1. Why am I taking ASPECILLIN VK?

ASPECILLIN VK contains the active ingredient phenoxymethylpenicillin (as potassium). ASPECILLIN VK is used to treat infections in different parts of the body caused by bacteria.
For more information, see Section 1. Why am I taking ASPECILLIN VK? in the full CMI.

2. What should I know before I take ASPECILLIN VK?

Do not take if you have ever had an allergic reaction to phenoxymethylpenicillin (as potassium), any other penicillin medicines or cephalosporins or any of the ingredients listed at the end of the CMI.
Talk to your doctor if you have any other medical conditions, take any other medicines, or are pregnant or plan to become pregnant or are breastfeeding.
For more information, see Section 2. What should I know before I take ASPECILLIN VK? in the full CMI.

3. What if I am taking other medicines?

Some medicines may interfere with ASPECILLIN VK and affect how it works.
A list of these medicines is in Section 3. What if I am taking other medicines? in the full CMI.

4. How do I take ASPECILLIN VK?

• The usual dose for adults: 250 mg to 500 mg every four to six hours.
• To prevent recurrence of rheumatic fever: 250 mg twice a day for as long as your doctor tells you to.

More instructions can be found in Section 4. How do I take ASPECILLIN VK? in the full CMI.

5. What should I know while taking ASPECILLIN VK?

For more information, see Section 5. What should I know while taking ASPECILLIN VK? in the full CMI.

6. Are there any side effects?

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice any of the following and they worry you: skin rash, nausea or vomiting, black hairy tongue, diarrhoea, upset stomach or difficulty in breathing.
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.

ASPECILLIN^® VK

Active ingredient(s): phenoxymethylpenicillin (as potassium)

Consumer Medicine Information (CMI)

This leaflet provides important information about taking ASPECILLIN VK. You should also speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you would like further information or if you have any concerns or questions about taking ASPECILLIN VK.

Where to find information in this leaflet:

1. Why am I taking ASPECILLIN VK?

ASPECILLIN VK contains the active ingredient phenoxymethylpenicillin as potassium. ASPECILLIN VK is a type of antibiotic that belongs to a group of medicines called penicillins.

ASPECILLIN VK is used to treat infections in different parts of the body caused by bacteria. It works by killing the bacteria that are causing the infection.

ASPECILLIN VK will not work against infections caused by viruses such as colds or the flu.

Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why this medicine has been prescribed for you.

Your doctor may have prescribed ASPECILLIN VK for another purpose.

2. What should I know before I take ASPECILLIN VK?

Warnings

Do not take ASPECILLIN VK if:

• you are allergic to phenoxymethylpenicillin, any other penicillin medicines or cephalosporins or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet.
  If you have an allergic reaction to cephalosporins, you may have an increased chance of being allergic to ASPECILLIN VK. Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include:
  • 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

Always check the ingredients to make sure you can take this medicine.

• the expiry date printed on the pack has passed or if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.

Check with your doctor if you:

• have or have ever had any of the following medical conditions:
  • diarrhoea after taking antibiotics previously
  • bleeding disorders
  • kidney problems
  • liver problems
  • asthma or have the tendency to develop allergic conditions such as hay fever or eczema
  • any other health problems
• have any allergies to any other medicines or any other foods, preservatives or dyes

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.

Talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding or intend to breastfeed.

The active ingredient in ASPECILLIN VK passes into breast milk and there is a possibility that your baby may be affected.

Your doctor can discuss with you the risks and benefits involved.

If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell them before you start taking ASPECILLIN VK.

3. What if I am taking other medicines?

Tell your doctor 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 ASPECILLIN VK and affect how it works.

• probenecid, a medicine used to treat gout
• antacids, medicines used to reduce heartburn or indigestion
• oral contraceptive pills, medicines used for contraception.

You may need to use other birth control methods while you are taking ASPECILLIN VK.

• aminoglycosides, medicines used treat some bacterial infections
• methotrexate, a medicine used treat rheumatoid arthritis, some cancers and inflammatory conditions.

These medicines may be affected by ASPECILLIN VK or may affect how well it works. You may need different amounts of your medicines, or you may need to take different medicines.

Your doctor and pharmacist have more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking this medicine.

Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure about what medicines, vitamins or supplements you are taking and if these affect ASPECILLIN VK.

4. How do I take ASPECILLIN VK?

Follow all directions given to you by your doctor or pharmacist carefully.

They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.

If you do not understand the instructions on the bottle, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.

How much to take

• The usual dose is:
  • Adults: 250 mg to 500 mg every four to six hours.
  • To prevent recurrence of rheumatic fever:

250 mg twice a day for as long as your doctor tells you to.

• The dose you take will depend on the type of treatment you are to receive. Your doctor will decide your dose and how long you take ASPECILLIN VK for.

When to take ASPECILLIN VK

• ASPECILLIN VK should be taken 1 hour before food.

How to take ASPECILLIN VK

• Swallow the tablets whole with a glass of water.

How long to take ASPECILLIN VK

• Continue taking your medicine for as long as your doctor tells you.

It is important to keep taking your medicine even if you feel well.

If you forget to take ASPECILLIN VK

ASPECILLIN VK should be taken regularly at the same time each day.

If it is less than 4 hours before your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next dose when you are meant to.

Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember, and then go back to taking you medicine as you would normally.

Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose you missed.

If you are not sure what to do, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

If you have trouble remembering to take your medicine, ask your pharmacist for some hints.

If you take too much ASPECILLIN VK

If you think that you or anyone else have taken too much ASPECILLIN VK, urgent medical attention may be needed.

You should immediately:

• phone the Poisons Information Centre
  (Australia telephone 13 11 26) for advice, or
• contact your doctor, or
• go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital.

You should do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.

5. What should I know while taking ASPECILLIN VK?

Things you should do

• If you are about to be started on any new medicine, remind your doctor and pharmacist that you are taking ASPECILLIN VK.
• Tell any other doctors, dentists, and pharmacists who treat you that you are taking this medicine.
• If you are about to have any blood or urine tests, tell your doctor that you are taking this medicine.

It may interfere with the results of some tests.

Call your doctor straight away if:

• you become pregnant while taking this medicine.
• your symptoms do not improve within a few days, or if they become worse.
• you get diarrhoea, nausea or vomiting.

Do this even if it occurs several weeks after you have stopped taking ASPECILLIN VK.

Diarrhoea may mean that you have a serious condition affecting your bowel. You may need urgent medical care.

Things you should not do

• Do not take any medicine for diarrhoea without first checking with your doctor or pharmacist.
• Do not take ASPECILLIN VK to treat any other complaints unless your doctor tells you to.
• Do not give your medicine to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you.
• Do not stop taking ASPECILLIN VK without checking with your doctor.

Your infection and symptoms may not clear completely.

Things to be careful of

Tell your doctor if you get a sore mouth or tongue while taking or after you have stopped taking ASPECILLIN VK.

This could be due to a fungal infection called thrush. This may also result in fever and irritation in your stomach.

Driving or using machines

Be careful before you drive or use any machines or tools until you know how ASPECILLIN VK affects you.

Looking after your medicine

• Keep your tablets in the bottle until it is time to take them. If you take the tablets out of the bottle they may not keep well.
• Keep your tablets in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 25°C.

Store it in a cool dry place away from moisture, heat or sunlight; for example, do not store it:

• in the bathroom or near a sink, or
• on window sills or in the car.

Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.

Keep it where young children cannot reach it.

A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half meters above the ground is a good place to store medicines.

Getting rid of any unwanted medicine

If you no longer need to take this medicine or it is out of date, take it to any pharmacy for safe disposal.

Do not take this medicine after the expiry date.

6. Are there any side effects?

Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking ASPECILLIN VK.

This medicine helps most people but it may have some unwanted side effects in a few people.

All medicines can have side effects. If you do experience any side effects, most of them are minor and temporary. However, 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.

Do not be alarmed by the following lists of side effects. You may not experience any of them.

Less serious side effects

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything else that may be making you feel unwell.

Other side effects not listed here may occur in some people.

Reporting side effects

After you have received medical advice for any side effects you 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 ASPECILLIN VK contains

Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to any of these ingredients.

What ASPECILLIN VK looks like

ASPECILLIN VK 250 mg tablets are bright yellow, smooth, round film coated tablets. Odour characteristic. Free of visible contamination and imperfections. (AUST R 200136)

ASPECILLIN VK 500 mg tablets are bright yellow, smooth, film coated capsule shaped tablets. Plain on one side and a break bar on the other. Odour characteristic. Free of visible contamination and imperfections. (AUST R 200137)

Who distributes ASPECILLIN VK

Viatris Pty Ltd

Level 1, 30 The Bond

30-34 Hickson Road

Millers Point NSW 2000

www.viatris.com.au

Phone: 1800 274 276

This leaflet was prepared in May 2025.

ASPECILLIN^® is a Viatris company trade mark

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