It was patented in 1961 and approved for medical use in 1968.[3] It is available as a generic medication.[4]
Medical uses
Dicloxacillin is used to treat mild-to-moderate staphylococcal infections.[5] To decrease the development of resistance, dicloxacillin is recommended to treat infections that are suspected or proven to be caused by beta-lactamase-producing bacteria.[5]
Dicloxacillin is similar in pharmacokinetics, antibacterial activity, and indications to flucloxacillin, and the two agents are considered interchangeable.[6] It is believed to have lower incidence of severe hepatic adverse effects than flucloxacillin, but a higher incidence of renal adverse effects.[6]
Dicloxacillin is used for the treatment of infections caused by susceptible bacteria. Specific approved indications include:[6]
On rare occasions, cholestatic jaundice (also referred to as cholestatic hepatitis) has been associated with dicloxacillin therapy. The reaction may occur up to several weeks after treatment has stopped, and takes weeks to resolve. The estimated incidence is 1 in 15,000 exposures, and is more frequent in people over 55 years old, females, and those with treatment longer than 2 weeks.[6]
It should be used with caution and monitored in the elderly, particularly with intravenous administration, due to a risk of thrombophlebitis.[1]
Dicloxacillin can also lower the effectiveness of birth control pills and pass into breast milk.[9]
Interactions
Dicloxacillin has potential interactions with following drugs:
Despite dicloxacillin being insensitive to beta-lactamases, some organisms have developed resistance to other narrow-spectrum β-lactam antibiotics including methicillin. Such organisms include methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).[13][better source needed]
Like other β-lactam antibiotics, dicloxacillin acts by inhibiting the synthesis of bacterial cell walls. It inhibits cross-linkage between the linear peptidoglycan polymer chains that make up a major component of the cell wall of Gram-positive bacteria.[citation needed]
Medicinal chemistry
Dicloxacillin is insensitive to beta-lactamase (also known as penicillinase) enzymes secreted by many penicillin-resistant bacteria. The presence of the isoxazolyl group on the side chain of the penicillin nucleus facilitates the β-lactamase resistance, since they are relatively intolerant of side-chain steric hindrance. Thus, it is able to bind to penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) and inhibit peptidoglycan crosslinking, but is not bound by or inactivated by β-lactamase[citation needed]
^ abcdeRossi S, ed. (2006). Australian Medicines Handbook. Adelaide: Australian Medicines Handbook.
^"Dicloxacillin". MedlinePlus Drug Information. U.S. National Library of Medicine, Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health.
^Ronchera CL, Hernández T, Peris JE, Torres F, Granero L, Jiménez NV, Plá JM (October 1993). "Pharmacokinetic interaction between high-dose methotrexate and amoxycillin". Therapeutic Drug Monitoring. 15 (5): 375–9. doi:10.1097/00007691-199310000-00004. PMID8249043. S2CID28111642.
^Moellering RC (August 1983). "Rationale for use of antimicrobial combinations". The American Journal of Medicine. 75 (2A): 4–8. doi:10.1016/0002-9343(83)90088-8. PMID6351605.
^Rosdahl VT, Frimodt-Møller N, Bentzon MW (August 1989). "Resistance to dicloxacillin, methicillin and oxacillin in methicillin-susceptible and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus detected by dilution and diffusion methods". APMIS. 97 (8): 715–22. doi:10.1111/j.1699-0463.1989.tb00467.x. PMID2669854. S2CID29646870.