Pronunciation: dye-KLOX-a-sil-in
Generic Name: Dicloxacillin
Brand Name: Generic only. No brands available.
Dicloxacillin is used for:
Treating infections caused by certain types of bacteria.
Dicloxacillin is a penicillin antibiotic. It kills sensitive bacteria by interfering with formation of the bacteria's cell wall while it is growing. This weakens the cell wall and it ruptures, resulting in the death of the bacteria.
Do NOT use Dicloxacillin if:
- you are allergic to any ingredient in Dicloxacillin or any other penicillin antibiotic (eg, amoxicillin, ampicillin)
- you are taking a tetracycline antibiotic (eg, doxycycline)
Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.
Before using Dicloxacillin:
Some medical conditions may interact with Dicloxacillin. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:
- if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
- if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
- if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
- if you have diarrhea or an infection in your intestines
- if you have had a severe allergic reaction (eg, severe rash, hives, difficulty breathing, dizziness) to a cephalosporin antibiotic (eg, cephalexin) or other beta-lactam antibiotic (eg, imipenem)
Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Dicloxacillin. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:
- Tetracycline antibiotics (eg, doxycycline) because they may decrease Dicloxacillin's effectiveness
- Anticoagulants (eg, warfarin) or methotrexate because the risk of their side effects may be increased by Dicloxacillin
- Oral contraceptives (birth control pills) because their effectiveness may be decreased by Dicloxacillin
This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Dicloxacillin may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.
How to use Dicloxacillin:
Use Dicloxacillin as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.
- Take Dicloxacillin by mouth on an empty stomach at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after eating.
- Dicloxacillin works best if it is taken at the same time each day.
- To clear up your infection completely, take Dicloxacillin for the full course of treatment. Keep taking it even if you feel better in a few days.
- If you miss a dose of Dicloxacillin, take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.
Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Dicloxacillin.
Important safety information:
- Long-term or repeated use of Dicloxacillin may cause a second infection. Tell your doctor if signs of a second infection occur. Your medicine may need to be changed to treat this.
- Dicloxacillin only works against bacteria; it does not treat viral infections (eg, the common cold).
- Be sure to use Dicloxacillin for the full course of treatment. If you do not, the medicine may not clear up your infection completely. The bacteria could also become less sensitive to this or other medicines. This could make the infection harder to treat in the future.
- Mild diarrhea is common with antibiotic use. However, a more serious form of diarrhea, (pseudomembranous colitis) may rarely occur. This may develop while you use the antibiotic or within several months after you stop using it. Contact your doctor right away if stomach pain or cramps, severe diarrhea, or bloody stools occur. Do not treat diarrhea without first checking with your doctor.
- Hormonal birth control (eg, birth control pills) may not work as well while you are using Dicloxacillin. To prevent pregnancy, use an extra form of birth control (eg, condoms).
- PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Dicloxacillin while you are pregnant. Dicloxacillin is found in breast milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you use Dicloxacillin, check with your doctor. Discuss any possible risks to your baby.
Possible side effects of Dicloxacillin:
All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:
Diarrhea; fever; gas; general body discomfort; heartburn; joint pain; muscle aches; nausea; second infection; stomach pain; vomiting.
Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:
Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); black tongue; bloody stools; mouth irritation; severe diarrhea; severe stomach cramps/pain; shortness of breath; sore throat; swollen joints; unusual bleeding or bruising; vaginal irritation or discharge; wheezing.
This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.
See also: Dicloxacillin side effects (in more detail)
If OVERDOSE is suspected:
Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center, or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include agitation; coma; confusion; hallucinations; seizures; severe mental impairment; tremor.
Proper storage of Dicloxacillin:
Store Dicloxacillin at room temperature, between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C). Store in a tightly-closed container. Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Dicloxacillin out of the reach of children and away from pets.
General information:
- If you have any questions about Dicloxacillin, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
- Dicloxacillin is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
- If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.
- Check with your pharmacist about how to dispose of unused medicine.
This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Dicloxacillin. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
More Dicloxacillin resources
- Dicloxacillin Side Effects (in more detail)
- Dicloxacillin Dosage
- Dicloxacillin Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
- Drug Images
- Dicloxacillin Drug Interactions
- Dicloxacillin Support Group
- 0 Reviews for Dicloxacillin - Add your own review/rating
- Dicloxacillin Prescribing Information (FDA)
- dicloxacillin Concise Consumer Information (Cerner Multum)
- Dicloxacillin Sodium Monograph (AHFS DI)
- Dynapen Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information
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