Introduction

Name

• Penicillin G procaine
• Benzylpenicillin is available as three different salts:
  • Sodium benzylpenicillin
  • Procaine benzylpenicillin
  • Benzathine benzylpenicillin 
• This article focuses on the procaine salt, procaine benzlypenicillin.
  • At the time of publishing, only procaine benzylpenicillin is licensed for use in the UK.

Class of drug

• Beta lactam antibiotic.
• EMA Category D antibiotic

Description

Chemical name

• N,N'-dibenzylethane-1,2-diamine;(2S,5R,6R)-3,3-dimethyl-7-oxo-6-[(2-phenylacetyl)amino]-4-thia-1-azabicyclo[3.2.0]heptane-2-carboxylic acid.

Molecular formula

• C₁₆H₁₈N₂O₄S.C₁₃H₂₀N₂O₂.H₂O. 

Molecular weight

• 588.72.

Physical properties

• White suspension for injection.
• Intramammary formulations available.

Storage requirements

• Varies between products:
  • Some store in fridge between 2°C/35.6°F and 8°C/46.4°F.
  • Some store below 25°C/77°F.

Uses

Indications

• To treat infections caused by bacteria sensitive to penicillin.

Administration

Pharmacokinetics

Precautions

Interactions

With other drugs

• Try not to use with bacteriostatic antibiotics.

Withdrawal Period

Adverse Reactions

Further Reading

Publications

Refereed Papers

• Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
• D Canzani & F Aldeek (2017) Penicillin G’s function, metabolites, allergy and resistance. J Nutri Human Health 1 (1), 28-40
• A Omidi (2009) Anaphylactic reaction in a cow due to parenteral administration of penicillin-streptomycin. Can Vet J 50 (7), 741-744 PubMed.
• Turner, A (2022) Prioritising antibiotic selection in farm animal practice Livestock Journal 27(4) p166 to 171.

Other sources of information

• The NOAH Compendium. Datasheets of Licensed Veterinary Medicines. Website: www.noahcompendium.co.uk.
• Veterinary Medicines Directorate. Adverse Reaction Reporting. Website: www.vmd.defra.gov.uk.
• Veterinary Medicines Directorate. Questions and Answers on FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Website: www.noahcompendium.co.uk/home.

Organisation(s)

• National Office of Animal Health (NOAH) Compendium of Data Sheets for Animal Medicines. Website: www.noahcompendium.co.uk.
• Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) Product Information Database. Website: www.vmd.defra.gov.uk.