Flucloxacillin

Flucloxacillin is an antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections of the skin, respiratory tract, and other areas. It belongs to the penicillin group of antibiotics. These medicines work by stopping gram-positive bacteria from forming cell walls, effectively killing them. Flucloxacillin is commonly used for various skin infections, such as impetigo and folliculitis.

Impetigo is a common skin condition that affects the top layers of the skin. It leads to red, inflamed patches with a yellow crust. These patches can be itchy and painful, and they tend to spread easily. Impetigo is highly contagious and should be treated with antibiotics to stop it from spreading.

Folliculitis is a skin issue where bacteria infect the hair follicles, leading to redness and inflammation. This can result in spots filled with pus, known as pustules, or spots without pus, called papules. It's a condition that usually clears up on its own, but if it worsens, antibiotics may be needed.

Flucloxacillin is an antibiotic that belongs to the penicillin family. Medicines in this group work by stopping bacteria from building a cell wall. This weakens the bacteria, making it more susceptible to osmotic pressures, which eventually leads to the bacteria's death.

For impetigo and folliculitis, we usually start with a topical antibiotic. However, if the condition worsens, an oral antibiotic will be prescribed.

Flucloxacillin is often used to treat various bacterial skin infections. It is available in liquid form, as capsules, or as an injection. At Treated, we provide the capsule form, which is available in a 500mg dose.

When you're taking Flucloxacillin, it's important to be cautious with paracetamol. This is because it can increase the acidity of your blood, leading to symptoms like tiredness, fatigue, and shortness of breath.

You can find more information about this in the medication leaflet.

As with all medicines, Flucloxacillin may cause side effects in some individuals. The common side effects are:

For further details about the side effects, have a look at the patient leaflet.

Yes, it's fine to drink alcohol while taking Flucloxacillin. It won't affect the medication or lead to any extra side effects.

Yes, you can safely take Flucloxacillin while pregnant. It's also safe to use when breastfeeding, although it can pass into breast milk and might cause side effects in your baby. If you have any worries about taking it, please speak to our clinician for more details.

There are several forms of Flucloxacillin. They all have the same active ingredient but are used differently. For children, there's a liquid form. An injection is also available, though it's usually given in hospital. Adults are generally prescribed capsules.