Penicillin V Potassium

Medically Reviewed by Dr. Harshi Dhingra, M.D.

Last Reviewed: Nov 10, 2023

Warnings

Penicillin V Potassium Risks, Warnings, and Complications

Penicillin V potassium can cause serious health complications in some people. Talk to your doctor about other options to treat your infection if you are at increased risk of adverse reactions from this medicine. Some of the risks of taking penicillin V potassium include:

PENICILLIN HYPERSENSITIVITY: There have been serious hypersensitivity reactions reported after taking penicillin antibiotics. These severe reactions can cause swelling of the face and throat and trouble breathing or swallowing. Tell your healthcare provider if you have ever experienced an allergic reaction after taking penicillin or other antibiotics in the past. Seek immediate medical care if you develop allergy symptoms after taking penicillin V potassium.
SEVERE DIARRHEA: Taking penicillin V potassium can increase the risk of developing a severe illness with watery or bloody diarrhea. This can happen up to 2 months or more after you finish the antibiotic. Risk factors include long-term treatment with penicillin VK and recent use of other antibiotics. Before starting treatment, tell your doctor if you have experienced a severe diarrheal illness after taking antibiotics in the past. Tell your doctor immediately if you develop severe diarrhea after treatment with penicillin V potassium oral.

Precautions Before Starting Penicillin V Potassium

Tell your doctor if you have had a previous hypersensitivity reaction to penicillin V potassium, any of the active or inactive ingredients in penicillin V potassium formulations, other penicillin antibiotics such as oral penicillin G, cephalosporin antibiotics, or any other medications. Your pharmacy can give you a list of ingredients. Examples of cephalosporin antibiotics include cefazolin (Ancef, Kefzol), cefaclor, cefepime (Maxipime), cefadroxil, cefixime (Suprax), cefotetan, cefotaxime (Claforan), cefoxitin (Mefoxin), cefprozil, cefpodoxime, ceftaroline (Teflaro), ceftibuten, ceftazidime (Fortaz, Tazicef, in Avycaz), cefuroxime (Ceftin, Zinacef), ceftriaxone, and cephalexin (Keflex).

Give your doctor or pharmacist a complete list of your medications, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, dietary supplements, and herbal products. This can help avoid possible drug interactions between penicillin V potassium and your other medicines.

Give your doctor a complete medical history. Penicillin V potassium may not be right for people with certain health conditions, such as nausea and vomiting, a stomach or intestinal disorder, allergies, hay fever, asthma, or kidney disease.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, could be pregnant, are planning a pregnancy, or are breastfeeding.

Precautions During Use of Penicillin V Potassium

Keep all your medical and lab appointments while on penicillin V potassium. Tell your doctor if your symptoms do not improve or get worse.

Call your healthcare professional if you become pregnant while on penicillin V potassium.

Penicillin V Potassium Drug Interactions

Taking penicillin V potassium with certain other medicines can affect how the medicines work. Possible drug interactions between penicillin V potassium and other medicines can increase the risk of serious adverse events. Your doctor may change the dose of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects if there are known interactions between penicillin V potassium and your other medicines.

Give your healthcare professional a complete list of all the drugs you are taking, including prescription drugs, non-prescription medicines, dietary supplements, and herbal remedies. Also, tell your healthcare provider if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use recreational drugs because some of these substances can cause serious health complications when used with prescription and over-the-counter medicines.

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