Page 159 - 2022 Ranger Medic Handbook

BENZATHINE-PENICILLIN G (BICILLIN)
Class: Antimicrobial – anti-infective, β-lactam antibiotic, natural (first generation) penicillin; must be cold stored
Action: Acid-stable, penicillinase-sensitive, long-acting form of penicillin G; absorbed slowly due to extremely low
water solubility; produces lower blood concentrations of penicillin G but has longer duration. Effective against many
strains of Staphylococcus aureus, gram-positive cocci, and gram-negative cocci. Also effective against gram-positive
and gram-negative bacilli
Dose: 1.2 million units IM single dose
Indications: Group A streptococcal pharyngitis; infections susceptible to penicillin G such as streptococcal, pneu-
mococcal, and staphylococcal
Contraindications: Hypersensitivity to penicillins or cephalosporins; lactation; pregnancy category may use during
pregnancy and while breastfeeding
Adverse/Side-effects: Local pain, tenderness, and fever associated with IM injection; chills, fever, wheezing, anaphy-
laxis, neuropathy, nephrotoxicity, pruritis, and urticaria
Interactions: May decrease efficacy of oral contraceptives

BENZONATATE (TESSALON PERLES) SECTION 4
Class: Nonnarcotic antitussive
Action: Produces local anesthetic effect of stretch receptors on vagal afferent fibers in the respiratory passages,
lungs, and pleura
Dose: 100–200mg PO tid as needed (max single dose: 200mg; max dose: 600mg qd)
Indications: Relief of cough
Contraindications: Hypersensitivity; pregnancy category caution advised during pregnancy and consider alternative
during breastfeeding
Side-effects: chest numbness, chills, confusion, dizziness, headache, hallucination, sedation, pruritus, rash, consti-
pation, nausea, congestion.
Interactions: None
Mission Impact: None

BISACODYL (DULCOLAX)
Class: Laxative, stimulant, diphenylmethane
Action: Direct action on the intestine by increasing motor activity
Dose: 5–15mg PO. Swallow the tablets whole with a full glass of water or juice. Do not crush or chew the tablets. The
tablets should work within 6–10 hours
Indications: Used to treat constipation or to clean out the intestinal tract before bowel examinations or bowel surgery
Contraindications: Ileus, intestinal obstruction, acute surgical abdominal conditions like acute appendicitis, acute
inflammatory bowel diseases, severe dehydration, known hypersensitivity to substances of the triarylmethane group,
pregnancy category may use during pregnancy and while breastfeeding
Adverse/Side-effects: Rarely, abdominal discomfort and diarrhea have been reported
Interactions: Dairy products, antacids, H 2 -blockers, PPIs. Tablets have a special coating and therefore should not be
taken together with milk or antacids

2022 RANGER MEDIC HANDBOOK 145