dosage (ages 0–11 years)

It hasn’t been confirmed that this drug is safe and effective for use in people younger than 12 years.

Dosage for prevention of rheumatic fever or chorea or both

Adult dosage (ages 18 years and older)

• Typical dosage: 125–250 mg taken two times per day.

Child dosage (ages 12–17 years)

• Typical dosage: 125–250 mg taken two times per day.

Child dosage (ages 0–11 years)

It hasn’t been confirmed that this drug is safe and effective for use in people younger than 12 years.

Dosage for fusospirochetosis (oropharynx infection)

Adult dosage (ages 18 years and older)

• Typical dosage: 250–500 mg taken every 6–8 hours.

Child dosage (ages 12–17 years)

• Typical dosage: 250–500 mg taken every 6–8 hours.

Child dosage (ages 0–11 years)

It hasn’t been confirmed that this drug is safe and effective for use in people younger than 12 years.

Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information. However, because drugs affect each person differently, we cannot guarantee that this list includes all possible dosages. This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Always speak with your doctor or pharmacist about dosages that are right for you.

Penicillin V oral tablet is used for short-term treatment. It comes with serious risks if you don’t take it as prescribed.

If you stop taking the drug suddenly or don’t take it at all: Your infection may not get better or may get worse. Even if you’re starting to feel better, you should still finish all of your medication.

If you miss doses or don’t take the drug on schedule: Your medication may not work as well or may stop working completely. For this drug to work well, a certain amount needs to be in your body at all times.

If you take too much: You could have dangerous levels of this drug in your body. Symptoms of an overdose of this drug can include:

• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Oral infection. Symptoms can include:
  • creamy white lesions that look like cottage cheese
  • cotton mouth (dry mouth)
• Vomiting
• Blackened tongue

If you think you’ve taken too much of this drug, call your doctor or seek guidance from the American Association of Poison Control Centers at 1-800-222-1222 or through their online tool. But if your symptoms are severe, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room right away.

What to do if you miss a dose: Take your dose as soon as you remember. But if you remember just a few hours before your next scheduled dose, take only one dose. Never try to catch up by taking two doses at once. This could result in dangerous side effects.

How to tell if the drug is working: Your symptoms and your infection should get better.

As with all medications, the costs of penicillin V can vary.

Keep these considerations in mind if your doctor prescribes penicillin V oral tablet for you.

General

Do not take this drug with food. Take it on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before eating or 2 hours after eating.

You can cut or crush the tablet.

Storage

• Store this drug at room temperature. Keep it between 68°F and 77°F (15°C and 30°C).
• Keep the container tightly closed.
• Don’t store this medication in moist or damp areas, such as bathrooms.

Refills

A prescription for this medication is refillable. You should not need a new prescription for this medication to be refilled. Your doctor will write the number of refills authorized on your prescription.

Travel

When traveling with your medication:

• Always carry your medication with you. When flying, never put it into a checked bag. Keep it in your carry-on bag.
• Don’t worry about airport X-ray machines. They can’t hurt your medication.
• You may need to show airport staff the pharmacy label for your medication. Always carry the original prescription-labeled container with you.
• Don’t put this medication in your car’s glove compartment or leave it in the car. Be sure to avoid doing this when the weather is very hot or very cold.

Clinical monitoring

Your doctor may do blood tests to check how well your kidneys are working. If your kidneys aren’t working well, your doctor may lower your dose of this drug.

There are other drugs available to treat your condition. Some may be better suited for you than others. Talk to your doctor about other drug options that may work for you.

• Serious allergic reaction warning: This drug can cause a severe allergic reaction. Symptoms include a skin rash with or without blisters, flu-like symptoms (such as a fever, feeling ill, or joint pain), or swelling of your throat, tongue, or mouth. If you have an allergic reaction, call your doctor or local poison control center right away. If your symptoms are severe, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Don’t take this drug again if you’ve ever had an allergic reaction to it.
• Severe diarrhea warning: This drug may cause diarrhea during and after your treatment with it. This diarrhea can be caused by an infection in your intestine called Clostridium difficile. Call your doctor right away if you have bloody or watery diarrhea with or without stomach cramps and a fever while you’re taking this drug.
• Prescription completion warning: It’s important you finish all of your penicillin V prescription even if you’re feeling better. If you skip doses or don’t complete the full course of treatment, this drug won’t work as well. Also, the bacteria causing your infection may become resistant to treatment. Resistance means that it won’t respond to penicillin V or other antibiotics in the future.

Allergy warning

Penicillin V can cause a severe allergic reaction. Symptoms can include:

• skin rash with or without blisters
• flu-like symptoms, such as a fever, feeling ill, or joint pain
• swelling of your throat, tongue, or mouth

If you have an allergic reaction, call your doctor or local poison control center right away. If your symptoms are severe, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

Don’t take this drug again if you’ve ever had an allergic reaction to it or any other type of penicillin. Taking it again could be fatal (cause death).

If you have severe allergies, you have a higher risk of developing a severe allergic reaction to penicillin. This type of allergic reaction is called anaphylaxis. Symptoms can include throat swelling, trouble swallowing, wheezing, and trouble breathing.

Warnings for people with certain health conditions

For people with asthma: If you have asthma, you have a higher risk of developing a severe allergic reaction to penicillin. This type of allergic reaction is called anaphylaxis. Symptoms can include throat swelling, trouble swallowing, wheezing, and trouble breathing.

For people with kidney problems: If you have kidney problems or a history of kidney disease, you may not be able to clear this drug from your body well. This may increase the levels of penicillin V in your body and cause more side effects.

Warnings for other groups

For pregnant women: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hasn’t assigned a pregnancy category to penicillin V. It is not yet known if penicillin V is safe and effective for use in pregnant women. Tell your doctor if you’re pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Penicillin V should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.

For women who are breastfeeding: Penicillin V may pass into breast milk and may cause side effects in a child who is breastfed. Talk to your doctor if you breastfeed your child. You may need to decide whether to stop breastfeeding or stop taking this medication.

For seniors: The kidneys of older adults may not work as well as they used to. This can cause your body to process drugs more slowly. As a result, more of a drug stays in your body for a longer time. This raises your risk of side effects.

For children: This drug hasn’t been studied in children. It shouldn’t be used in people younger than 12 years of age.

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up-to-date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or other healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.