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Combination of | |
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Benzylpenicillin | antibiotic |
Benzathine | stabilizer |
Clinical data | |
Trade names | Bicillin L-A, [1] Permapen, others |
Other names | penicillin benzathine benzyl, benzathine penicillin, penicillin G benzathine, benzylpenicillin benzathine [2] |
AHFS/Drugs.com | Professional Drug Facts |
License data | |
Pregnancy category |
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Routes of administration | Intramuscular injection [3] |
ATC code | |
Legal status | |
Legal status | |
Identifiers | |
CAS Number | |
PubChem CID | |
DrugBank | |
ChemSpider | |
UNII | |
KEGG | |
ChEBI | |
ChEMBL | |
E number | E708 (antibiotics) |
CompTox Dashboard (EPA) | |
ECHA InfoCard | 100.014.782 |
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Benzathine benzylpenicillin, also known as benzathine penicillin G (BPG), is an antibiotic medication useful for the treatment of a number of bacterial infections. [3] Specifically it is used to treat strep throat, diphtheria, syphilis, and yaws. [3] [5] It is also used to prevent rheumatic fever. [5] It is given by injection into a muscle. [3] [5] It is known as "Peanut Butter Shot" in US military slang due to its viscosity. [6]
Side effects include allergic reactions including anaphylaxis, and pain at the site of injection. [5] When used to treat syphilis a reaction known as Jarisch-Herxheimer may occur. [5] It is not recommended in those with a history of penicillin allergy or those with syphilis involving the nervous system. [5] [3] Use during pregnancy is generally safe. [3] It is in the penicillin and beta lactam class of medications and works via benzylpenicillin. [3] [5] The benzathine component slowly releases the penicillin making the combination long acting. [7]
Benzathine benzylpenicillin was patented in 1950. [2] [8] It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines. [9]
It is used to treat strep throat, diphtheria, syphilis, and yaws. [3] [5]
A single large 1.2-million-unit dose of intramuscular BPG is given to US military recruits. The Army in particular has a policy to inject all recruits if not allergic, though supply issues and individual base choices have reduced the coverage. A retrospective analysis shows that it reduces the rate of all-cause acute respiratory disease by 32% among Army recruits. [10]
The possible adverse effects are generally similar to other forms of penicillin. BPG is overall well-tolerated, but pain from the injection site is a common concern. [11]
It is marketed by Pfizer (formerly by Wyeth) under the trade name Bicillin L-A. [12]