2. What should I know before treatment with Bicillin L-A?
You should not be given Bicillin L-A if you have ever had an allergic reaction to
benzathine benzylpenicillin or any of the ingredients listed at the end of the CMI
including lecithin (from soya bean) and benzoates, or if you have experienced previous
allergic reactions to any other penicillin medicine.
Talk to your doctor if you have asthma, allergies, problems with your kidneys, are
sodium restricted, have had severe skin adverse reactions or diarrhoea following antibiotic
use, take any other medicines, or are pregnant or plan to become pregnant or are breastfeeding.
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
4. How is Bicillin L-A given?
Bicillin L-A is given as an injection into deep muscle on your buttock or the front
of the thigh for infants/children.
More instructions can be found in Section
4. How is Bicillin L-A given? in the full CMI.
5. What should I know during treatment with Bicillin L-A?
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Things you should do
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Tell your doctor straight away if: the symptoms of your infection do not improve or
become worse within a few days; you have severe skin adverse reactions, diarrhoea
or stomach pain, or experience anything abnormal with fingers or toes or around the
injection site.
Remind any doctor, dentist or pharmacist who are treating you that you are being given
Bicillin L-A.
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Things you should not do
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Do not take any other medicines whether they require a prescription or not without
first telling your doctor or consulting a pharmacist.
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Driving or using machines
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Do not drive, operate machinery or do anything else that could be dangerous until
you know how Bicillin L-A affects you. It may cause dizziness or visual disturbances
in some people.
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6. Are there any side effects?
Side effects of this medicine may include feeling anxious/nervous/abnormally happy/experience
tremors; sleepiness/tiredness; nausea/vomiting; headache; excessive/abnormal sweating;
muscle/joint pain; pain/swelling along bones; worsening of arthritis; oral thrush;
vaginal thrush; stomach cramps; fast/irregular heartbeat; frequent infections; swollen
glands in neck/armpit/groin; bleeding/bruising; blood in stool/poo; weakness of muscles;
numbness/tingling/weakness of arms/legs; injection site reaction; impotence/persistent
painful erection of penis, blurred blindness; loss of bladder control; new snoring;
severe blisters and bleeding; itchy; allergic reaction; severe agitation/confusion;
abnormal taste/sounds in the ears; heart attack; rapid/shallow breathing; cold/clammy
skin; a rapid/weak pulse; dizziness; weakness/fainting; yellowing of the whites of
your eyes/skin; stroke; seizures/fits/convulsions; severe diarrhoea; kidney disease;
blood in urine/pass little/no urine; notice any changes to skin colour or appearance;
have blisters that may have a discharge; skin peeling; experience any loss of sensation/numbness;
coma.
For more information, including what to do if you have any side effects, see Section
6. Are there any side effects? in the full CMI.
Active ingredient(s):
benzathine benzylpenicillin
Full Consumer Medicine Information (CMI)
This leaflet provides important information about using Bicillin L-A. You should also speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you would like further information
or if you have any concerns or questions about using Bicillin L-A.
Where to find information in this leaflet:
1. Why am I being treated with Bicillin L-A?
Bicillin L-A
suspension for injection contains the active ingredient benzathine benzylpenicillin. Benzathine benzylpenicillin is an antibiotic.
Bicillin L-A is used to treat the following infections:
Mild-to-moderate infections of the upper respiratory tract caused by streptococci
bacteria.
Sexually transmitted infections such as syphilis, yaws, bejel and pinta.
Bicillin L-A is also used to prevent:
The recurrence of rheumatic fever and chorea.
Complications following rheumatic heart disease and severe kidney disease.
2. What should I know before treatment with Bicillin L-A?
Warnings
Do not use Bicillin L-A if:
you are allergic to benzathine benzylpenicillin, or any of the ingredients listed
at the end of this leaflet including lecithin (from soya bean) and benzoates.
you have had previous allergic reactions to any penicillin medicines
If you are not sure if you are allergic to any of the above, ask your doctor.
Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include rash, itching or hives on
the skin, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body, shortness
of breath, wheezing or troubled breathing.
Check with your doctor if you:
you have previous allergic reactions to penicillins or cephalosporins
have or have had asthma, allergy, hay fever or skin problems
have problems with your kidneys
have had severe skin adverse reactions following antibiotic use
have/had diarrhoea (or usually with blood and mucus, stomach pain, fever) following
antibiotic use
are on a sodium restricted diet as Bicillin L-A contains either 2.59 mg or 5.17 mg
of sodium per injection, depending on the strength
consider the symptoms of your infection have not improved within a few days, or if
they have become worse
During treatment, you may be at risk of developing certain side effects. It is important
you understand these risks and how to monitor for them. See additional information
under Section
6. Are there any side effects?
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Check with your doctor if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant.
Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Bicillin L-A may
pass into breastmilk, your doctor can discuss the risks and benefits of treatment
while breastfeeding.
Use in the elderly
The risk of toxic reactions may be increased in patients greater than 65 years of
age who have kidney problems. Your doctor should monitor you carefully in this situation.
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
Tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including
any medicines, vitamins or supplements that you buy without a prescription from your
pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines may interfere with Bicillin L-A, these include:
Tetracyclines, a class of antibiotics that treat several kinds of bacterial infections,
e,g, doxycycline and minocycline,
Probenecid, a medicine used to treat chronic gout or gouty arthritis and may be used
in HIV treatment
Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure about what medicines, vitamins
or supplements you are taking and if these affect Bicillin L-A.
4. How is Bicillin L-A given?
How much is given
Your doctor will decide how much Bicillin L-A you should receive and the length of
time for which you should receive it based on what it is being used to treat and your
age.
How is Bicillin L-A given
Bicillin L-A is given as an injection into deep muscle on your buttock (bottom cheek).
For infants and children, it may be given in the middle front thigh. If injections
must be repeated, they should not be given in exactly the same place each time.
If you use too much Bicillin L-A
As Bicillin L-A is given under the close supervision of your doctor, it is very unlikely
that you will receive too much. If you experience any side effects, tell your doctor
or nurse immediately.
Tell your doctor or nurse immediately if you are concerned that you may have been
given too much Bicillin L-A . Or you should immediately phone the Poisons Information
Centre (by calling 13 11 26).
5. What should I know during treatment with Bicillin L-A?
Things you should do
Keep all of your doctor’s appointments and attend any tests as directed, as treatment
with Bicillin L-A may require your doctor to monitor your kidneys and blood.
Tell your doctor or nurse straight away if you:
do not experience an improvement of the symptoms of your infection within a few days,
or if they become worse
have any allergic reactions
have flu-like symptoms including fever, sore throat and fatigue with severe skin problems
such as a painful rash, blisters which may have pus or peeling
have sores in the mouth, eyes, nose and genitals
have redness and swelling of the eyes or conjunctivitis
have swelling of the face
experience any fungal or candida/thrush infections (sore, creamy-yellow, raised patches
in the mouth or vaginal itching, burning with a thick, white, 'cottage cheese' discharge)
have a rapid onset of weakness, pain, and numbness in the legs and/or arms, often
with a bandlike tightness around the chest or stomach, and/or any problems when going
to the toilet such as incontinence (with both urine/wee and poo) or inability to wee
notice any changes to skin colour or appearance, especially on your fingers or toes
such as turning red, brown, bronze, purple, blue, or black; have blisters that may
have a discharge; peeling; or experience any loss of sensation or numbness
paleness, mottling or a blue colour of the skin, or severe swelling around or near
where the injection was given
have diarrhoea (usually with blood and mucus) or stomach pain, even if it happens
several weeks after treatment with Bicillin L-A has been stopped.
Remind any doctor, nurse, dentist or pharmacist who are treating you that you are
being given Bicillin L-A.
Things you should not do
Do not take any other medicines whether they require a prescription or not without
first telling your doctor or consulting a pharmacist.
Driving or using machines
Be careful before you drive or use any machines or tools until you know how Bicillin
L-A affects you.
Bicillin L-A may cause dizziness or visual disturbances in some people
Drinking alcohol
No information is available.
Looking after your medicine
Bicillin L-A is stored in the pharmacy, clinic or on the hospital ward under the correct
conditions.
Disposal of Bicillin L-A
The hospital or clinic staff will dispose of any leftover Bicillin L-A.
6. Are there any side effects?
All medicines can have side effects. Some side effects may need medical attention.
See the information below and, if you need to, ask your doctor or pharmacist if you
have any further questions about side effects.
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Very serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation
You may not experience any of them.
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What to do
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severe blisters and bleeding in the lips, eyes, mouth, nose or genitals
itchy spots accompanied by fever and feeling unwell
allergic reaction e.g. shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty breathing, swelling
of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body, rash, itching or hives on the
skin
severe agitation, confusion and hallucinations, abnormal fear of impending death,
abnormal taste or abnormal sounds in the ears
heart attack, symptoms may include chest or shoulder pain, tightness of chest, shortness
of breath
rapid, shallow breathing, cold, clammy skin, a rapid, weak pulse, dizziness, weakness
and fainting
yellowing of the whites of your eyes or skin
stroke (collapse, numbness or weakness of the arms or legs, headache, dizziness and
confusion, visual disturbance, difficulty swallowing, slurred speech and loss of speech)
seizures, fits or convulsions
severe diarrhoea, usually with blood and mucus, stomach pain, fever. This may occur
during treatment or several weeks after treatment with Bicillin L-A
kidney disease, with blood in the urine or pass little or no urine
notice any changes to skin colour or appearance, especially on your fingers or toes
such as turning red, brown, bronze, purple, blue, or black; have blisters that may
have a discharge; peeling; or experience any loss of sensation or numbness
coma
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Tell your doctor or nurse immediately, or go straight to the Emergency Department
at your nearest hospital if you notice any of these serious side effects.
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Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything else that may be making you
feel unwell.
Some people may get other side effects whilst receiving Bicillin L-A.
Do not take any diarrhoea medicine without first checking with your doctor. Tell your
doctor if you notice anything else that is making you feel unwell, even if it is not
on this list
Some of these side effects (for example blood abnormalities) can only be found when
your doctor does tests from time to time to check your progress.
Reporting side effects
After you have received medical advice for any side effects you may experience, you
can report side effects to the Therapeutic Goods Administration online at
www.tga.gov.au/reporting-problems By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of
this medicine.
Always make sure you speak to your doctor or pharmacist before you decide to stop
taking any of your medicines.
7. Product details
This medicine is only available with a doctor's prescription.
What Bicillin L-A contains
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Active ingredient
(main ingredient)
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Benzathine benzylpenicillin tetrahydrate
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Other ingredients
(inactive ingredients)
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Sodium citrate
Water for injections
Soya bean products (lecithin)
Carmellose sodium
Povidone
Methyl hydroxybenzoate
Propyl hydroxybenzoate
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Potential allergens
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Methyl hydroxybenzoate
Propyl hydroxybenzoate
Soya bean products (lecithin)
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Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to any of these ingredients.
Each Bicillin L-A contains benzathine benzylpenicillin tetrahydrate 442 mg/mL.
What Bicillin L-A looks like
Bicillin L-A is white fluid in a pre-filled glass syringe.
Aust R 147169, 293456
Who distributes Bicillin L-A
Pfizer Australia Pty Ltd
Sydney NSW
Toll Free Number: 1800 675 229
This leaflet was prepared in December 2025.