II. Indications
- Group A Streptococcal Pharyngitis
- Rheumatic Fever Prophylaxis
- Acute Necrotizing Ulcerative Gingivitis (ANUG or Vincent's Stomatitis)
- Anthrax
- Asplenia Infection Prophylaxis (includes children with Sickle Cell Anemia)
III. Contraindications
IV. Mechanism
- See Penicillin
- See Natural Penicillin for activity spectrum
- Penicillin VK (Potassium salt of Penicillin V) is the typical Penicillin V formulation in U.S.
V. Medications
- Penicillin VK Tablets: 250 and 500 mg
- Penicillin VK Oral solution 125 mg/5 ml and 250 mg/5ml
- May keep up to 14 days in refrigerator
- Solutios horrible taste is typically not tolerated by children
VI. Dosing
- See Anthrax
- Typical Dose
- Adult (age>12 years): 250 to 500 mg orally 4 times daily
- Child (age <12 years): 25 to 50 mg/kg/day divided 3 to 4 times daily
-
Group A Streptococcal Pharyngitis
- Adult: 500 mg orally 2 to 3 times daily for 10 days
- Child weight <27 kg: 250 mg orally 2 to 3 times daily for 10 days
- Child weight >27 kg: 500 mg orally 2 to 3 times daily for 10 days
-
Rheumatic Fever Prophylaxis
- Adult or Child: 250 mg orally twice daily
-
Acute Necrotizing Ulcerative Gingivitis (ANUG or Vincent's Stomatitis)
- Adult: 250 mg orally every 4 to 6 hours
-
Asplenia Infection Prophylaxis
- Indicated in children with Sickle Cell Anemia up to age 5 years
- Child age <3 years: 125 mg orally twice daily
- Child age 3 to 5 years: 250 mg orally twice daily
VII. Adverse Effects
- See Penicillin
VIII. Safety
- Considered safe in pregnancy (Pregnancy Category B)
- Considered safe in Lactation
IX. Resources
X. References
- Olson (2020) Clinical Pharmacology, Medmaster Miami, p. 104-7
- Hamilton (2020) Tarascon Pocket Pharmacopoeia
- Bush (2016) Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 6(8):a025247 +PMID: 27329032 [PubMed]
- Miller (2002) J Midwifery Womens Health 47(6):426-34 +PMID: 12484664 [PubMed]
Images: Related links to external sites (from Bing)
Related Studies
| penicillin v (on 12/21/2022 at Medicaid.Gov Survey of pharmacy drug pricing) | ||
| PENICILLIN VK 125 MG/5 ML SOLN | Generic | $0.07 per ml |
| PENICILLIN VK 250 MG TABLET | Generic | $0.06 each |
| PENICILLIN VK 250 MG/5 ML SOLN | Generic | $0.05 per ml |
| PENICILLIN VK 500 MG TABLET | Generic | $0.10 each |