PENICILLINS
NAME OF DRUG MECHANISM OF ACTION
 Inhibits protein synthesis in
Drug Name:
 Amoxil,Apo-Amoxi
(CAN),DisperMox,
Moxatag,Novamoxin (CAN),Nu-
Amoxi
(CAN),Polymox,Trimox,Wymox
Generic Name:
 Amoxicillin
Classification:
 Antibiotic
Dosage and Frequency:
 Adults and children weighing 20
kg (44 lb) or more.250 mg every 8
hr; for severe infections,500 mg
every 8 hr or 875 mg every 12 hr.
Children age 12 wk and over
weighing less than 20 kg. 20
mg/kg daily in divided doses
every 8 hr; for severe infections,
40 to 45 mg/kg/day in divided
doses every 8 hr. Children under
age 12 wk. 30 mg/kg/ day in
divided doses every 12 hr.
INDICATIONS AND
susceptible bacteria by binding to
the 50S subunits of bacterial
ribosomes and preventing
peptide bond formation, which
causes bacterial cells to die.
NURSING RESPONSIBILITIES
CONTRAINDICATIONS/ ADVERSE
EFFECTS
Indications:
 To treat ear,nose,throat,GU
tract,skin, and soft-tissue
infections caused by susceptible
gram-positive and gramnegative
organisms
Contraindications:
 Hypersensitivity to amoxicillin or
its components
Adverse Reactions:
 CNS: Agitation, anxiety, behavior
changes, confusion, dizziness,
insomnia, reversible
hyperactivity, seizures
 CV: Hypersensitivity vasculitis
 EENT: Black, hairy tongue;
mucocutaneous candididasis;
tooth discoloration
 GI: Diarrhea, diarrhea related to
Clostridium difficile, elevated
liver enzymes, hemorrhagic or
pseudomembranous colitis,
jaundice, hepatic dysfunction,
nausea, vomiting
 Patients with mononucleosis
shouldn’t receive amoxicillin
because this class of drugs may
cause an erythematous rash.
 Use drug cautiously in patients
with hepatic impairment.
Monitor hepatic and renal
function and CBC, as ordered, in
patients on prolonged therapy.
Also use cautiously in breast-
feeding and elderly patients.
 Expect to start therapy before
culture and sensitivity test results
are known.
 Be aware that chewable tablets
and tablets for oral suspension
contain phenylalanine.
 Don’t confuse amoxicillin tablets
with amoxicillin tablets for oral
suspension (DisperMox). They’re
not interchangeable
Route:  GU: Crystalluria, vaginal mycosis
 Oral  HEME: Agranulocytosis, anemia
(including hemolytic
anemia),eosinophilia,
granulocytosis, leukopenia,
thrombocytopenia,
thrombocytopenic purpura
 SKIN: Erythema multiforme,
erythematous maculopapular
rash, generalized exanthematous
pustulosis, Stevens-Johnson
syndrome, toxic epidermal
necrolysis, urticaria
 Other: Allergic reaction,
anaphylaxis, serum sickness like
reaction (such as arthralgia,
arthritis, fever, myalgia, rash, and
urticaria
DRUG NAME
 ampicillin
 penicillin G benzathine
 penicillin G potassium
 penicillin G procaine
 penicillin V
 ticarcillin
FREQUENCY,ROUTE, AND DOSAGE
 CAPSULES, ORAL SUSPENSION,I.V.INFUSION, I.M.INJECTION Adults and
children weighing 20 kg (44 lb) or more. 500 mg P.O. every 6 hr or 250 to
500 mg I.V. or I.M. every 6 hr. Children weighing less than 20 kg. 50 to 100
mg/kg daily in divided doses P.O.every 6 hr or 12.5 mg/kg I.V. or I.M. every
6 hr.
 POTASSIUM) Adults and adolescents. 200,000 to 500,000 units (125 to 312
mg) every 4 to 6 hr.Maximum: 2 million units daily. Children. 4,167 to
15,000 units/kg every 4 hr, 6,250 to 22,500 units/kg every 6 hr, or 8,333 to
30,000 units/kg every 8 hr.
 TABLETS (PENICILLIN V POTASSIUM) Adults and adolescents. 200,000 to
800,000 units (125 to 500 mg) every 6 to 8 hr.Maximum: 11,520,000 units
(7,200 mg) daily Children. 4,167 to 13,280 units (2.5 to 8.3 mg)/kg every 4
hr, 6,250 to 20,000 units (3.75 to 12.5 mg)/kg every 6 hr, or 8,333 to
26,720 units (5 to 16.7 mg)/kg every 8 hr.
 I.V.INFUSION, I.M.INJECTION (PENICILLIN G POTASSIUM, PENICILLIN G
SODIUM) Adults and adolescents. 1 to 5 million units every 4 to 6 hr.
Maximum: 80 million units daily. Children. 8,333 to 16,667 units/kg every 4
hr or 12,500 to 25,000 units/kg every 6 hr. Premature and full-term
neonates. 30,000 units/kg every 12 hr.
 I.M.INJECTION (PENICILLIN G PROCAINE) Adults and adolescents. 600,000
to 1,200,000 units daily in divided doses every 12 to 24 hr.
 I.V.INFUSION Adults and children. 200 to 300 mg/kg daily in divided doses
every 4 to 6 hr. Usual: 3 g every 4 hr or 4 g every 6 hr