The principal side-effects of the penicillins are;
hypersensitivity resulting in urticaria, fever, joint pains and occasionally anaphylaxis. The hypersensitivity is related to the basic penicillin structure and therefore a patient hypersensitive to one penicillin will be hypersensitive to all. Note that it is important to clarify the history in penicillin hypersensitivity - the patient may have a different understanding of the word allergy to the physician.
encephalopathy which occurs with high doses or normal doses in people with renal failure. For this reason the penicillins cannot be given intrathecally.
diarrhoea with oral therapy especially with ampicillin and its derivatives which may also cause pseudomembranous colitis.
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