Drug Database: Penicillin G Benzathine

What is penicillin G benzathine?

Penicillin G benzathine is an antibacterial prescription medicine approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of certain bacterial infections, such as upper respiratory tract infections; syphilis; and yaws, bejel, and pinta (skin infections). Penicillin G benzathine is also FDA-approved to prevent certain bacterial diseases, such as rheumatic fever and other diseases.

Syphilis can be an opportunistic infection (OI) of HIV. An OI is an infection that occurs more frequently or is more severe in people with weakened immune systems—such as people with HIV—than in people with healthy immune systems. To learn more about OIs, read the HIVinfo What is an Opportunistic Infection? fact sheet.

How is penicillin G benzathine used in people with HIV?

The Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Opportunistic Infections in Adults and Adolescents with HIV and the Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Opportunistic Infections in Children with and Exposed to HIV include recommendations on the use of penicillin G benzathine to treat syphilis and to prevent syphilis from occurring the first time.

The recommended uses may not always be consistent with FDA-approved uses of penicillin G benzathine. See the Adult and Pediatric Opportunistic Infection Guidelines for complete information on recommended uses of penicillin G benzathine in adults and children with HIV. Penicillin G benzathine may have other recommended uses not listed above.

What should I tell my health care provider before using penicillin G benzathine?

Before using penicillin G benzathine, tell your health care provider:

• If you are allergic to penicillin G benzathine, penicillin- or cephalosporin-class antibiotics, or any other medicines.
• About any medical conditions you have or have had, including asthma, allergies, or kidney problems.
• About any health conditions that may prevent you from receiving medicine by injection. 
• If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Talk to your health care provider about the risks and benefits of using penicillin G benzathine during pregnancy.
• If you are breast/chestfeeding or plan to breast/chestfeed. For people with HIV in the United States, the Guideline recommends speaking with your health care provider to discuss options for feeding your baby. People with suppressed viral load have a less than 1% chance of transmitting HIV to their baby via their own milk.
• About other prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Penicillin G benzathine may affect the way other medicines or products work, and other medicines or products may affect how penicillin G benzathine works. Ask your health care provider if there are interactions between penicillin G benzathine and the other medicines you take.

Ask your health care provider about possible side effects from penicillin G benzathine. Your health care provider will tell you what to do if you have side effects.

How should I use penicillin G benzathine?

Penicillin G benzathine is given by deep intramuscular injection. It is usually administered by a health care provider. Your health care provider will determine the amount of penicillin G benzathine you receive and how often you receive it.

Read any printed information that your health care provider gives you about penicillin G benzathine.

How should penicillin G benzathine be stored?

• Store penicillin G benzathine in a refrigerator, between 36°F and 46°F (2°C and 8°C). Do not freeze. 
• Throw away penicillin G benzathine that is no longer needed or expired (out of date). Follow FDA guidelines on how to safely dispose of unused medicine.
• Keep penicillin G benzathine and all medicines out of reach of children.

Where can I find more information about penicillin G benzathine?

• Recommendations on the HIV-related uses of penicillin G benzathine, from the Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Opportunistic Infections in Adults and Adolescents with HIV and the Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Opportunistic Infections in Children with and Exposed to HIV.
• This Patient Version drug summary is based on the following FDA label(s): Injection (suspension).
• The American Hospital Formulary Service (AHFS) Patient Medication Information for penicillin G benzathine injection available from MedlinePlus.
• Research studies related to penicillin G benzathine, from ClinicalTrials.gov. (The ClinicalTrials.gov search can be modified so that you can get results that better match your interests.)