Decapen 125 mg/5 ml Suspension

Broad-spectrum penicillin for:

• Chest infections, bronchitis, pneumonia
• Ear, nose and throat infections
• Urinary tract infections
• Typhoid and other gut infections (sensitive strains)
• Meningitis, septicaemia and neonatal infections (injection, often with gentamicin)
• Listeria infections

Adults (oral): 250–500 mg every 6 hours.

Injection: 500 mg–2 g every 4–6 hours IV/IM; meningitis up to 2 g every 4 hours (hospital).

Children (oral): 25–50 mg/kg/day divided every 6 hours (e.g. under 1 year 62.5 mg, 1–4 years 125 mg, 5–12 years 250 mg, every 6 hours).

Neonates: weight- and age-based injection dosing (hospital).

• Take oral forms on an empty stomach (30 minutes–1 hour before food).
• Complete the full course.

• Allergy to penicillins
• Infectious mononucleosis (glandular fever) — high risk of rash
• Lymphatic leukaemia (rash)

Common: diarrhoea, nausea, rash (more frequent than with amoxicillin), thrush.

Less common: vomiting, hives, itching.

Rare but serious: anaphylaxis, severe skin reactions, C. difficile colitis, kidney inflammation, low blood counts, seizures with very high IV doses in kidney failure.

• Ask about penicillin allergy.
• Kidney impairment: dose adjustment for injection.
• Stop and seek help for breathing difficulty, swelling or blistering rash.

Considered safe in pregnancy and breastfeeding.

• Allopurinol (higher rash risk)
• Probenecid (raises levels)
• Methotrexate (toxicity)
• Warfarin (monitor INR)
• Oral contraceptives (diarrhoea may reduce effect)
• Chloramphenicol, tetracyclines (may reduce effect)

Gastrointestinal upset; very high doses may cause seizures. Supportive care; haemodialysis removes it.

Store below 30°C, dry. Reconstituted syrup: keep in a fridge and use within 7 days. Use injection promptly after mixing.