Penicillin G Benzathine / Procaine Penicillin Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Apr 12, 2024.

Applies to penicillin g benzathine / procaine penicillin: intramuscular suspension.

Important warnings This medicine can cause some serious health issues

Intramuscular route (suspension)

Not for intravenous use.

Do not inject intravenously or admix with other intravenous solutions.

There have been reports of inadvertent intravenous administration of penicillin G benzathine which has been associated with cardiorespiratory arrest and death.

Serious side effects

Along with its needed effects, penicillin g benzathine/procaine penicillin may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking penicillin g benzathine / procaine penicillin:

Incidence not known

• agitation
• anxiety
• back pain, sudden and severe
• back, leg, or stomach pains
• black, tarry stools
• bleeding gums
• blindness
• bloating
• bloody or cloudy urine
• bluish color of the fingernails, lips, skin, palms, or nail beds
• blurred vision
• burning, tingling, numbness, or pain in the hands, arms, feet, or legs
• chest pain or discomfort
• chills
• confusion
• continuing ringing or buzzing or other unexplained noise in the ears
• cough
• dark urine
• decreased frequency or amount of urine
• diarrhea, watery and severe, which may also be bloody
• difficult or painful urination
• difficulty breathing
• difficulty swallowing
• dizziness or lightheadedness
• dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
• euphoria
• fainting
• fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse
• feeling of discomfort
• fever
• general body swelling
• headache
• hearing loss
• hives, itching, skin rash
• increased blood pressure
• increased thirst
• joint swelling loss of appetite
• lower back or side pain
• muscle cramps, pain, stiffness, or spasms
• muscle weakness, sudden and progressing
• nausea
• nosebleeds
• painful or difficult urination
• pale skin
• pinpoint red spots on the skin
• puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
• seeing or hearing things that are not there
• seizures
• sensation of pins and needles
• skin blisters
• sore throat
• sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
• stabbing pain
• stomach cramps or tenderness
• sudden decrease in the amount of urine
• swelling of the face, fingers, or lower legs
• swollen, painful, or tender lymph glands in the neck, armpit, or groin
• swollen glands
• tightness in the chest
• tremors
• unusual bleeding or bruising
• unusual tiredness or weakness
• unusual weight loss
• vomiting
• weight gain
• yellowing of the eyes or skin

Other side effects

Some side effects of penicillin g benzathine / procaine penicillin may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

Incidence not known

• bad unusual or unpleasant (after)taste
• bleeding, blistering, burning, coldness, discoloration of the skin, feeling of pressure, hives, infection, inflammation, itching, lumps, numbness, pain, rash, redness, scarring, soreness, stinging, swelling, tenderness, tingling, ulceration, or warmth at the injection site
• change in taste
• decreased interest in sexual intercourse
• inability to have or keep an erection
• increased sweating
• loss in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance
• painful or prolonged erection of the penis
• sleepiness or unusual drowsiness

For healthcare professionals

Applies to penicillin g benzathine / procaine penicillin: intramuscular suspension.

Psychiatric adverse events

• Frequency not reported: Hoigne's syndrome (including severe agitation with confusion, visual and auditory hallucinations, fear of impending death, psychosis)

Parenteral Penicillin G Benzathine:

• Frequency not reported: Nervousness, confusion, anxiety, euphoria^[Ref]

Hoigne's syndrome, characterized by various central nervous system symptoms (e.g., severe agitation with confusion, visual and auditory hallucinations, fear of impending death), has been reported after use of procaine penicillin, and less commonly, after use of this drug. Other symptoms associated with this syndrome have included psychosis, seizures, dizziness, tinnitus, cyanosis, palpitations, tachycardia, and abnormal taste perception.^[Ref]

Nervous system

• Frequency not reported: Symptoms associated with Hoigne's syndrome (including seizures, dizziness, tinnitus, abnormal taste perception)

Parenteral Penicillin G:

• Frequency not reported: Neuropathy

Parenteral Penicillin G Benzathine:

• Frequency not reported: Headache, tremors, dizziness, somnolence, transverse myelitis, seizures, coma, vasovagal reaction, cerebrovascular accident, syncope^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

• Frequency not reported: Symptoms associated with Hoigne's syndrome (including cyanosis, palpitations, tachycardia)

Parenteral Penicillin G Benzathine:

• Frequency not reported: Cardiac arrest, hypotension, tachycardia, palpitations, vasodilation^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

Parenteral Penicillin G:

• Frequency not reported: Hypersensitivity reactions (including skin eruptions [maculopapular to exfoliative dermatitis], urticaria, laryngeal edema, fever, eosinophilia, other serum sickness-like reactions [including chills, fever, edema, arthralgia, prostration], anaphylaxis [including shock, death])

Parenteral Penicillin G Benzathine:

• Frequency not reported: Hypersensitivity reactions (including allergic vasculitis, pruritus, fatigue, asthenia, pain)^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

Parenteral Penicillin G:

• Frequency not reported: Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea, pseudomembranous colitis

Parenteral Penicillin G Benzathine:

• Frequency not reported: Nausea, vomiting, blood in stool, intestinal necrosis^[Ref]

Onset of pseudomembranous colitis symptoms have been reported during or after antibacterial therapy.^[Ref]

Renal

Parenteral Penicillin G:

• Frequency not reported: Nephropathy

Parenteral Penicillin G Benzathine:

• Frequency not reported: Elevated BUN, elevated creatinine, renal failure^[Ref]

Hematologic

Parenteral Penicillin G:

• Frequency not reported: Hemolytic anemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia

Parenteral Penicillin G Benzathine:

• Frequency not reported: Lymphadenopathy^[Ref]

Local

Parenteral Penicillin G Benzathine:

• Frequency not reported: Injection site reactions (including pain, inflammation, lump, abscess, necrosis, edema, hemorrhage, cellulitis, hypersensitivity, atrophy, ecchymosis, skin ulcer), neurovascular reactions (including warmth, vasospasm, pallor, mottling, gangrene, numbness of the extremities, cyanosis of the extremities, neurovascular damage)^[Ref]

Respiratory

Parenteral Penicillin G Benzathine:

• Frequency not reported: Hypoxia, apnea, dyspnea, pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary embolism^[Ref]

Hepatic

Parenteral Penicillin G Benzathine:

• Frequency not reported: Elevated AST^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

Parenteral Penicillin G Benzathine:

• Frequency not reported: Joint disorder, periostitis, myoglobinuria, rhabdomyolysis, exacerbation of arthritis^[Ref]

Ocular

Parenteral Penicillin G Benzathine:

• Frequency not reported: Blurred vision, blindness^[Ref]

Genitourinary

Parenteral Penicillin G Benzathine:

• Frequency not reported: Neurogenic bladder, hematuria, proteinuria, impotence, priapism^[Ref]

Other

Parenteral Penicillin G Benzathine:

• Frequency not reported: Aggravation of existing disorder^[Ref]

Dermatologic

Parenteral Penicillin G Benzathine:

• Frequency not reported: Diaphoresis^[Ref]

Further information

Penicillin g benzathine/procaine penicillin side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Note: Medication side effects may be underreported. If you are experiencing side effects that are not listed, submit a report to the FDA by following this guide.

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