Crystapen 250 mg Tablet

Oral penicillin for:

• Streptococcal sore throat and tonsillitis
• Mild to moderate skin infections (erysipelas, cellulitis)
• Mild chest infections and ear infections caused by sensitive bacteria
• Dental infections
• Prevention of rheumatic fever recurrence, and of pneumococcal infection after spleen removal or in sickle-cell disease

Adults and children 12 years and over: 500 mg every 6 hours (up to 1 g every 6 hours in severe infection).

Children:

• 6–11 years: 250 mg every 6 hours
• 1–5 years: 125 mg every 6 hours
• 1–11 months: 62.5 mg every 6 hours
• (Alternatively 12.5 mg/kg every 6 hours)
• Strep throat: 10 days to prevent rheumatic fever.
• Rheumatic fever prophylaxis: 250 mg twice daily (adults and children), long-term.
• Take on an empty stomach — at least 30 minutes before food or 2 hours after.

• Allergy to penicillins

Common: nausea, diarrhoea, rash.

Less common: vomiting, hives, oral or vaginal thrush, black hairy tongue.

Rare but serious: anaphylaxis, severe skin reactions, C. difficile colitis, blood disorders.

• Ask about penicillin allergy.
• Complete the full course, especially for strep throat.
• Severe kidney impairment: dose adjustment may be needed.
• Not reliable for serious infections where absorption may be poor (vomiting) — use injections.

Safe in pregnancy and breastfeeding.

• Methotrexate (toxicity)
• Probenecid (raises levels)
• Oral contraceptives (diarrhoea may reduce effect)
• Warfarin (monitor INR)
• Neomycin (reduces absorption)

Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea; very high doses rarely cause seizures. Supportive care.

Store below 30°C, dry. Reconstituted syrup: keep in a fridge and use within 7–14 days as per pack.