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NAFCILLIN SODIUM

Generic: Nafcillin Sodium

Verified·Apr 23, 2026
NDC
83270-309
RxCUI
239189
Route
INTRAVENOUS
ICD-10 indication
A49.0

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About NAFCILLIN SODIUM

What is this medication? Nafcillin sodium is a narrow-spectrum penicillin antibiotic used primarily to treat serious infections caused by specific types of bacteria known as staphylococci. It is particularly effective against strains that produce an enzyme called penicillinase, which normally breaks down other penicillin medications. Healthcare providers often prescribe this drug for infections affecting the skin, soft tissues, respiratory tract, or blood. Because it targets a specific range of bacteria, it is considered a vital tool in treating resistant staph infections that have not progressed to MRSA. This medication is typically administered through an injection into a muscle or a vein by a healthcare professional in a hospital or clinic setting. Like other antibiotics, it is only effective against bacterial infections and will not work for viral illnesses such as the common cold or the flu. It is important for patients to complete the full course of treatment as directed by their doctor to ensure the infection is completely cleared and to prevent the development of antibiotic resistance. Common side effects may include nausea, diarrhea, or pain at the injection site.

Copay & patient assistance

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Prescribing information

From the FDA-approved label for NAFCILLIN SODIUM. Official source: DailyMed (NLM) · Label effective Mar 9, 2026

Indications and usage
INDICATIONS AND USAGE Nafcillin is indicated in the treatment of infections caused by penicillinase-producing staphylococci which have demonstrated susceptibility to the drug. Culture and susceptibility tests should be performed initially to determine the causative organism and its susceptibility to the drug (see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY — Susceptibility Test Methods . Nafcillin should not be used in infections caused by organisms susceptible to penicillin G. If the susceptibility tests indicate that the infection is due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus sp., therapy with Nafcillin for Injection, USP should be discontinued and alternative therapy provided. To reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria and maintain the effectiveness of Nafcillin for Injection, USP and other antibacterial drugs, Nafcillin for Injection, USP should be used only to treat or prevent infections that are proven or strongly suspected to be caused by susceptible 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.
Dosage and administration
DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Nafcillin for Injection is available for intramuscular and intravenous use. The usual I.V dosage for adults is 500 mg every 4 hours. For severe infections, 1 gram every 4 hours is recommended. Administer slowly over at least 30 to 60 minutes to minimize the risk of vein irritation and extravasation. RECOMMENDED DOSAGE FOR NAFCILLIN FOR INJECTION, USP Drug Adults Infants and Children <40 kg (88 lbs) Other Recommendations Nafcillin 500 mg IM every 4 to 6 hours. IV every 4 hours 25 mg/kg IM twice daily Neonates 10 mg/kg IM twice daily Nafcillin 1 gram IM or IV every 4 hours (severe infections) Bacteriologic studies to determine the causative organisms and their susceptibility to nafcillin should always be performed. Duration of therapy varies with the type and severity of infection as well as the overall condition of the patient; therefore, it should be determined by the clinical and bacteriological response of the patient. In severe staphylococcal infections, therapy with nafcillin should be continued for at least 14 days. The treatment of endocarditis and osteomyelitis may require a longer duration of therapy. No dosage alterations are necessary for patients with renal dysfunction, including those on hemodialysis. Hemodialysis does not accelerate nafcillin clearance from the blood. With intravenous administration, particularly in elderly patients, care should be taken because of the possibility of thrombophlebitis. Parenteral drug products should be inspected visually for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration whenever solution and container permit. Do not add supplementary medication to Nafcillin. DIRECTIONS FOR USE For Intramuscular Use Reconstitute with Sterile Water for Injection, USP, 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection, USP or Bacteriostatic Water for Injection, USP (with benzyl alcohol or parabens); add 3.4 mL to the 1 g vial for 4 mL resulting solution and 6.6 mL to the 2 g vial for 8 mL resulting solution. All reconstituted vials have a concentration of 250 mg per mL. The clear solution should be administered by deep intragluteal injection immediately after reconstitution. Reconstituted Stability Reconstitute with the required amount of Sterile Water for Injection, USP, 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection, USP or Bacteriostatic Water for Injection, USP (with benzyl alcohol or parabens). The resulting solutions are stable for 3 days at room temperature or 7 days under refrigeration and 90 days frozen. For Direct Intravenous Use The required amount of drug should be diluted in 15 to 30 mL of Sterile Water for Injection, USP or Sodium Chloride Injection, USP and injected over a 5- to 10- minute period. This may be accomplished through the tubing of an intravenous infusion if desirable. For Administration by Intravenous Drip Reconstitute as directed above (For Intravenous Use) prior to diluting with intravenous solution. STABILITY PERIODS FOR NAFCILLIN FOR INJECTION, USP* *IMPORTANT: This chemical stability information in no way indicates that it would be acceptable practice to use this product well after the preparation time. Good professional practice suggests that a product should be used as soon after preparation as feasible. Concentration mg/mL Sterile water for Injection , USP Sodium Chloride Injection USP Sodium Lactate Solution USP (M/6 Molar) Dextrose injection USP (5%) Dextrose and sodium chloride injection USP (5% Dextrose and 0.45% Sodium Chloride) Invert Sugar Injection USP (10%) Lactated Ringer’s Injection USP ROOM TEMPERATURE (25° C) 10-200 24 Hrs 24 Hrs 30 24 Hrs 2-30 24 Hrs 24 Hrs 10-30 24 Hrs 24 Hrs REFRIGERATION (4° C) 10-200 7 Days 7 Days 10-30 7 Days 7 Days 7 Days 7 Days 7 Days FROZEN (-15° C) 250 90 Days 90 Days 10-250 90 Days 90 Days 90 Days 90 Days 90 Days Only those solutions listed above should be used for the intravenous infusion of nafcillin sodium, USP. The concentration of the antibiotic should fall within the range specified. The drug concentration and the rate and volume of the infusion should be adjusted so that the total dose of nafcillin is administered before the drug loses its stability in the solution in use. There is no clinical experience available on the use of this agent in neonates or infants for this route of administration. This route of administration should be used for relatively short-term therapy (24 to 48 hours) because of the occasional occurrence of thrombophlebitis particularly in elderly patients. If another agent is used in conjunction with nafcillin therapy, it should not be physically mixed with nafcillin but should be administered separately.
Contraindications
CONTRAINDICATIONS A history of a hypersensitivity (anaphylactic) reaction to any penicillin is a contraindication.
Warnings
WARNINGS Serious and occasionally fatal hypersensitivity (anaphylactic) reactions have been reported in patients on penicillin therapy. These reactions are more likely to occur in individuals with a history of penicillin hypersensitivity and/or a history of sensitivity to multiple allergens. Before initiating therapy with Nafcillin, careful inquiry should be made concerning previous hypersensitivity reactions to penicillins, cephalosporins, or other allergens. If an allergic reaction occurs, Nafcillin should be discontinued and appropriate therapy instituted. Clostridium difficile associated diarrhea (CDAD) has been reported with use of nearly all antibacterial agents, including Nafcillin for Injection, USP, and may range in severity from mild diarrhea to fatal colitis. Treatment with antibacterial agents alters the normal flora of the colon leading to overgrowth of C. difficile . C. difficile produces toxins A and B which contribute to the development of CDAD. Hypertoxin producing strains of C. difficile cause increased morbidity and mortality, as these infections can be refractory to antimicrobial therapy and may require colectomy. CDAD must be considered in all patients who present with diarrhea following antibiotic use. Careful medical history is necessary since CDAD has been reported to occur over two months after the administration of antibacterial agents. If CDAD is suspected or confirmed, ongoing antibiotic use not directed against C. difficile may need to be discontinued. Appropriate fluid and electrolyte management, protein supplementation, antibiotic treatment of C. difficile , and surgical evaluation should be instituted as clinically indicated.
Adverse reactions
ADVERSE REACTIONS Body as a Whole The reported incidence of allergic reactions to penicillin ranges from 0.7 to 10 percent (see WARNINGS ). Sensitization is usually the result of treatment, but some individuals have had immediate reactions to penicillin when first treated. In such cases, it is thought that the patients may have had prior exposure to the drug via trace amounts present in milk or vaccines. Two types of allergic reactions to penicillins are noted clinically, immediate and delayed. Immediate reactions usually occur within 20 minutes of administration and range in severity from urticaria and pruritus to angioedema, laryngospasm, bronchospasm, hypotension, vascular collapse, and death. Such immediate anaphylactic reactions are very rare (see WARNINGS ) and usually occur after parenteral therapy but have occurred in patients receiving oral therapy. Another type of immediate reaction, an accelerated reaction, may occur between 20 minutes and 48 hours after administration and may include urticaria, pruritus, and fever. Although laryngeal edema, laryngospasm, and hypotension occasionally occur, fatality is uncommon. Delayed allergic reactions to penicillin therapy usually occur after 48 hours and sometimes as late as 2 to 4 weeks after initiation of therapy. Manifestations of this type of reaction include serum sickness-like symptoms ( i.e. , fever, malaise, urticaria, myalgia, arthralgia, abdominal pain) and various skin rashes. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomatitis, black or hairy tongue, and other symptoms of gastrointestinal irritation may occur, especially during oral penicillin therapy. Local Reactions Pain, swelling, inflammation, phlebitis, thrombophlebitis, and occasional skin sloughing at the injection site have occurred with intravenous administration of nafcillin. (See DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION ) Severe tissue necrosis with sloughing secondary to subcutaneous extravasation of nafcillin has been reported. Nervous System Reactions Neurotoxic reactions similar to those observed with penicillin G could occur with large intravenous or intraventricular doses of nafcillin especially in patients with concomitant hepatic insufficiency and renal dysfunction. (See PRECAUTIONS ). Urogenital Reactions Renal tubular damage and interstitial nephritis have been associated with the administration of nafcillin. Manifestations of this reaction may include rash, fever, eosinophilia, hematuria, proteinuria, and renal insufficiency. Hepatic Reactions Elevation of liver transaminases and/or cholestasis may occur, especially with administration of high doses of nafcillin. Gastrointestinal Reactions Pseudomembranous colitis has been reported with the use of nafcillin. The onset of pseudomembranous colitis symptoms may occur during or after antibiotic treatment (see WARNINGS ). Metabolic Reactions Agranulocytosis, neutropenia, and bone marrow depression have been associated with the use of nafcillin. To repor t SUSPECTED ADVERSE EVENTS, contact Onesource at 1-888-217-8103 or www.onesourcecdmo.com or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. OVERDOSAGE Neurotoxic reactions similar to those observed with penicillin G may arise with intravenous doses of nafcillin especially in patients with concomitant hepatic insufficiency and renal dysfunction (see PRECAUTIONS ). In the case of overdosage, discontinue nafcillin, treat symptomatically and institute supportive measures as required. Hemodialysis does not increase the rate of clearance of nafcillin from the blood.
Use in pregnancy
Pregnancy Teratogenic Effects Reproduction studies have been performed in the mouse with oral doses up to 20 times the human dose and orally in the rat at doses up to 40 times the human dose and have revealed no evidence of impaired fertility or harm to the rodent fetus due to nafcillin. There are, however, no adequate or well- controlled studies in pregnant women. Because animal reproduction studies are not always predictive of human response, nafcillin should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed.

Label text is reproduced as-is from the FDA-approved label. We do not paraphrase, summarize, or omit. Content above is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult your prescribing clinician or pharmacist before making decisions about your medication.

Conditions we've indexed resources for

Click a condition to see copay cards, grants, and PA rules specific to it. For the full list of FDA-approved indications, see Prescribing information above.

Medicare Part D coverage

How NAFCILLIN SODIUM appears across Medicare Part D plan formularies nationally. Source: CMS monthly Prescription Drug Plan file (2026-04-30).

Covered by plans

76%

4,160 of 5,509 plans

Most common tier

Tier 4

On 32% of covering formularies

Prior authorization required

9%

of covering formularies

TierFormularies on this tierShare
Tier 1 (preferred generic)60
19%
Tier 2 (generic)51
16%
Tier 3 (preferred brand)2
1%
Tier 4 (non-preferred brand)101
32%
Tier 5 (specialty)97
31%
Tier 63
1%

Step therapy: 0% of formularies

Quantity limits: 0% of formularies

Coverage breadth: 314 of 65 formularies

How to read this:plans on the same formulary share tier + PA rules. Your specific plan's copay depends on (a) the tier above, (b) your plan's cost-share for that tier, (c) whether you're in the initial coverage phase or past the 2026 $2,000 out-of-pocket cap. For your exact plan, check its Summary of Benefits or log in to your Medicare.gov account. Copay cards don't apply to Medicare (federal law).

Prior authorization & coverage

PayerPAStep therapyCopay tier

Medicare Part D

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How this page is sourced

  • Drug identity verified against openFDA NDC Directory.
  • Label text (when shown) originates from NLM DailyMed.
  • Copay and assistance URLs verified periodically; if you hit a broken link, tell us.