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Leg ulcer - venous - Management
What advice should I give to patients about flucloxacillin?
- Flucloxacillin is usually well tolerated but nausea, vomiting, or diarrhoea can sometimes occur.
- Some people are allergic to penicillin antibiotics (including flucloxacillin). Advise that if the person gets a rash; swelling of the face, hands, or feet; or feels short of breath, they should stop taking the flucloxacillin and seek urgent medical advice.
- Antibiotics may cause the combined oral contraceptive pill to fail during the first few weeks of treatment. Advise women to use additional contraception (such as condoms) during the course of antibiotic treatment and for 7 days afterwards. If this 7-day period runs beyond the end of the pack of contraceptive pills, advise the woman to start a new pack without a break (omitting any inactive tablets) [FFPRHC, 2005; FFPRHC, 2007].
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