Publication date:
Last review date:
Next review date:
Leaflet code:
Re-order code:
December 2008
December 2013
December 2015
UCLH/MB/INF/IC/PENICILLIN/2
UCLH0292
© University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Unique Code: 28970
Avoiding penicillin allergy
The best way to avoid an allergic reaction to
penicillin is to avoid penicillin altogether. If
you are allergic to penicillin it does not mean
you are necessarily allergic to all antibiotics.
Your doctor may be able to give you an
antibiotic that is distantly related to penicillin
without causing any problems. A number of
antibiotics completely unrelated to penicillin
are also available.
There are various products available on the
market that can be used to alert others that
you are allergic to penicillin.
Ask your pharmacist for more information.
For further information
Arabic
Ask your doctor, practice nurse or pharmacist
‫ ﻃﺒﺎﻋﺔ آﺒﻴﺮة أو ﺗﺴﺠﻴﻞ‬،‫ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺳﺒﻴﻞ اﻟﻤﺜﺎل‬،‫إذا آﻨﺖ ﺑﺤﺎﺟﺔ إﻟﻰ اﻟﺤﺼﻮل ﻋﻠﻰ هﺬﻩ اﻟﻤﻌﻠﻮﻣﺎت ﻓﻲ ﺻﻴﻐﺔ أﺧﺮى‬
.‫ أو آﻨﺖ ﺑﺤﺎﺟﺔ إﻟﻰ ﺧﺪﻣﺎت ﻣﺘﺮﺟﻢ ﺗﻔﻀﻞ ﺑﺎﻻﺗﺼﺎل ﺑﻨﺎ ﻋﻠﻰ اﻟﺮﻗﻢ اﻟﻤﻮﺿﺢ أﻋﻼﻩ‬،‫ﺻﻮﺗﻲ‬
UCLH Medicines Information Helpline
Telephone:
020 3447 3025
Bengali
NHS Direct
Telephone:
0845 4647
Website: www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk
Cantonese
Medic Alert
Telephone:
0800 581420 or
020 7833 3034
If you would like this information in another
format, for example, large print, or audio, or
the services of a translator please contact the
Infection Control Team on: 0845 155 5000
extension 79716.
倘若您需要本資訊以另一種格式提供，如大字體或音訊格式，或需要翻譯服
務，請按照上述號碼聯絡我們。
Farsi
Mandarin
如果您需要本资料以另一种格式提供，如大字体或音频格式，或需要翻译服
务，请按照上述号码联系我们。
Polish
Prosimy się z nami skontaktować pod podanym powyżej numerem telefonu,
jeśli chcieliby Państwo otrzymać niniejszą informację w innym formacie, np.
w formacie dużym drukiem, w postaci nagrania dźwiękowego lub skorzystać
z usług tłumacza.
Portuguese
Caso pretenda esta informação noutro formato, por exemplo num formato
ampliado ou em áudio, ou caso precise dos serviços de um tradutor, deverá
contactar-nos pelo número acima.
Somali
Haddii aad macluumaadkan ku rabto hab kale; tusaale ahaan, far waawayn
ama hab maqal ah, ama aad rabto adeeg tarjumaad leh fadlan nagala soo
xidhiidh telefoonka kor ku xusan.
Spanish
Si necesita esta información en otro formato, como por ejemplo, en formato
de imprenta grande o audio, o los servicios de un traductor, por favor
póngase en contacto con nosotros en el número que aparece arriba.
Turkish
Bu bilgileri başka bir formatta, örneğin iri harflerle veya sesli olarak, ya da
tercüman yardımıyla almak isters
Penicillin Allergy
Allergic reactions
Antibiotics are medicines used to treat
infections caused by bacteria and are one of
the most common groups of drugs to which
allergies are reported.
Allergic reactions can occur with any antibiotic,
but are most commonly reported with penicillins.
The reactions can vary from mild to severe.
Types of penicillins
Penicillin belongs to a family of drugs called
beta-lactam antibiotics. Several varieties
of penicillin exist and each is used to target
different infections in various parts of the body.
There are many different types of penicillins
available in the UK. Listed below are the names
of the penicillins including alternative names or
brand names in brackets.
Other penicillins are only available as
injections and are usually given in hospital.
These include:
•
Benzylpenicillin (Crystapen®)
•
Temocillin (Negaban®)
•
Piperacillin plus tazobactam (Tazocin®)
•
Ticarcillin plus clavulanic acid (Timentin®)
Always tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist
if you have had an allergic reaction to an
antibiotic and remind them of your allergy
before you receive any antibiotics.
Serious medication errors have occurred
where doctors have prescribed these
medicines, often by brand name, for patients
with a penicillin allergy without recognising
that they contain penicillins.
•
Phenoxymethylpenicillin (penicillin V)
•
Amoxicillin (Amoxil )
•
Ampicillin (Penbritin )
Some people allergic to penicillin may also
be allergic to cephalosporins, a class of
antibiotics closely related to penicillin.
•
Flucloxacillin (Floxapen®)
Common side effects
®
®
Some penicillins are combined with other
antibiotics to make combination products,
such as:
•
•
Co-amoxiclav (amoxicillin plus clavulanic
acid; Augmentin®)
Co-fluampicil (flucloxacillin plus ampicillin;
Magnapen®)
Many people who think they are allergic to
antibiotics may in fact be experiencing the
side effects of the drugs which are in no way
related to the allergic reactions.
The infection itself can also cause symptoms
which will resolve as the infection is cleared.
Common side effects include feeling sick,
vomiting, diarrhoea and headache. These are
usually mild, however if they become severe
contact your doctor.
Anaphylactic reactions cause the airways to
constrict, making breathing very difficult and
can also lower blood pressure making the
person feel dizzy or faint.
Patients that experience mild side effects
may continue to take the related medicines.
Other signs and symptoms include slurred
speech, rapid or weaker pulse rate, blueness
of skin, lips and nail beds, diarrhoea, nausea
and vomiting.
How does penicillin allergy develop?
No one is born allergic to penicillin, but you can
develop penicillin allergy once you have been
exposed to the drug. After that, re-exposure
to penicillin or related antibiotics can trigger
an allergic reaction.
Penicillin allergy occurs when your immune
system responds to the drug as if it were a
harmful substance instead of a helpful remedy.
Your immune system creates antibodies to
attack the medication. Chemicals released by
your immune cells can cause the signs and
symptoms associated with an allergic reaction.
Signs and symptoms
The most common signs and symptoms of
penicillin allergic reactions include rashes,
hives, itchy eyes and skin, wheezing and
swollen lips, tongue or face (angioedema).
The most serious allergic reaction to penicillin
is an anaphylactic reaction which can be life
threatening. Such reactions usually occur
immediately after exposure to penicillin
especially in the highly sensitive people.
Seek emergency medical care if you
think you or someone else is having an
anaphylactic reaction.
Treatment of allergic reactions
If you are having an allergic reaction after
taking penicillin you should stop taking the
medication and contact your doctor for advice.
In most cases penicillin allergy prevention
consists of avoiding penicillin and using
another antibiotic instead.
Treatment for signs and symptoms depends
on what kind of reaction you have.
Anaphylaxis can be lifethreatening and
requires an injection of epinephrine
(adrenaline) and emergency care to maintain
blood pressure and support breathing.
Rashes or hives may improve when treated
with an antihistamine such as chlorphenamine
(Piriton®). More severe reactions may require
treatment with oral or injected steroids.