Floxapen

Side effects

Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.

Diarrhoea

Nausea and vomiting

Rash

Overgrowth of other organisms that are not susceptible to this antibiotic - this may sometimes cause infections such as thrush

Allergic reaction to active ingredient

Inflammation of the large intestine (colitis)

Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)

Inflammation of the liver (hepatitis)

The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer. For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.

How can this medicine affect other medicines?

You should tell your doctor or pharmacist what medicines you are already taking, including those bought without a prescription and herbal medicines, before you start treatment with this medicine. Similarly, ask your doctor or pharmacist before taking any new medicines while taking this one, so they can check that the combination is safe.

Flucloxacillin may on rare occasions decrease the removal of the medicine methotrexate from the body, which could increase the risk of its side effects. If you are taking methotrexate, your doctor may want to perform some extra checks while you are taking a course of this antibiotic. You should let him know if you think you have experienced any new or increased side effects after starting this antibiotic.

Probenecid may increase the blood level of flucloxacillin, and people taking probenecid may be prescribed a lower dose of flucloxacillin.

Flucloxacillin may rarely alter the anti-blood-clotting effects of anticoagulant medicines such as warfarin. Your doctor may want to do extra tests of your blood clotting time (INR) while you are taking both medicines.

If you are taking a combined oral contraceptive pill or are using contraceptive patches, there may be a very low risk that this antibiotic may make it less effective at preventing pregnancy. Although the risk of this is very low, the personal and ethical consequences of an unwanted pregnancy can be very serious. For this reason, the fpa (previously called the Family Planning Association) recommends that women using a combined contraceptive pill or patch should use an extra method of contraception (eg condoms) while taking a short course of broad-spectrum antibiotic, and for seven days after finishing the course. If the seven days run beyond the end of a pill packet, a new packet should be started without a break (in the case of ED pills the inactive tablets should be omitted). If the seven days run beyond the 3 weeks of patch treatment, a new treatment cycle should be started immediately without a patch-free break. Ask your pharmacist for further information.

Other medicines containing the same active ingredient

Fluclomix

Flucloxacillin capsules, syrup and injection are also available without a brand name, ie as the generic medicine.

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