Detailed Product Description

Generic Name: oxacillin

What is oxacillin?

Oxacillin is an antibiotic in the penicillin group of drugs. It fights bacteria in your body.

Oxacillin is used to treat many different types of infections caused by bacteria, such as a staphylococcal (also called "staph") infection.

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

Do not use this medication if you are allergic to oxacillin or to any other penicillin antibiotic, such as amoxicillin (Amoxil), ampicillin (Omnipen, Principen), carbenicillin (Geocillin), dicloxacillin (Dycill, Dynapen), penicillin (Beepen-VK, Ledercillin VK, Pen-V, Pen-Vee K, Pfizerpen, V-Cillin K, Veetids), and others.

Before using oxacillin, tell your doctor if you are allergic to cephalosporins such as Ceclor, Ceftin, Duricef, Keflex, and others, or if you have asthma, liver disease, kidney disease, or a history of any type of allergy.

Oxacillin can make birth control pills less effective, which may result in pregnancy. Before taking oxacillin, tell your doctor if you use birth control pills. Take this medication for the entire length of time prescribed by your doctor. Your symptoms may get better before the infection is completely treated. Oxacillin will not treat a viral infection such as the common cold or flu. Do not share this medication with another person, even if they have the same symptoms you have.

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, call your doctor. Do not use any medicine to stop the diarrhea unless your doctor has told you to.

How should I take oxacillin?

Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Take the medicine with a full glass of water. Oxacillin should be taken on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after eating a meal.

To be sure this medication is helping your condition, your blood will need to be tested on a regular basis. Your kidney or liver function may also need to be tested. Do not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.

Take this medication for the entire length of time prescribed by your doctor. Your symptoms may get better before the infection is completely treated. Oxacillin will not treat a viral infection such as the common cold or flu. Do not share oxacillin with another person, even if they have the same symptoms you have.

This medication can cause you to have unusual results with certain medical tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using oxacillin.

Store oxacillin at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.

Usual Adult Dose for Endocarditis:

Native valve endocarditis due to staphylococci:
Oxacillin 2 g IV every 4 hours or 3 g IV every 6 hours (total 12 g/day) with or without gentamicin 3 mg/kg/day in 2 or 3 divided doses.

Duration: Oxacillin, 6 weeks; gentamicin 3 to 5 days


Prosthetic valve endocarditis due to staphylococci:
Oxacillin 2 g IV every 4 hours or 3 g IV every 6 hours (total 12 g/day) plus rifampin 300 mg orally every 8 hours, with or without gentamicin 3 mg/kg/day in 2 or 3 divided doses.

Duration: Oxacillin and rifampin, 6 weeks or more; gentamicin 2 weeks

Refer to current published guidelines for detailed recommendations.

Usual Adult Dose for Joint Infection:

2 g IV or IM every 4 to 6 hours for 3 to 4 weeks, depending on the nature and severity of the infection. Longer therapy, for 6 weeks or more, may be required for prosthetic joint infections. A third-generation cephalosporin, ciprofloxacin, and/or rifampin should be added, depending on the results of the Gram stain.

Usual Adult Dose for Meningitis:

2 g IV or IM every 4 hours for 14 days, depending on the nature and severity of the infection.

Usual Adult Dose for Osteomyelitis:

2 g IV or IM every 4 hours for 4 to 6 weeks, depending on the nature and severity of the infection. Chronic osteomyelitis may require additional oral antibiotic therapy, possibly for up to 6 months.

Usual Adult Dose for Pneumonia:

2 g IV or IM every 4 hours. Therapy should continue for 7 to 10 days if pneumococcus pneumonia is suspected and up to 21 days if other organisms are responsible.

Alternatively, 500 mg to 1 g orally every 4 to 6 hours, depending on the nature and severity of the infection.

Usual Adult Dose for Septicemia:

2 g IV or IM every 4 to 6 hours for 14 days, depending on the nature and severity of the infection.

Usual Adult Dose for Sinusitis:

1 to 1.5 g IV or IM or 500 mg to 1 g orally every 4 to 6 hours for 10 to 14 days, depending on the nature and severity of the infection.

Usual Adult Dose for Skin or Soft Tissue Infection:

1 to 1.5 g IV or IM every 4 to 6 hours for 7 days, or for 3 days after acute inflammation resolves, depending on the nature and severity of the infection.

Alternatively, 500 mg orally every 4 to 6 hours may be used for mild infections or follow-up after initial parenteral therapy:

Usual Pediatric Dose for Bacterial Infection:

Neonates:
< 7 days, birthweight < 1200 g: 25 mg/kg IV or IM every 12 hours.
< 7 days, birthweight 1200 to 2000 g: 25 to 50 mg/kg IV or IM every 12 hours.
< 7 days, birthweight > 2000 g: 25 to 50 mg/kg IV or IM every 8 hours.
> 7 days, birthweight < 1200 g: 50 mg/kg/day IV or IM in divided doses every 12 hours.
> 7 days, birthweight 1200 to 2000 g: 25 to 50 mg/kg IV or IM every 8 hours.
> 7 days, birthweight > 2000 g: 25 to 50 mg/kg IV or IM every 6 hours.

1 month to 12 years:
Mild to moderate infections:
Parenteral: 25 to 37.5 mg/kg IV or IM every 6 hours.
Oral: 12.5 mg/kg every 6 hours.

Severe infections: 150 to 200 mg/kg/day IV or IM in equally divided doses every 4 to 6 hours.

Maximum dose: 12 g/day.

keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.