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Prescription medicine

Penicillin g benzathine Brand names: Bicillin

Penicillin g benzathine (Bicillin) is a prescription medicine with an FDA approval on record since 1951. No generic is listed in FDA's NDC Directory.

  • No generic listed
  • In shortage
  • Boxed warning

Check it at the source: the penicillin g benzathine FDA label on DailyMed (effective July 21, 2026, Pfizer Laboratories Div Pfizer Inc); the NDA 50126 record on Drugs@FDA; every penicillin g benzathine label on DailyMed.

Highlights of the record

FDA label of July 21, 2026; NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA and Orange Book, October 8, 2026

Boxed warning

NOT FOR INTRAVENOUS USE. DO NOT INJECT INTRAVENOUSLY OR ADMIX WITH OTHER INTRAVENOUS SOLUTIONS. THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS OF INADVERTENT INTRAVENOUS ADMINISTRATION OF PENICILLIN G BENZATHINE WHICH HAS BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH CARDIORESPIRATORY ARREST AND DEATH..

Prior to administration of this drug, carefully read the WARNINGS , ADVERSE REACTIONS , and DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION sections of the labeling. WARNING NOT FOR INTRAVENOUS USE. DO NOT INJECT INTRAVENOUSLY OR ADMIX WITH OTHER INTRAVENOUS SOLUTIONS. THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS OF INADVERTENT INTRAVENOUS ADMINISTRATION OF PENICILLIN G BENZATHINE WHICH HAS BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH CARDIORESPIRATORY ARREST AND DEATH. Prior to administration of this drug, carefully read the WARNINGS , ADVERSE REACTIONS , and DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION sections of the labeling.

Used for

From the label: indications and usage

To reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria and maintain the effectiveness of Bicillin L-A and other antibacterial drugs, Bicillin L-A should be used only to treat or prevent infections that are proven or strongly suspected to be caused by bacteria.

Forms and strengths

  • 2ml
  • 4ml

Injection (suspension).

On the market

Earliest approval on file
November 22, 1951 Bicillin, Wyeth Ayerst; Drugs@FDA’s file, where older or withdrawn approvals can be missing
Generic approvals
No generic approved
Labelers listed (NDC)
2 of which 0 under generic applications, 2 under brand applications, repackagers included

Supply and safety

Pharmacy cost (NADAC)
Not in the survey
Shortage (FDA)
3 of 4 presentations limited or unavailable updated September 21, 2026
Recalls by its makers (FDA)
2 since 2025 0 Class I among all firms' recalls; latest July 10, 2025
FAERS reports
1,343 through July 30, 2026

What is penicillin g benzathine used for?

From the label: indications and usage

To reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria and maintain the effectiveness of Bicillin L-A and other antibacterial drugs, Bicillin L-A should be used only to treat or prevent infections that are proven or strongly suspected to be caused by 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. […]

FDA pharmacologic class: Penicillin-class Antibacterial.

Source: FDA drug label (BICILLIN L-A), NDA050141 (King Pharms Llc), as published by Pfizer Laboratories Div Pfizer Inc, effective July 21, 2026 (SPL set 012d46f1-d0a0-4676-a879-cd320297ab16), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed

Is there a generic for penicillin g benzathine (Bicillin)?

No generic penicillin g benzathine is approved (Drugs@FDA, October 8, 2026).

  • 1951 earliest approval on file
  • 2023 to now in shortage
  • red ticks recalls

Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory and the Orange Book (openFDA bulk files, October 8, 2026)

Is penicillin g benzathine in shortage?

The FDA Drug Shortage Database lists 3 of 4 penicillin g benzathine presentations as limited or unavailable (updated September 21, 2026); the first entry was posted on April 26, 2023. 1 more presentation is on the list as available.

PresentationCompanyStatusUpdated
Bicillin L-A, Injection, 1200000 [iU]/2 mL (NDC 60793-701-10)Pfizer Inc.CurrentSeptember 21, 2026
Bicillin L-A, Injection, 2400000 [iU]/4 mL (NDC 60793-702-10)Pfizer Inc.CurrentSeptember 21, 2026
Bicillin L-A, Injection, 600000 [iU]/1 mL (NDC 60793-700-10)Pfizer Inc.CurrentSeptember 21, 2026
Lentocilin, Injection, 1200000 U/4 mL (NDC 84383-110-01)Laboratorios AtralCurrentSeptember 15, 2026

Every penicillin g benzathine presentation in the FDA shortage database

Source: FDA Drug Shortage Database via openFDA, updated October 8, 2026

Has penicillin g benzathine been recalled?

The FDA's Enforcement Report lists 2 recalls naming penicillin g benzathine since 2025: 0 Class I (the most serious), 2 Class II, 0 Class III; 2 still ongoing. A recall names products and lots, not every product of the medicine.

StartedClassCompanyReason
July 10, 2025Class IIPfizer Inc.CGMP Deviations; particulates identified during visual inspection

Source: FDA Enforcement Report (drug recalls) via openFDA, through October 8, 2026

What does the penicillin g benzathine label say about other medicines?

The penicillin g benzathine label names 4 other medicines in its interaction, contraindication or warning sections. The sentences are the labels' own; a label lists what its studies and reports found, not every interaction.

Medicine namedSectionWhat the label says
EpinephrinewarningsSERIOUS ANAPHYLACTIC REACTIONS REQUIRE IMMEDIATE EMERGENCY TREATMENT WITH EPINEPHRINE.
Penicillin gwarnings… symptoms (DRESS), and acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP) have been reported in patients taking penicillin G (the active moiety in Bicillin L-A).
Probeneciddrug interactionsConcurrent administration of penicillin and probenecid increases and prolongs serum penicillin levels by decreasing the apparent volume of distribution and slowing the rate of excretion by competitively inhibiting renal tubular secretion of penicillin.
Tetracyclinedrug interactionsDrug Interactions Tetracycline, a bacteriostatic antibiotic, may antagonize the bactericidal effect of penicillin, and concurrent use of these drugs should be avoided.

Check penicillin g benzathine against other medicines

Source: FDA drug label (BICILLIN L-A), NDA050141 (King Pharms Llc), as published by Pfizer Laboratories Div Pfizer Inc, effective July 21, 2026 (SPL set 012d46f1-d0a0-4676-a879-cd320297ab16), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed

What do FAERS reports show for penicillin g benzathine?

The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System holds 1,343 reports that list penicillin g benzathine among the medicines taken, through July 30, 2026, each a report of something that happened, not proof the medicine caused it; 39 are coded as a death and 240 as a hospital stay. Counts follow how widely a medicine is used and watched, and they are not a measure of how risky it is.

Reports received each year

The most reported reactions

  • Recalled Product Administered572
  • Drug Hypersensitivity67
  • Injection Site Pain63
  • Off Label Use (a use or a product term, not a reaction)45
  • Embolia Cutis Medicamentosa44
  • Pain43
  • Drug Ineffective (a use or a product term, not a reaction)33
  • Acute Kidney Injury31

Side effects: the label's list and every FAERS reaction

Source: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) via openFDA, reports through July 30, 2026

What next?

Other penicillins
the pharmacologic class, with prices and generics
Penicillin g benzathine side effects
the label's list beside FAERS reports
Penicillin g benzathine shortage record
every presentation, company and date
Check an interaction
what two or more labels say about each other