Health Library

Penicillin G benzathine/penicillin G procaine (By injection)

Penicillin G Benzathine (pen-i-SIL-in G BEN-za-theen), Penicillin G Procaine (pen-i-SIL-in G PROE-kane)

Treats infections. This medicine is an antibiotic.

Brand Name(s):

Bicillin C-R, Bicillin CR 900/300

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used:

How to Use This Medicine:

Injectable

• Your doctor will prescribe your exact dose and tell you how often it should be given. This medicine is given as a shot into one of your muscles. It is usually given in the upper buttock or hip area.
• A nurse or other health provider will give you this medicine.
• Missed dose: This medicine needs to be given on a fixed schedule. If you miss a dose, call your doctor, home health caregiver, or treatment clinic for instructions.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid:

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

• Some medicines can affect how penicillin G benzathine/penicillin G procaine works. Tell your doctor if you are using any of the following:
  • Acetaminophen, chloroquine, metoclopramide, primaquine, probenecid, quinine, sulfasalazine
  • Cancer medicine (including cyclophosphamide, flutamide, hydroxyurea, ifosfamide, rasburicase)
  • Medicine to make you numb (including articaine, benzocaine, bupivacaine, lidocaine, mepivacaine, prilocaine, procaine, ropivacaine, tetracaine)
  • Medicine to treat seizures (including phenobarbital, sodium valproate)
  • Nitrate or nitrite medicine (including nitric oxide, nitroglycerin, nitroprusside, nitrous oxide)
  • Other medicine to treat an infection (including dapsone, nitrofurantoin, para-aminosalicylic acid, sulfonamide, tetracycline)

Warnings While Using This Medicine:

• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have kidney disease, heart problems, lung or breathing problems, a blood disorder, G6PD deficiency, or a history of asthma or allergies, including a previous allergic reaction to a cephalosporin antibiotic.
• This medicine may cause the following problems:
  • Serious skin reactions, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), or acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP)
  • Blood problems, including methemoglobinemia
• This medicine can cause diarrhea. Call your doctor if the diarrhea becomes severe, does not stop, or is bloody. Do not take any medicine to stop diarrhea until you have talked to your doctor. Diarrhea can occur 2 months or more after you stop taking this medicine. It may occur 2 months or more after you stop using this medicine.
• Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve or if they get worse.
• Your doctor will do lab tests at regular visits to check on the effects of this medicine. Keep all appointments.

Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine:

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

• Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
• Blistering, peeling, red skin rash
• Change in how much or how often you urinate, bloody or cloudy urine, difficult or painful urination
• Diarrhea that may contain blood, stomach pain
• Numbness, tingling, or burning pain in your hands, arms, legs, or feet
• Pale, gray, or blue lips, nails, or skin, dark urine, headache, lightheadedness, unusual tiredness or weakness, trouble breathing
• Unusual bleeding, bruising, or weakness

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

• Pain, itching, burning, swelling, or a lump under your skin where the shot was given

If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088

Last Updated: 9/6/2024