Flustaph

Description

Flustaph Powder For Suspension (Flucloxacillin 125mg/5ml)

Manufactured by: Orion Lab Retail Price (in Damak, Koshi Province, Nepal): NPR 249.99

What is Flustaph Powder For Suspension Used For?

Flustaph Powder For Suspension contains Flucloxacillin, a penicillin-type antibiotic specifically effective against bacteria that can resist other penicillins, especially many Staphylococcal infections. It’s commonly prescribed for:

• Respiratory Infections: Pneumonia, Sinusitis, Tonsillitis.
• Skin & Tissue Infections: Staphylococcal skin infections, Boils, Wounds, Abscesses, Infected eczema, Infected acne, and Burns.
• Serious Systemic Infections: Meningitis, Endocarditis (heart valve infection), Septicaemia (blood poisoning), Osteomyelitis (bone infection), and Enteritis (intestinal inflammation).
• Surgical Prophylaxis: To prevent infections after surgical procedures.

Also Available As: 250mg Capsule, 500mg Capsule, 125mg Dry Syrup.

How to Take Flustaph Powder For Suspension

Flustaph is a powder that needs to be reconstituted into a suspension before use. Your pharmacist will typically prepare this for you.

Adult Dosing (including elderly patients):

• Oral: Typically 250-500mg three to four times a day.
• Intravenous (IV):
  • Usually 0.25-1 gram four times a day. This dose might be doubled for severe infections.
  • For osteomyelitis, doses can be up to 8 grams per day in 3-4 divided doses.
  • For endocarditis, doses can go up to 8 grams per day in 4 divided doses for patients under 85 kg, and up to 12 grams per day in 6 divided doses for patients over 85 kg.

Child Dosing:

• Oral: Children typically receive 12.5-25 mg/kg body weight four times a day.
• Intravenous (IV):
  • 2-10 years old: Half of the adult dose.
  • Under 2 years old: One-fourth of the adult dose.

Special Dosing (Kidney Impairment):

• If your kidney function (CrCl) is less than 10 mL/min, your doctor may need to adjust your dosage.

Important Administration Notes:

• Flustaph should be taken on an empty stomach, ideally 30-60 minutes before meals, to ensure optimal absorption.
• For IV administration: The powder is dissolved in sterile water for injection and can be further diluted with suitable IV fluids (e.g., water for injection, 0.9% NaCl, 5% glucose, 0.18% NaCl with 4% glucose).

Important Considerations & Warnings

Do Not Use If:

• You have a known hypersensitivity (allergy) to penicillins.
• You have porphyria (a rare genetic blood disorder).

Special Precautions:

• High Doses: Use with caution if you have poor kidney function (due to a risk of neurotoxicity) or heart failure.
• Allergies: Avoid skin contact with the medication, as it can cause skin sensitization (an allergic reaction).
• Monitoring: Your doctor will likely monitor your serum potassium concentration, as well as your kidney (renal) and blood (haematological) status during treatment.
• Specific Infections: Use with caution in spirochete infections, particularly syphilis, as treatment can sometimes cause a temporary worsening of symptoms.
• Prolonged Use: Extended use can lead to suprainfection (new infections) with penicillin-resistant organisms.
• Administration Route: Do not administer intrathecally (into the spinal fluid).
• Elderly Patients: Use with caution.
• Liver Impairment: Use with caution if you have existing liver problems.

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding:

• Always consult your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.

Drug Interactions:

• May increase the risk of methotrexate toxicity (a drug used for cancer and autoimmune diseases).
• May decrease the effectiveness of estrogen-containing oral contraceptives (birth control pills).
• Probenecid (a gout medication) can increase flucloxacillin’s concentration in your blood.
• Bacteriostatic drugs (like chloramphenicol, tetracycline) may interfere with the bacteria-killing effect of flucloxacillin.
• May prolong bleeding time in patients taking oral anticoagulants (blood thinners like warfarin).

Possible Side Effects

Like all medications, Flustaph can cause side effects. Some common and potentially serious ones include:

Common/Less Severe:

• Hypersensitivity reactions: Hives (urticaria), fever, joint pains, rashes, angioedema (swelling under the skin), serum sickness-like reactions.
• Blood Disorders: Haemolytic anaemia, interstitial nephritis (kidney inflammation), neutropenia (low neutrophils), thrombocytopenia (low platelets), agranulocytosis.
• Nervous System (CNS) Issues: CNS toxicity, including convulsions (seizures).
• Gastrointestinal: Diarrhea, antibiotic-associated colitis (severe inflammation of the bowel).
• Liver: Hepatitis (liver inflammation), cholestatic jaundice (yellowing of skin/eyes due to bile flow issues).
• Injection Site: Phlebitis (inflammation of a vein) if given by IV infusion.

Potentially Fatal:

• Anaphylaxis (a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction).
• Stevens-Johnson syndrome (a severe, blistering skin reaction).

How Flustaph Works (Mechanism of Action)

Flucloxacillin works by inhibiting bacterial cell wall synthesis. It does this by binding to specific proteins located inside the bacterial cell wall, called penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs). This action prevents bacteria from building their protective outer layer, ultimately leading to their death. It’s effective against both penicillinase-producing (antibiotic-resistant) and non-penicillinase-producing Staphylococci bacteria.

Disclaimer: This information about Flustaph 125mg/5ml Powder For Susension is provided for general knowledge only and is not intended as medical advice or treatment. It should not be used as a substitute for the professional judgment of a healthcare provider. Always consult with your doctor or pharmacist for any health concerns or before taking any medication.