Procaine penicillin is an antibiotic that fights bacteria in your body.

Procaine penicillin is used to treat many different types of infections caused by bacteria, including syphilis (a sexually transmitted disease).

Do not use this medication for any other infection that has not been checked by your doctor.

Procaine penicillin may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to penicillin. Tell your doctor if you have ever had an allergic reaction to a cephalosporin antibiotic such as Ceftin, Cefzil, Omnicef, Keflex, and others.

Before using procaine penicillin, tell your doctor if you have asthma or a history of allergies, or kidney disease.

Do not inject this medication into a vein or life-threatening side effects may result.

Use this medication for the full prescribed length of time. Call your doctor if your infection does not improve, or if it gets worse while using procaine penicillin.

Tell your doctor about all other medications you use, especially gout medication, a blood thinner, a diuretic, a tetracycline antibiotic, or a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID).

Procaine penicillin can make birth control pills less effective. Ask your doctor about using a non-hormone method of birth control (such as a condom, diaphragm, spermicide) to prevent pregnancy while using procaine penicillin. Hormonal forms of contraception (such as birth control pills, injections, implants, skin patches, and vaginal rings) may not be effective enough to prevent pregnancy during your treatment.

After you have finished your treatment with procaine penicillin, your doctor may want to do tests to make sure your infection has completely cleared up.

Procaine penicillin is given as an injection into a muscle. Your doctor, nurse, or other healthcare provider will give you this injection. You may be shown how to inject your medicine at home. Do not self-inject procaine penicillin if you do not fully understand how to give the injection and properly dispose of used needles and syringes.

Procaine penicillin must be injected slowly into a muscle of the buttock or upper thigh.

Do not inject the medication into a vein or life-threatening side effects could result.

Your procaine penicillin injections should be given at evenly spaced intervals.

Use this medication for the full prescribed length of time. Your symptoms may improve before the infection is completely cleared. Procaine penicillin will not treat a viral infection such as the common cold or flu.

Call your doctor if your infection does not improve, or if it gets worse while using procaine penicillin.

Use each disposable needle only one time. Throw away used needles in a puncture-proof container (ask your pharmacist where you can get one and how to dispose of it). Keep this container out of the reach of children and pets.

This medication can cause you to have unusual results with certain lab tests, including tests to check for glucose (sugar) in the urine. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using procaine penicillin.

After you have finished your treatment with procaine penicillin, your doctor may want to do tests to make sure your infection has completely cleared up.

Store this medication in the refrigerator. Do not freeze. Do not use the mixed medication if it has changed colors or has any particles in it.

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to penicillin. Tell your doctor if you have ever had an allergic reaction to a cephalosporin antibiotic such as Ceclor, Ceftin, Duricef, Keflex, Lorabid, Omnicef, Spectracef, and others.

If you have any of these other conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely use procaine penicillin:

• asthma or a history of allergies; or

• kidney disease.

FDA pregnancy category B. Procaine penicillin is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

Procaine penicillin can make birth control pills less effective. Ask your doctor about using a non-hormone method of birth control (such as a condom, diaphragm, spermicide) to prevent pregnancy while using procaine penicillin. Hormonal forms of contraception (such as birth control pills, injections, implants, skin patches, and vaginal rings) may not be effective enough to prevent pregnancy during your treatment.

Procaine penicillin can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Use the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then to use the medicine and skip the missed dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of procaine penicillin. Overdose symptoms may include mood changes, agitation, confusion, and seizure (convulsions).

Antibiotic medicines can cause diarrhea, which may be a sign of a new infection. If you have diarrhea that is watery or has blood in it, stop using this medication and call your doctor. Do not use any medicine to stop the diarrhea unless your doctor has told you to.

Do not receive a "live" vaccine such as typhoid vaccine, cholera vaccine, or BCG (Bacillus Calmette and Guérin) vaccine.

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

• diarrhea that is watery or bloody;

• peeling skin , severe pain, or changes in skin color where the medicine was injected;

• dizziness, joint or muscle pain;

• fast or pounding heartbeats;

• numbness, tingling, pain, swelling, or redness in your arms or legs;

• confusion, agitation, depression, unusual thoughts or behavior;

• chest pain, problems with vision or speech;

• feeling like you might pass out;

• fever, chills, dizziness, muscle pain, rapid breathing or heart rate;

• uncontrolled muscle movements, problems with balance or walking;

• pale skin, easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness;

• sore throat, flu symptoms;

• urinating less than usual or not at all;

• rash or itching with swollen glands, joint pain, or general ill feeling; or

• slow heart rate, weak pulse, fainting, slow breathing.

Less serious side effects may include:

• pain where the injection was given;

• vaginal itching or discharge;

• white patches in your mouth or throat;

• nausea, vomiting;

• blurred vision, ringing in your ears;

• headache, dizziness; or

• mild skin rash,

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Tell your doctor about all other medications you use, especially:

• probenecid (Benemid);

• a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin);

• a diuretic (water pill) such as furosemide (Lasix), hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, HydroDiuril, Hyzaar, Lopressor HCT, Vasoretic, Zestoretic), and others;

• methotrexate (Rheumatrex, Trexall);

• a tetracycline antibiotic, such as demeclocycline (Declomycin, Ledermycin), doxycycline (Adoxa, Doryx, Vibramycin, Periostat), minocycline (Minocin), or tetracycline (Ala-Tet, Sumycin, Tetracap); or

• NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), diclofenac (Cataflam, Voltaren), etodolac (Lodine), indomethacin (Indocin), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), meloxicam (Mobic), piroxicam (Feldene), and others.

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with procaine penicillin. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.