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Dicloxacillin: Uses, dosage, side effects and contraindications

by Alivia Nyhan
Published: Last Updated on

Dicloxacillin is an antibiotic powerful reserved for exceptional cases and should not be used for any infection. Should you be self-medicating in colds, sore throats or coughs since most of them are caused by viral diseases, and antibiotics do not help to cure them? On the other hand, Dicloxacillin can have undesirable side effects, especially when taken without the proper medical indication.

Before taking this Medication, it is essential that you know what Dicloxacillin is for, what dose to take and how to do it, what side effects may appear and when you should not take it. All of this is explained in the following FastlyHealarticle.

Dicloxacillin: what is it for

Dicloxacillin is an antibiotic from the famous penicillin family. It is used to fight infections by certain bacteria, especially those that cause diseases that cannot be cured with common antibiotics.

The way that doctors know if the infection will be cured with this drug or not is to do some tests to find out which is the culprit bacteria. Knowing if the condition can be fixed with Dicloxacillin is very important since, in addition to looking for the best effects, unwanted side effects will be avoided in those who do not need it. This helps to understand why it should not be taken without proper medical advice.

Dicloxacillin: the recommended dose

Dicloxacillin can be administered by mouth (orally), injected into muscles (intramuscular), or into veins (intravenous). In addition, both children and adults can use it, but with different doses.

Pediatric dose

The oral route is usually indicated and depends on how much the child weighs. The dose is at the rate of 12.5 mg for each kg of weight per day, divided into 4 (to be taken every 6 hours). For example, a child weighing 20 kg should take:

  • 12,5 mg x 20 kg = 250 mg/4 = 125 mg

If we consider that for every 5 ml of syrup, there are 250 mg, that child should take 1.25 ml of dicloxacillin syrup every 6 hours.

Adult dosage

  • Oral route: take one tablet or a half (according to medical indication) of 250 mg every 6 hours.
  • Intramuscular: one ampoule (500 mg) every 6 hours.
  • Endovenous: one vial (500 mg) diluted in 100 ml of sterile water at a slow drip every 6 hours.

It is essential to say that the doses can vary according to the medical criteria and the severity of the infection.

The tablets and syrup should be taken away from food, that is, 1 hour before or 2 hours after, and you should not lie down immediately after taking it.

The treatment can last between 7 and 10 days, but this also depends on what the professional deems appropriate.

Treatment should never be stopped before the indicated days, even when you already feel well. The infection may not have resolved and generated antibiotic-resistant bacteria; it will be more challenging to eliminate them the next time.

Dicloxacillin side effects

Dicloxacillin can have the following side effects:

  • Nausea, vomiting
  • Diarrhea (you should consult your doctor if it is very intense or does not subside).
  • Acidity.
  • Stomachache.
  • Sore mouth.
  • Bad breath.
  • Inflammation in the liver.
  • Fungal superinfection.
  • Decreases the effect of oral contraceptives.

But the most important are allergic symptoms and anemia, as they can be life-threatening. If you have any of these symptoms, you should quickly go to the nearest health center:

  • Rash on the skin.
  • Itch.
  • Trouble breathing and swallowing.
  • Swelling of the tongue, throat, lips, eyes, or all over the face.
  • Inflammation and pain in joints.
  • Bleeding, bruising.

Contraindications of dicloxacillin

Dicloxacillin should not be taken in the following cases:

  • Use of tetracyclines (another type of antibiotic).
  • Pregnancy and lactation (excreted in breast milk).
  • Known allergy to penicillin.
  • Newly born.

In addition, the oral preparation should not be used in people with:

  • Severe nausea and vomiting.
  • Enlarged stomach
  • Cardiospasm.
  • Chronic diarrhea.

When you go to a professional, you should bring a list of the Medication (with or without a prescription) that you are taking or that you have taken in the last weeks (including vitamin supplements, analgesics, contraceptives) and, if you have any questions, you must turn to your trusted doctor or the one who prescribed this Medication. Still, it would help if you did not stop without warning, as it can make the situation worse.

This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.

If you want to read more articles similar to Dicloxacillin: what it is for, dosage, side effects, and contraindications, we recommend that you enter our Medication and medical Test category.

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