A semisynthetic, white to yellowish white powder, C21H21N2NaO5S, used as an antibiotic in severe staphylococcal infections.
[naf- (shortening and alteration of NAPHTHALENE) + (PENI)CILLIN.]
nafcillin
Dictionary:
naf·cil·lin (năf'sĭl'ĭn)  |
n.
A semisynthetic, white to yellowish white powder, C21H21N2NaO5S, used as an antibiotic in severe staphylococcal infections.
A semisynthetic, white to yellowish white powder, C21H21N2NaO5S, used as an antibiotic in severe staphylococcal infections.
| 5min Related Video: nafcillin |
| Dental Dictionary: nafcillin |
n
A semisynthetic penicillin designed as an antistaphylococcal penicillin. Also effective in the treatment of infections caused by pneumococci and Group A β-hemolytic streptococci.
| Drug Info: Nafcillin |
Brand names: Nallpen®
Chemical formula:
- Drug Forms:
- Nafcillin tablets or capsules (below)
- Nafcillin Sodium Solution for injection
Nafcillin tablets or capsules
What are nafcillin tablets or capsules?
NAFCILLIN (Unipen®) is a penicillin antibiotic. Nafcillin kills certain bacteria that cause infection, or stops their growth. It treats many kinds of infections of the skin, central nervous system, heart, brain, bones, respiratory tract, sinuses, and urinary tract. Generic nafcillin tablets and capsules are not yet available.
What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine?
They need to know if you have any of these conditions:
• asthma
• eczema
• liver disease
• stomach problems (especially colitis)
• other chronic illness
• an unusual or allergic reaction to nafcillin, other penicillins, cephalosporin antibiotics, foods, dyes, or preservatives
• breast-feeding
How should I take this medicine?
Take nafcillin tablets or capsules by mouth. Follow the directions on the prescription label. Take nafcillin 1 to 2 hours before or at least 2 hours after eating; taking it with food can make it less effective. Take with a full glass of water. Take your doses at regular intervals. Do not take your medicine more often than directed. Finish the full course prescribed by your prescriber or health care professional even if you think your condition is better. Do not stop taking except on your prescriber's advice.
What drug(s) may interact with nafcillin?
• certain antibiotics given by injection
• probenecid
• rifampin
• warfarin
Tell your prescriber or health care professional about all other medicines you are taking, including non-prescription medicines, nutritional supplements, or herbal products. Also tell your prescriber or health care professional if you are a frequent user of drinks with caffeine or alcohol, if you smoke, or if you use illegal drugs. These may affect the way your medicine works. Check with your health care professional before stopping or starting any of your medicines.
What should I watch for while taking nafcillin?
Tell your prescriber or health care professional if your symptoms do not improve in 2 or 3 days.
If you get severe or watery diarrhea, do not treat yourself. Call your prescriber or health care professional for advice.
If you get a skin rash, do not treat yourself. Call your prescriber or health care professional for advice.
If you are diabetic and taking large doses of nafcillin, you may get a false-positive result for sugar in your urine. Check with your prescriber or health care professional before you change your diet or the dose of your diabetic medicine.
What side effects may I notice from taking nafcillin?
Side effects that you should report to your prescriber or health care professional as soon as possible:
• dark yellow or brown urine
• difficulty breathing, wheezing
• fever or chills, sore throat
• headache
• less frequent passing of urine
• red spots on the skin
• redness, blistering, peeling or loosening of the skin, including inside the mouth
• seizures (convulsions)
• severe or watery diarrhea
• skin rash, itching
• swollen joints
• unusual bleeding or bruising
• unusual weakness or tiredness
• yellowing of the eyes or skin
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your prescriber or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):
• diarrhea
• nausea, vomiting
• sore mouth
Where can I keep my medicine?
Keep out of the reach of children in a container that small children cannot open.
Store at room temperature, approximately 25 degrees C (77 degrees F). Protect from light. Keep container tightly closed. Throw away any unused medicine after the expiration date.
Last updated: 7/1/2002
Important Disclaimer: The drug information provided here is for educational purposes only. It is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the diagnosis, treatment and advice of a medical professional. This drug information does not cover all possible uses, precautions, side effects and interactions. It should not be construed to indicate that this or any drug is safe for you. Consult your medical professional for guidance before using any prescription or over the counter drugs.
| Veterinary Dictionary: nafcillin |
A semisynthetic, acid- and penicillinase-resistant penicillin that is effective against staphylococcal infections. Used as the sodium salt.
| Wikipedia: Nafcillin |
 |
|
| Systematic (IUPAC) name | |
|---|---|
| (2S,5R,6R)-6-[(2-ethoxy-1-naphthoyl)amino]-3,3-dimethyl-7-oxo-4-thia-1-azabicyclo[3.2.0]heptane-2-carboxylic acid | |
| Identifiers | |
| CAS number | 985-16-0 |
| ATC code | none |
| PubChem | 8982 |
| DrugBank | APRD01130 |
| Chemical data | |
| Formula | C21H22N2O5S |
| Mol. mass | 414.476 g/mol |
| SMILES | eMolecules & PubChem |
| Pharmacokinetic data | |
| Bioavailability | ? |
| Protein binding | 90% |
| Metabolism | <30% hepatic |
| Half life | 0.5 hours |
| Excretion | Biliary and renal |
| Therapeutic considerations | |
| Pregnancy cat. |
B(US) |
| Legal status |
℞ Prescription only |
| Routes | IM, IV |
 (what is this?) (verify) |
|
Nafcillin sodium is a narrow spectrum[1] beta-lactam antibiotic[2] of the penicillin class. As a beta-lactamase-resistant penicillin, it is used to treat infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria, particularly species of staphylococci, that are resistant to other penicillins.
Nafcillin is considered therapeutically equivalent to oxacillin, although its safety profile is somewhat different.[3]
Contents |
Indications
Nafcillin is particularly indicated in the treatment of staphylococcal infections, except those caused by MRSA.[3]
U.S. clinical practice guidelines recommend either nafcillin or oxacillin as the first-line treatment of choice for staphylococcal endocarditis in patients without artificial heart valves.[4]
Side effects
As with all penicillins, serious life-threatening allergic reactions can occur.
Milder side effects include:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea, often due to suppression of normal gastrointestinal bacteria. Occasionally, this leads to a more serious super-infection with an organism like Clostridium difficile
- Abdominal pain
- Yeast infections (thrush) affecting the mouth and tongue or vagina
Interactions
There is evidence that it induces cytochrome P-450 enzymes.[5]
The other aspect of this medication is that this medication contains lots of salts as media. So it could cause some edema or fluid accummulation. It would be prudent to avoid this medication if there was a concern for a congestive heart failure or kidney disease.
References
- ^ Palmer DL, Pett SB, Akl BF (March 1995). "Bacterial wound colonization after broad-spectrum versus narrow-spectrum antibiotics". Ann. Thorac. Surg. 59 (3): 626–31. doi:. PMID 7887701. http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/0003-4975(94)00992-9.
- ^ Tan AK, Fink AL (January 1992). "Identification of the site of covalent attachment of nafcillin, a reversible suicide inhibitor of beta-lactamase". Biochem. J. 281 (Pt 1): 191–6. PMID 1731755.
- ^ a b Pham P, Bartlett JG (January 2, 2009). "Nafcillin". Point-of-Care Information Technology ABX Guide. Johns Hopkins University. http://prod.hopkins-abxguide.org/antibiotics/antibacterial/penicillinase-resistant_pcn/nafcillin.html. Retrieved on July 10, 2009. Freely available with registration.
- ^ Bonow RO, Carabello BA, Kanu C, et al. (August 2006). "ACC/AHA 2006 guidelines for the management of patients with valvular heart disease: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines (writing committee to revise the 1998 Guidelines for the Management of Patients With Valvular Heart Disease): developed in collaboration with the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists: endorsed by the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons". Circulation 114 (5): e84–231. doi:. PMID 16880336.
- ^ Lang CC, Jamal SK, Mohamed Z, Mustafa MR, Mustafa AM, Lee TC (June 2003). "Evidence of an interaction between nifedipine and nafcillin in humans". Br J Clin Pharmacol 55 (6): 588–90. PMID 12814453. PMC 1884262. http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/resolve/openurl?genre=article&sid=nlm:pubmed&issn=0306-5251&date=2003&volume=55&issue=6&spage=588.
 |
This antibiotic-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
Learn More
 | Nafcillin tablets or capsules |
| Lymphadenitis: Treatment |
| Nafcillin Sodium Solution for injection |
Post a question - any question - to the WikiAnswers community:
Copyrights:
 |
 | Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Read more |
 |
| Dental Dictionary. Mosby's Dental Dictionary. Copyright © 2004 by Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved. Read more |
 |
| Drug Info. Gold Standard. Copyright © 2008 by Gold Standard. All rights reserved. Read more |
|
| Veterinary Dictionary. Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary 3rd Edition. Copyright © 2007 by D.C. Blood, V.P. Studdert and C.C. Gay, Elsevier. All rights reserved. Read more |
 |
| Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Nafcillin". Read more |
ADVERTISEMENT
