Dicloxacillin: What is it and what is it for?

What is dicloxacillin?

Dicloxacillin is a synthetic drug, used for the treatment of infections caused by some bacteria, whose active ingredient is dicloxacillin sodium that acts in inhibiting the growth and division of the bacterial cell wall, preventing its development and proliferation.

What is dicloxacillin for?

• Dicloxacillin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic of the beta-lactam family, a penicillin resistant to penicillinase, an enzyme produced by certain strains ofstaphylococcithat makes them resistant to penicillins, causing the death of these bacteria. (1)
• It is used to treat:
  • Respiratory, digestive and biliary infections such astonsillitis, pharyngitis, pneumonia, bronchitis, gastroenteritis (diarrhea). (2)
  • Urinary and gynecological infections. (3)
  • Skin infectionssuch as impetigo(4) andeye infectionssuch asconjunctivitis, caused byStaphylococcus aureusandchlamydia. (5)

Dosage and routes of administration of dicloxacillin

The dose and route of administration of dicloxacillin, will depend on the pharmaceutical form of the drug and the pathology to be treated but always with a prescription, however it can be done as follows:

• Suspension: In children the dose ranges from 25 – 50 mg / kg / day in fractional doses every 6 hours, orally. It contains 250mgdicloxacillin sodium.
• Vial of 250 mg and 500 mg: In adults an intramuscular ampoule (500 mg) every six hours, or intravenously diluted in 50-100 ml of sterile water at slow drip every six hours.
• Capsules:For adults a capsule or two every 6 or 8 hours orally with water. Each capsule contains 500 mg dicloxacillin sodium.

Noteworthy: This drug is generally well tolerated in both young and old healthy subjects. (6)

What products contain dicloxacillin?

Some of the medicines that contain dicloxacillin are:

• Cloxacillin®
• Cloxapen®
• Butymaxil®
• Posipen®

Posipen®

• Posipen® is a synthetic antibiotic , composed of dicloxacillin.
• It is used to treat the symptoms of diseases of the respiratory tract, skin and soft tissues caused by bacteria such as Staphylococcus and Streptococcus.

Canopy®

• Dosil® is a synthetic antibiotic containing 100 mg of dicloxacillin.
• It is used to treat atypical pneumonia, psittacosis, urethritis, cervicitis, proctitis, venereal lymphogranuloma among other conditions.

Doxiclat®

• Doxiclat® is a medication belonging to a group of drugs called tetracyclines, which are broad-spectrum antibiotics that use dicloxacillin as the active ingredient.
• It is used to treat atypical pneumonia, some sexually transmitted diseases, granuloma inguinalis, acute epididymo-orchitis, as well as infections caused by a group of microorganisms called rickettsiae and other infections.

Mededoxi®

• Mededoxi® is a synthetic drug that contains doxycycline as an active principle in a concentration of 50 mg.
• This medication is indicated for the treatment of severe to moderate acne vulgaris and papulopustular rosacea.

Dicloxacillin Side Effects

Dicloxacillin treatment may cause some of the following side effects in certain patients: in certain patients:

• Allergic reactions due to contact with any component of dicloxacillin.
• Serum sickness. 
• Fever and skin rash.
• Joint pain and swollen glands .
• Nausea and vomiting . 
• Diarrhea and dyspepsia.
• Rarely pseudomembranous colitis .

Important: It is recommended to consult your doctor, if any of these adverse reactions or any other not included in the list appear during the consumption of dicloxacillin.

Contraindications and warnings of dicloxacillin

Dicloxacillin is contraindicated in any of the following circumstances:

• Hypersensitivity to any of the components of dicloxacillin or to any of the penicillins.
• In newborn children.
• In lactating women, since this drug is excreted through breast milk.
• In pregnant women.
• In patients under treatment with tetracyclines (natural and semi-synthetic antibiotics).

You should know: Before starting treatment with dicloxacillin, you should review your medical history with your doctor .

Avoid if you have:

• Medication with diuretic drugs, methoxyflurane and other nephrotoxic drugs.
• Retinoid medication.
• Medication with ocular preparations containing thimerosal.

Warnings:

• Keep out of reach of children.
• Keep the medicine in a dry and cool place at room temperature.
• This medication should be administered at least 2 hours after meals.
• The therapeutic indications of this drug must be applied by a specialist doctor.
• Do not administer together with alcohol consumption.