Penicillin can cause side effects in some people. The most common side effects associated with penicillin are:

• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhea
• Discoloration of the tongue
• Headaches
• Nausea
• Skin rash
• Vomiting

Penicillin can cause allergic reactions in some people. Contact your doctor or get medical help right away if you develop shortness of breath, trouble breathing, swelling of the mouth, throat, tongue, or face, or severe rashes.

Antibiotic use, including penicillin, can also cause severe diarrhea, called Clostridium difficile. Notify your provider if you develop a severe, watery, or bloody diarrhea.

Penicillin pills are oral antibiotics that treat infections. They are commonly used to treat skin infections, strep throat, and ear infections.

You may be able to purchase a prescription for penicillin after an appointment with a Sesame provider. Your provider will review your medical information and current health complaints to determine if penicillin is a good choice for you. If approved, a prescription can be sent to a local pharmacy for same-day pickup.

Penicillin is used to treat a variety of bacterial infections in the body. It is not effective against viral, parasitic, or fungal infections. You should not use penicillin unless it has been prescribed for you.

Penicillin is effective for the following infections:

• Strep throat
• Ear infections
• Scarlet fever
• Pneumonia
• Skin infections

Penicillin is a naturally derived antibiotic. It belongs to a class of medications called penicillin antibiotics. Amoxicillin is a semisynthetic penicillin, which is similar to penicillin. It treats ear, nose, throat, and respiratory infections. While penicillin is more narrow-spectrum, amoxicillin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic, meaning it treats a broad range of bacteria.

Other antibiotics include ampicillin, which is also a broad-range semisynthetic antibiotic. It is commonly used to treat ear infections, sinus infections, and bladder infections. Dicloxacillin is a narrow-range penicillin antibiotic that treats skin, bone, joint, bladder, and lung infections.

The antibiotic medication you are prescribed is at the discretion of the provider and will depend on the type of bacterial infection.

While about 10% of people claim to be allergic to penicillin, the CDC states that less than 1% are actually allergic. An allergy doctor can perform a penicillin skin test to determine if you have a penicillin allergy. If you are allergic, your provider can prescribe alternative antibiotics to treat your infection.

Symptoms of an allergic reaction can range from mild to severe. Common symptoms of an allergic reaction include:

• Skin rash
• Hives
• Swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
• Wheezing, coughing, or difficulty breathing
• Increased heart rate
• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or abdominal pain
• Low blood pressure

If you think you are having an allergic reaction, seek emergency care right away.

No, penicillin is not available over the counter. It is only available by prescription from a licensed provider. Sesame providers can write you a prescription for penicillin after an appointment. Browse the website and make a same-day appointment.

OTC antibiotics are limited to topical medications. Topical OTC antibiotics include Neosporin, Polysporin, and Proactiv (benzyl peroxide).

All prescriptions are at the discretion of the provider.

The dosage of penicillin will depend on the type of infection. For adults with strep throat, the dosage is 500 mg two to three times a day for 10 days.

The typical dosage for ear infections is 250 to 500 mg every 6 hours for at least 2 days.

Be sure to complete the entire course of antibiotics. Stopping treatment early can cause the infection to return. It can also cause antibiotic resistance, which can make infections harder to treat.