Mediclarum
Medicine guide

Nafcillin

2 g/100mL · Injection, Solution

  • Prescription only
  • Penicillin-class Antibacterial
Active substance
Nafcillin
Made by
Baxter Healthcare Corporation

Quoted from the official source. Not yet reviewed by Mediclarum — the leaflet in your pack is authoritative.

At a glance

Quoted from the official label · 2024-12-06

What it is

Penicillin-class Antibacterial

Used for
  • Nafcillin is indicated in the treatment of infections caused by penicillinase-producing staphylococci which have demonstrated susceptibility to the drug.
The label’s usual adult dose

The usual I.V. dosage for adults is 500 mg every 4 hours.

Full directions ↓
Do not take it if

CONTRAINDICATION A history of a hypersensitivity (anaphylactic) reaction to any penicillin is a contraindication. Solutions containing dextrose may be contraindicated in patients with known allergy to corn or corn products.

All warnings ↓
Good to know
  • Prescription only
  • FDA enforcement reports list no ongoing recall, and none from the last two years, for this product code · checked 2026-10-02
5other products contain Nafcillin — compare makers, forms and strengths

Every line above is selected, not written, from the official label. Nothing is reworded. DailyMed

What it is for

  • Nafcillin is indicated in the treatment of infections caused by penicillinase-producing staphylococci which have demonstrated susceptibility to the drug.
  • Culture and susceptibility tests should be performed initially to determine the causative organism and its susceptibility to the drug (see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY - Susceptibility Test Methods ).
  • Nafcillin should not be used in infections caused by organisms susceptible to penicillin G.
  • If the susceptibility tests indicate that the infection is due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus species, therapy with Nafcillin Injection, USP should be discontinued and alternative therapy provided.
  • To reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria and maintain the effectiveness of Nafcillin Injection, USP and other antibacterial drugs, Nafcillin Injection, USP should be used only to treat or prevent infections that are proven or strongly suspected to be caused by susceptible bacteria.
  • When culture and susceptibility information are available, they should be considered in selecting or modifying antibacterial therapy.
  • In the absence of such data, local epidemiology and susceptibility patterns may contribute to the empiric selection of therapy.

From the official label · 2024-12-06 · DailyMed

How it works

From this product’s own US prescribing label.

In a study of five healthy adults administered a single 500 mg dose of nafcillin by intravenous injection over seven minutes, the mean plasma concentration of the drug was approximately 30 mcg/mL at 5 minutes after injection.

The mean area under the plasma concentration-versus-time curve (AUC) for nafcillin in this study was 18.06 mcg·h/mL.

Half-life33–61 min
Mostly cleared after≈ 3.9 hfive half-lives — our arithmetic
How it leaves the body

In contrast to the other penicillinase-resistant penicillins, only about 30% of nafcillin is excreted as unchanged drug in the urine of normal volunteers, and most within the first six hours.

Quoted from the prescribing label, sections “Mechanism of Action” and “Pharmacokinetics”. DailyMed · 2024-12-06

Do not take it if

CONTRAINDICATION A history of a hypersensitivity (anaphylactic) reaction to any penicillin is a contraindication. Solutions containing dextrose may be contraindicated in patients with known allergy to corn or corn products.

Quoted from the official label, section “Contraindications”.

How to take it

These directions are for this exact strength and form. Another one is different.

  • Nafcillin Injection, USP supplied as a premixed frozen solution is to be administered as an intravenous infusion.
  • The usual I.V. dosage for adults is 500 mg every 4 hours.
  • For severe infections, 1 g every 4 hours is recommended.
  • Administer slowly over at least 30 to 60 minutes to minimize the risk of vein irritation and extravasation.
  • Bacteriologic studies to determine the causative organisms and their susceptibility to nafcillin should always be performed.
  • Duration of therapy varies with the type and severity of infection as well as the overall condition of the patient; therefore, it should be determined by the clinical and bacteriological response of the patient.
  • In severe staphylococcal infections, therapy with nafcillin should be continued for at least 14 days.
  • The treatment of endocarditis and osteomyelitis may require a longer duration of therapy.
  • No dosage alterations are necessary for patients with renal dysfunction, including those on hemodialysis.
  • Hemodialysis does not accelerate nafcillin clearance from the blood.
  • With intravenous administration, particularly in elderly patients, care should be taken because of the possibility of thrombophlebitis.
  • Parenteral drug products should be inspected visually for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration whenever solution and container permit.
  • Do not add supplementary medication to Nafcillin Injection, USP.
  • Store in a freezer capable of maintaining a temperature of -20°C (-4°F) or less.

Quoted from the official label, section “Dosage & Administration”.

Other warnings

  • Serious and occasionally fatal hypersensitivity (anaphylactic) reactions have been reported in patients receiving beta-lactam antibacterial drugs.
  • These reactions are more likely to occur in individuals with a history of penicillin hypersensitivity and/or a history of sensitivity to multiple allergens.
  • Before initiating therapy with Nafcillin, inquire about previous hypersensitivity reactions to penicillins, cephalosporins, or other allergens.
  • If an allergic reaction occurs, discontinue Nafcillin and institute appropriate therapy.
  • Clostridium difficile associated diarrhea (CDAD) has been reported with use of nearly all antibacterial agents, including Nafcillin Injection, USP, and may range in severity from mild diarrhea to fatal colitis.
  • Treatment with antibacterial agents alters the normal flora of the colon leading to overgrowth of C. difficile .
  • C. difficile produces toxins A and B which contribute to the development of CDAD.
  • Hypertoxin producing strains of C. difficile cause increased morbidity and mortality, as these infections can be refractory to antimicrobial therapy and may require colectomy.
  • CDAD must be considered in all patients who present with diarrhea following antibiotic use.
  • Careful medical history is necessary since CDAD has been reported to occur over two months after the administration of antibacterial agents.
  • If CDAD is suspected or confirmed, ongoing antibiotic use not directed against C. difficile may need to be discontinued.
  • Appropriate fluid and electrolyte management, protein supplementation, antibiotic treatment of C. difficile , and surgical evaluation should be instituted as clinically indicated.
  • General Nafcillin should generally not be administered to patients with a history of sensitivity to any penicillin.
  • Penicillin should be used with caution in individuals with histories of significant allergies and/or asthma.
  • Whenever allergic reactions occur, penicillin should be withdrawn unless, in the opinion of the physician, the condition being treated is life-threatening and amenable only to penicillin therapy.
  • The use of antibiotics may result in overgrowth of nonsusceptible organisms.
  • If new infections due to bacteria or fungi occur, the drug should be discontinued and appropriate measures taken.
  • The liver/biliary tract is the primary route of nafcillin clearance.
  • Caution should be exercised when patients with concomitant hepatic insufficiency and renal dysfunction are treated with nafcillin.
  • Prescribing Nafcillin Injection, USP in the absence of a proven or strongly suspected bacterial infection or a prophylactic indication is unlikely to provide benefit to the patient and increases the risk of the development of drug-resistant bacteria.
  • Laboratory Tests Bacteriologic studies to determine the causative organisms and their susceptibility to the penicillinase-resistant penicillins should be performed (see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY - Microbiology ).
  • In the treatment of suspected staphylococcal infections, therapy should be changed to another active agent if culture tests fail to demonstrate the presence of staphylococci.
  • Periodic assessment of organ system function including renal, hepatic, and hematopoietic should be made during prolonged therapy with nafcillin.
  • White blood cell and differential cell counts should be obtained prior to initiation of therapy and periodically during therapy with nafcillin.
  • Urinalysis, serum blood urea nitrogen, and creatinine determinations should be performed at baseline and periodically during therapy with nafcillin.
  • Serum bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase, and gamma glutamyl transferase should be obtained at baseline and periodically during therapy, especially
  • when using high nafcillin doses.
  • In patients with worsening hepatic function, the risk versus benefit of continued Nafcillin use should be re-evaluated.
  • Drug Interactions Tetracycline, a bacteriostatic antibiotic, may antagonize the bactericidal effect of penicillin, and concurrent use of these drugs should be avoided.
  • Drug/Laboratory Test Interactions Nafcillin in the urine can cause a false-positive urine reaction for protein when the sulfosalicyclic acid test is used, but not with the dipstick.
  • Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility No long term animal studies have been conducted with these drugs.
  • Studies on reproduction (nafcillin) in rats and mice reveal no fetal or maternal abnormalities before conception and continuously through weaning (one generation).
  • Pregnancy Reproduction studies have been performed in the mouse with oral doses up to 20 times the human dose and orally in the rat at doses up to 40 times the human dose and have revealed no evidence of impaired fertility or harm to the rodent fetus due to nafcillin.
  • Nursing Mothers Penicillins are excreted in human milk.
  • Pediatric Use The liver/biliary tract is the principal route of nafcillin elimination.
  • Geriatric Use Clinical studies of Nafcillin Injection, USP did not include sufficient numbers of subjects aged 65 and over to determine whether they respond differently from younger subjects.
  • Information for Patients Patients should be counseled that antibacterial drugs including Nafcillin Injection, USP should only be used to treat bacterial infections.
  • General Nafcillin should generally not be administered to patients with a history of sensitivity to any penicillin.
  • Penicillin should be used with caution in individuals with histories of significant allergies and/or asthma.
  • Whenever allergic reactions occur, penicillin should be withdrawn unless, in the opinion of the physician, the condition being treated is life-threatening and amenable only to penicillin therapy.
  • The use of antibiotics may result in overgrowth of nonsusceptible organisms.
  • If new infections due to bacteria or fungi occur, the drug should be discontinued and appropriate measures taken.
  • The liver/biliary tract is the primary route of nafcillin clearance.
  • Caution should be exercised when patients with concomitant hepatic insufficiency and renal dysfunction are treated with nafcillin.
  • Prescribing Nafcillin Injection, USP in the absence of a proven or strongly suspected bacterial infection or a prophylactic indication is unlikely to provide benefit to the patient and increases the risk of the development of drug-resistant bacteria.

Quoted from the official label, section “Warnings”.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

  • Reproduction studies have been performed in the mouse with oral doses up to 20 times the human dose and orally in the rat at doses up to 40 times the human dose and have revealed no evidence of impaired fertility or harm to the rodent fetus due to nafcillin.
  • There are, however, no adequate or well-controlled studies in pregnant women.
  • Because animal reproduction studies are not always predictive of human response, nafcillin should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed.
  • Penicillins are excreted in human milk. Caution should be exercised when penicillins are administered to a nursing woman.

Quoted from the official label, section “OTC — Pregnancy or Breast Feeding”.

Other medicines

  • Tetracycline, a bacteriostatic antibiotic, may antagonize the bactericidal effect of penicillin, and concurrent use of these drugs should be avoided.
  • Nafcillin in high dosage regimens, i.e., 2 grams every 4 hours, has been reported to decrease the effects of warfarin.
  • When nafcillin and warfarin are used concomitantly, the prothrombin time should be closely monitored and the dose of warfarin adjusted as necessary.
  • This effect may persist for up to 30 days after nafcillin has been discontinued.
  • Nafcillin when administered concomitantly with cyclosporine has been reported to result in subtherapeutic cyclosporine levels.
  • The nafcillin-cyclosporine interaction was documented in a patient during two separate courses of therapy.
  • When cyclosporine and nafcillin are used concomitantly in organ transplant patients, the cyclosporine levels should be monitored.

Quoted from the official label, section “Drug Interactions”.

If you take too much

In an emergency, call your local emergency number or a poison control centre.

  • Neurotoxic reactions similar to those observed with penicillin G may arise with intravenous doses of nafcillin especially in patients with concomitant hepatic insufficiency and renal dysfunction (see PRECAUTIONS ).
  • In the case of overdosage, discontinue nafcillin, treat symptomatically and institute supportive measures as required.
  • Hemodialysis does not increase the rate of clearance of nafcillin from the blood.

Quoted from the official label, section “Overdosage”.

Use in children

  • The liver/biliary tract is the principal route of nafcillin elimination.
  • Because of immature hepatic and renal function in pediatric patients, nafcillin excretion may be impaired.
  • Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients have not been established for the use of intravenous nafcillin.
  • The potential for toxic effects in pediatric patients from chemicals that may leach from the single dose premixed intravenous preparation in plastic containers has not been determined.

Quoted from the official label, section “Pediatric Use”.

Use in older people

  • Clinical studies of Nafcillin Injection, USP did not include sufficient numbers of subjects aged 65 and over to determine whether they respond differently from younger subjects.
  • Other reported clinical experience has not identified differences in responses between the elderly and younger patients.
  • In general, dose selection for an elderly patient should be cautious, usually starting at the low end of the dosing range, reflecting the greater frequency of decreased hepatic, renal, or cardiac function, and of concomitant disease or other drug therapy.
  • Nafcillin Injection, USP contains 76.6 mg (3.33 mEq) of sodium per gram.
  • At the usual recommended doses, patients would receive between 230 and 460 mg/day (10.0 and 20.0 mEq) of sodium.
  • The geriatric population may respond with a blunted natriuresis to salt loading.
  • This may be clinically important with regard to such diseases as congestive heart failure.

Quoted from the official label, section “Geriatric Use”.

Side effects

  • Body as a Whole The reported incidence of allergic reactions to penicillin ranges from 0.7 to 10 percent (see WARNINGS ).
  • Sensitization is usually the result of treatment, but some individuals have had immediate reactions to penicillin when first treated.
  • In such cases, it is thought that the patients may have had prior exposure to the drug via trace amounts present in milk or vaccines.
  • Two types of allergic reactions to penicillins are noted clinically, immediate and delayed.
  • Immediate reactions usually occur within 20 minutes of administration and range in severity from urticaria and pruritus to angioedema, laryngospasm, bronchospasm, hypotension, vascular collapse, and death.
  • Such immediate anaphylactic reactions are very rare (see WARNINGS ) and usually occur after parenteral therapy but have occurred in patients receiving oral therapy.
  • Another type of immediate reaction, an accelerated reaction, may occur between 20 minutes and 48 hours after administration and may include urticaria, pruritus, and fever.
  • Although laryngeal edema, laryngospasm, and hypotension occasionally occur, fatality is uncommon.
  • Delayed allergic reactions to penicillin therapy usually occur after 48 hours and sometimes as late as 2 to 4 weeks after initiation of therapy.
  • Manifestations of this type of reaction include serum sickness-like symptoms ( i.e., fever, malaise, urticaria, myalgia, arthralgia, abdominal pain) and various skin rashes.
  • Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomatitis, black or hairy tongue, and other symptoms of gastrointestinal irritation may occur, especially during oral penicillin therapy.
  • Local Reactions Pain, swelling, inflammation, phlebitis, thrombophlebitis, and occasional skin sloughing at the injection site have occurred with intravenous administration of nafcillin (see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION ).
  • Severe tissue necrosis with sloughing secondary to subcutaneous extravasation of nafcillin has been reported.
  • Nervous System Reactions Neurotoxic reactions similar to those observed with penicillin G could occur with large intravenous or intraventricular doses of nafcillin especially in patients with concomitant hepatic insufficiency and renal dysfunction (see PRECAUTIONS ).
  • Nephrotoxicity Renal tubular damage and interstitial nephritis have been associated with the administration of nafcillin.
  • Manifestations of nephrotoxicity are hematuria, proteinuria, and acute kidney injury, and may be associated with rash, fever, and eosinophilia.
  • The majority of cases resolve upon discontinuation of nafcillin.
  • Some patients, however, may require dialysis treatment and may develop permanent renal damage.
  • Hepatic Reactions Elevation of liver transaminases and/or cholestasis may occur, specifically with administration of high doses of nafcillin.
  • Gastrointestinal Reactions Pseudomembranous colitis has been reported with the use of nafcillin.
  • The onset of pseudomembranous colitis symptoms may occur during or after antibiotic treatment (see WARNINGS ).
  • Metabolic Reactions Agranulocytosis, neutropenia, and bone marrow depression have been associated with the use of nafcillin.

Quoted from the official label, section “Adverse Reactions”.

What to discuss with your doctor

  • Patients should be counseled that antibacterial drugs including Nafcillin Injection, USP should only be used to treat bacterial infections.
  • They do not treat viral infections ( e.g., the common cold).
  • When Nafcillin Injection, USP is prescribed to treat a bacterial infection, patients should be told that although it is common to feel better early in the course of therapy, the medication should be taken exactly as directed.
  • Skipping doses or not completing the full course of therapy may (1) decrease the effectiveness of the immediate treatment and (2) increase the likelihood that bacteria will develop resistance and will not be treatable by Nafcillin Injection, USP or other antibacterial drugs in the future.
  • Diarrhea is a common problem caused by antibiotics which usually ends when the antibiotic is discontinued.
  • Sometimes after starting treatment with antibiotics, patients can develop watery and bloody stools (with or without stomach cramps and fever) even as late as two or more months after having taken the last dose of the antibiotic.
  • If this occurs, patients should contact their physician as soon as possible.

Quoted from the official label, section “Patient Counseling Information”.

What it looks like and how it is packed

  • Nafcillin Injection, USP is supplied as a premixed frozen iso-osmotic solution in 100 mL single dose Galaxy containers as follows:
  • NDC 0338-1019-48 2 grams nafcillin in 100 mL
  • Store at or below -20°C/-4°F.
  • See Directions for Use of GALAXY Container.
  • Handle frozen product containers with care.
  • Product containers may be fragile in the frozen state.

Quoted from the official label, section “How Supplied”.

What is in it

  • Nafcillin Injection, USP is a sterile injectable product containing nafcillin which is added as Nafcillin Sodium, USP, a semisynthetic penicillin derived from the penicillin nucleus, 6-aminopenicillanic acid.
  • The chemical name of nafcillin sodium is Monosodium (2 S ,5 R ,6 R )-6-(2-ethoxy-1-naphthamido)-3,3-dimethyl-7-oxo-4-thia-1- azabicyclo[3.2.0]heptane-2-carboxylate monohydrate.
  • It is resistant to inactivation by the enzyme penicillinase (beta-lactamase).
  • The molecular formula of Nafcillin Sodium, USP is C 21 H 21 N 2 NaO 5 S·H 2 O.
  • The molecular weight is 454.48.
  • The structural formula of nafcillin sodium is as follows:
  • Nafcillin Injection, USP is a frozen, iso-osmotic, sterile, nonpyrogenic premixed 100 mL solution containing 2 g of nafcillin, added as Nafcillin Sodium, USP.
  • Dextrose, USP has been added to the above dosages to adjust osmolality (approximately 3.6 g as dextrose hydrous to the 2 g dosage.
  • Sodium Citrate Hydrous, USP has been added as a buffer (approximately 180 mg to the 2 g dosage.
  • The pH has been adjusted with hydrochloric acid and may have been adjusted with sodium hydroxide.
  • The pH is 6.5 (6.0 to 8.5).
  • The solution is intended for intravenous use after thawing to room temperature.
  • This Galaxy container is fabricated from a specially designed multilayer plastic.
  • Solutions are in contact with the polyethylene layer of this container and can leach out certain chemical components of the plastic in very small amounts within the expiration period.
  • The suitability of the plastic has been confirmed in tests in animals according to the USP biological tests for plastic containers, as well as by tissue culture toxicity studies.
  • Structural Formula

Quoted from the official label, section “Description”.

Ingredients people check for

Lactose, gluten, dyes, sugars and other ingredients that matter with an allergy, intolerance or diet — as this product’s FDA label lists them.

The stored label for this product has no list of inactive ingredients. The list on the pack is the one to check.

Quoted from the FDA label. A label that does not name an ingredient is not a guarantee that the product is free of it, and formulations change. With an allergy, check the pack and ask a pharmacist.

Details

Made byBaxter Healthcare Corporation
Active substanceNafcillin
Used inAntibiotics, antivirals and antifungals taken into the body
Strength2 g/100mL
FormInjection, Solution
RouteIntravenous
Packs100 mL in 1 BAG
NDC0338-1019

Source: NDC Directory · 2026-09-13 · not reviewed by a clinician

Source: US Food and Drug Administration, NDC Directory. Reuse terms: US government work (FDA).

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Other strengths and forms

16 products are sold under this name. Grouped by form; a number on a strength means several companies make it.

Same active substance

These contain the same substance. That does not mean one can replace another — ask a pharmacist.

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