Penicillin G Sodium

Description

DESCRIPTION Penicillin G sodium for Injection, USP is sterile penicillin G sodium powder for reconstitution. It is an antibacterial agent intended for intravenous or intramuscularly use. Chemically, penicillin G sodium is designated 4-Thia-1-azabicyclo(3.2.0)-heptane-2-carboxylic acid,3,3-dimethyl-7-oxo-6-[(phenylacetyl)amino]-, [2 S -(2α, 5α, 6β)]-, monosodium salt and has the following structural formula: Penicillin G sodium, a water soluble benzylpenicillin, is a white to almost white crystalline powder which is almost odorless and/or after reconstitution a colorless solution. The pH of freshly constituted solutions usually ranges from 5.0 to 7.5. Penicillin G sodium for Injection, USP is supplied in vials equivalent to 5,000,000 units (5 million units) of penicillin G as the sodium salt, with 1.68 mEq of sodium per million units of penicillin G. chemical-structure

What Is Penicillin G Sodium Used For?

INDICATIONS AND USAGE Therapy Penicillin G Sodium for Injection, USP is indicated in the treatment of serious infections caused by susceptible strains of the designated microorganisms in the conditions listed below. Appropriate culture and susceptibility tests should be done before treatment in order to isolate and identify organisms causing infection and to determine their susceptibility to penicillin G. Therapy with Penicillin G Sodium for Injection, USP may be initiated before results of such tests are known when there is reason to believe the infection may involve any of the organisms listed below, however, once these results become available, appropriate therapy should be continued. Clinical Indication Infecting Organism Septicemia, empyema, pneumonia, pericarditis, endocarditis, meningitis Streptococcus pyogenes (group A β-hemolytic streptococcus), other β-hemolytic streptococci including groups C, H, G, L and M, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Staphylococcus species (non- penicillinase producing strains) Anthrax Bacillus anthracis Actinomycosis (cervico- facial disease and thoracic and abdominal disease) Actinomyces Israelil Botulism (adjunctive therapy to antitoxin), gas gangrene, and tetanus (adjunctive therapy to human tetanus immune globulin) Clostridium species Diphtheria (adjunctive therapy to antitoxin and prevention of the carrier state) Corynebacterium diphtheriae Erysipelothrix endocarditis Erysipelothrix rhusiopthiae Fusospirochetosis (severe infections of the oropharynx [Vincent’s], lower respiratory tract and genital area) Fusobacterium species and spirochetes Listeria infections including meningitis and endocarditis Listeria monocytogenes Pasteurella infections including bacteremia and meningitis Pasteurella multocida Haverhill fever Streptobacillus moniliformis Rat-bite fever Spirillum minus or Streptobacillus moniliformis Disseminated gonococcal infections Neisseria gonorrhoeae (penicillin-susceptible) Syphilis (congenital and neurosyphilis) Treponema pallidum Meningococcal meningitis and/or septicemia Neisseria meningitidis Gram-negative bacillary infections (bacteremias) Escherichia coli, Enterobacter aerogenes, Alcaligenes faecalis, salmonella, shigella and Proteus mirabilis, Penicillin G is not the drug of choice in the treatment of gram-negative bacillary infections. To reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria and maintain the effectiveness of penicillin G sodium and other antibacterial drugs, penicillin G sodium should be used only to treat or prevent infections that are proven or strongly suspected to be caused by susceptible bacteria. When culture and susceptibility information are available, they should be considered in selecting or modifying antibacterial therapy. In the absence of such data, local epidemiology and susceptibility patterns may contribute to the empiric selection of therapy.

Dosage and Administration

DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Penicillin G Sodium for injection, USP may be given intravenously or intramuscularly. The usual dose recommendations are as follows: Adult Patients Clinical Indication Dosage Serious infections due to susceptible strains of streptococci (including S. pneumoniae ) and staphylococci-septicemia, empyema, pneumonia, pericarditis, endocarditis and meningitis 5 to 24 million units/day depending on the infection and its severity administered in equally divided doses every 4 to 6 hours Anthrax Minimum of 8 million units/day in divided doses every 6 hours. Higher doses may be required depending on susceptibility of organism. Actinomycosis Cervicofacial disease Thoracic and abdominal disease 1 to 6 million units/day(*) 10 to 20 million units/day(*) Clostridial infections Botulism (adjunctive therapy to antitoxin) Gas gangrene (debridement and/or surgery as indicated) Tetanus (adjunctive therapy to human tetanus immune globulin) 20 million units/day(*) Diphtheria (adjunctive therapy to antitoxin and for the prevention of the carrier state) 2 to 3 million units/day in divided doses for 10 to 12 days(*) Erysipelothrix endocarditis 12 to 20 million units/day for 4 to 6 weeks(*) Fusospirochetosis (severe infections of the oropharnyx [Vincent’s], lower respiratory tract and genital area) 5 to 10 million units/day(*) Listeria infections Meningitis Endocarditis 15 to 20 million units/day for 2 weeks(*) 15 to 20 million units/day for 4 weeks(*) Pasteurella infections including bacteremia and meningitis 4 to 6 million units/day for 2 weeks(*) Haverhill fever, Rat-bite fever 12 to 20 million units/day for 3 to 4 weeks(*) Disseminated gonococcal infections, such as meningitis endocarditis, arthritis, etc., caused by penicillin- susceptible organisms 10 million units/day(*); duration depends on the type of infection Syphilis (neurosyphilis) 12 to 24 million units/day, as 2 to 4 MU every 4 hours for 10 to 14 days; many experts recommend additional therapy with Benzathine PCN G 2.4 MU IM weekly for 3 doses after completion of IV therapy Meningococcal meningitis and/or septicemia 24 million units/day as 2 million units every 2 hours Serious infections, such as pneumonia and endocarditis, due to susceptible strains of streptococci (including S. pneumoniae ) and meningococcus 150,000 units/kg/day divided in equal doses every 4 to 6 hours; duration depends on infecting organism and type of infection Meningitis caused by susceptible strains of pneumococcus and meningococcus 250,000 units/kg/day divided in equal doses every 4 hours for 7 to 14 days depending on the infecting organism (maximum dose of 12 to 20 million units/day) Disseminated Gonococcal infections (penicillin-susceptible strains) weight less than 45 kg: Arthritis 100,000 units/kg/day in 4 equally divided doses for 7 to 10 days Meningitis 250,000 units/kg/day in equal doses every 4 hours for 10 to 14 days Endocarditis 250,000 units/kg/day in equal doses every 4 hours for 4 weeks...

Side Effects (Adverse Reactions)

ADVERSE REACTIONS Body as a Whole The Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction is a systemic reaction, that may occur after the initiation of penicillin therapy in patients with syphilis or other spirochetal infections (i.e., Lyme disease and Relapsing fever). The reaction begins one to two hours after initiation of therapy and disappears within 12 to 24 hours. It is characterized by fever, chills, myalgias, headache, exacerbation of cutaneous lesions, tachycardia, hyperventiliation, vasodilation with flushing and mild hypotension. The pathogenesis of the Herxheimer reaction may be due to the release from the spirochaete of host stable pyrogen. Hypersensitivity Reactions The reported incidence of allergic reactions to all penicillins ranges from 0.7 to 10 percent in different studies (see WARNINGS ). Sensitization is usually the result of previous treatment with a penicillin, but some individuals have had immediate reactions when first treated. In such cases, it is postulated that prior exposure to penicillin may have occurred via trace amounts present in milk or vaccines. Two types of allergic reactions to penicillin are noted clinically – Immediate and delayed. Immediate reactions usually occur within 20 minutes of administration and range in severity from urticaria and pruritus to angloneurotic edema, laryngospasm, bronchospasm, hypotension, vascular collapse and death (see WARNINGS ). Such immediate anaphylactic reactions are very rare and usually occur after parenteral therapy, but a few cases of anaphylaxis have been reported following oral therapy. Another type of immediate reaction, an accelerated reaction, may occur between 20 minutes and 45 hours after administration and may include urticaria, pruritus, fever and, occasionally, laryngeal edema. Delayed reactions to penicillin therapy usually occur within 1 to 2 weeks after initiation of therapy. Manifestations include serum sickness-like symptoms, i.e., fever, malaise, urticaria, myalgia, arthralgia, abdominal pain and various skin rashes, ranging from maculopapular eruptions to exfoliative dermatitis. Contact dermatitis has been observed in individuals who prepare penicillin solutions. Gastrointestinal System Pseudomembranous colitis has been reported with the onset occurring during or after penicillin G treatment. Nausea, vomiting, stomatitis, black or hairy tongue, and other symptoms of gastrointestinal irritation may occur, especially during oral therapy. Hematologic System Reactions include neutropenia, which resolves after penicillin therapy is discontinued; Coombs-positive hemolytic anemia, an uncommon reaction, occurs in patients treated with intravenous penicillin G in doses greater than 10 million units/day and who have previously received large doses of the drug; and with large doses of penicillin, a bleeding diathesis, can occur secondary to platelet dysfunction. Metabolic Penicillin G Sodium for injection, USP (1 million units contains 1.68 mEq of sodium ion) may cause serious and even fatal electrolyte disturbances when given intravenously in large doses. Cardiovascular System High dosage of penicillin G sodium may result in congestive heart failure due to high sodium intake. Nervous System Neurotoxic reactions including hyperreflexia, myoclonic twitches, seizures and coma have been reported following the administration of massive intravenous doses, and are more likely in patients with impaired renal function. Urogenital System Renal tubular damage and interstitial nephritis have been associated with large intravenous doses of penicillin G. Manifestations of this reaction may include fever, rash, eosinophilia, proteinuria, eosinophiluria, hematuria and a rise in serum urea nitrogen. Discontinuation of penicillin G results in resolution in the majority of patients. Local Reactions Phlebitis and thrombophlebitis may occur with intravenous administration.

Drug Interactions

Drug Interactions Bacteriostatic antibacterials (i.e., chloramphenicol, erythromycins, sulfonamides or tetracyclines) may antagonize the bactericidal effect of penicillin, and concurrent use of these drugs should be avoided. This has been documented in vitro, however, the clinical significance of this interaction is not well-documented. Penicillin blood levels may be prolonged by concurrent administration of probenecid which blocks the renal tubular secretion of penicillins. Other drugs may compete with Penicillin G for renal tubular secretion and thus prolong the serum half-life of penicillin. These drugs include: aspirin, phenylbutazone, sulfonamides, indomethacin, thiazide diuretics, furosemide and ethacrynic acid.

Contraindications

CONTRAINDICATIONS A history of hypersensitivity (anaphylactic) reaction to any penicillin is a contraindication.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Pregnancy Teratogenic Effects Reproduction studies performed in the mouse, rat, and rabbit have revealed no evidence of impaired fertility or harm to the fetus due to penicillin G. Human experience with the penicillins during pregnancy has not shown any positive evidence of adverse effects on the fetus. There are, however, no adequate and well controlled studies in pregnant women showing conclusively that harmful effects of these drugs on the fetus can be excluded. Because animal reproduction studies are not always predictive of human response, this drug should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed.

Nursing Mothers Penicillins are excreted in human milk. Caution should be exercised when penicillins are administered to a nursing woman.

Overdosage

OVERDOSAGE Dose related toxicity may arise with the use of massive doses of intravenous penicillins (40 to 100 million units per day), particularly in patients with severe renal impairment (see PRECAUTIONS ). The manifestations may include agitation, confusion, asterixis, hallucinations, stupor, coma, multifocal myocionus, seizures and encephalopathy. Hypernatremia is also possible (see ADVERSE REACTIONS: Metabolic ). In case of over-dosage, discontinue penicillin, treat symptomatically and institute supportive measures as required. If necessary, hemodialysis may be used to reduce blood levels of penicillin G, although the degree of effectiveness of this procedure is questionable.

How Supplied

HOW SUPPLIED Penicillin G Sodium for injection, USP, for IM or IV use, is supplied in dry powder form in vials containing 5,000,000 units (5 million units) of crystalline penicillin G as the sodium salt, with 1.68 mEq of sodium per million units of penicillin G, in tray packs of 10 (NDC 0781-6153-95) and in tray packs of 50 (NDC 0781-6153-97). STORAGE Store dry powder at 20° to 25°C (68° to 77°F) (see USP Controlled Room Temperature). Sterile constituted solution may be kept in refrigerator (2° to 8°C) for 3 days without significant loss of potency. Manufactured by Sandoz GmbH for Sandoz Inc., Princeton, NJ 08540 46270951 May 2020