Inclox 250mg Capsule — Flucloxacillin Sodium 250mg by Beximco Pharmaceuticals

Inclox 250mg Capsule — Flucloxacillin Sodium 250mg | Beximco Pharmaceuticals

Overview

Inclox 250mg contains Flucloxacillin Sodium — a narrow-spectrum, penicillinase-resistant semisynthetic penicillin antibiotic. Flucloxacillin is specifically designed to treat infections caused by penicillinase-producing (beta-lactamase-producing) Staphylococcus aureus and other penicillinase-producing staphylococci that are resistant to standard penicillin (ampicillin). It is the first-line antibiotic for staphylococcal skin and soft tissue infections — including cellulitis, impetigo, infected wounds, furunculosis, and paronychia — and is widely used for diabetic skin and foot infections caused by S. aureus. Flucloxacillin has no activity against MRSA (methicillin-resistant S. aureus) or Gram-negative organisms.

Mechanism of Action

Flucloxacillin is a beta-lactam antibiotic that inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis by irreversibly binding to penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs), blocking transpeptidation of peptidoglycan cross-links — causing bacterial cell lysis and death. Its unique isoxazolyl side chain creates steric hindrance that prevents beta-lactamase enzymes from cleaving the beta-lactam ring — making flucloxacillin resistant to inactivation by staphylococcal penicillinase and effective against most penicillin-resistant S. aureus strains (excluding MRSA).

Indications

• Skin and soft tissue infections — cellulitis, impetigo, erysipelas, folliculitis, furunculosis (boils), carbuncles, infected eczema, infected wounds caused by S. aureus or Group A Streptococcus
• Diabetic foot and leg infections — mild to moderate staphylococcal diabetic foot infections (important: severe or deep diabetic foot infections require broader-spectrum IV antibiotics)
• Wound infections — post-operative and traumatic wound infections
• Paronychia — staphylococcal nail fold infections
• Osteomyelitis — staphylococcal bone infection (typically longer course; often started IV then switched to oral)
• Staphylococcal pneumonia
• Septic arthritis — staphylococcal joint infection
• Mastitis — breast infection in breastfeeding women

Dosage and Administration

Critical: Take on an empty stomach — 30–60 minutes before food or 2 hours after food. Food significantly reduces absorption of flucloxacillin (bioavailability drops by up to 50% when taken with food). Complete the full prescribed course even if symptoms improve — stopping early risks relapse and resistance development.

Critical Information for Diabetic Patients

• Diabetic skin infections: People with diabetes are highly susceptible to skin and soft tissue infections — hyperglycaemia impairs neutrophil function, peripheral vascular disease reduces antibiotic and immune cell delivery to infected tissues, and neuropathy masks early warning signs of infection. S. aureus is the most common pathogen in diabetic skin infections, making flucloxacillin a frequent choice
• Diabetic foot infections: For diabetic foot infections, always consult a physician — mild superficial infections involving only skin may be managed with flucloxacillin alone; moderate or severe infections (cellulitis extending beyond the wound, deep tissue involvement, bone involvement, systemic signs) require broader-spectrum antibiotics and specialist wound care
• Optimise blood glucose during infection: Infection causes significant hyperglycaemia (stress hormones drive glucose up); blood glucose often becomes poorly controlled during infections in diabetic patients — monitor more frequently and adjust diabetes medications as directed by your physician during any antibiotic course
• Duration of treatment: Diabetic patients may require longer antibiotic courses than non-diabetic patients due to impaired healing and immune function — complete the full course as prescribed; do not self-discontinue
• MRSA consideration: If a diabetic patient does not respond to flucloxacillin within 48–72 hours, or if MRSA is suspected (history of MRSA, healthcare-associated infection), inform your physician immediately — MRSA requires different antibiotics (e.g., vancomycin, linezolid)

Side Effects

Contraindications

• Penicillin hypersensitivity / allergy (anaphylaxis or severe reaction to any penicillin)
• History of flucloxacillin-associated liver disease

Drug Interactions

• Warfarin: Flucloxacillin significantly reduces warfarin effect — INR may drop substantially; monitor INR closely and adjust warfarin dose during and after the antibiotic course
• Methotrexate: Penicillins reduce renal clearance of methotrexate — toxicity risk; avoid combination
• Oral typhoid vaccine: Antibiotics inactivate live typhoid vaccine — separate by at least 3 days

Storage

Store below 25°C in a dry place. Keep out of reach of children. Do not use after expiry date. Keep in original packaging.

FAQ

Q: I am diabetic with a skin infection on my leg. How do I know if flucloxacillin is the right antibiotic?
Flucloxacillin is the right antibiotic if your infection is caused by Staphylococcus aureus or streptococci — which account for the majority of diabetic skin and soft tissue infections. Your physician will assess the infection characteristics (extent of redness, warmth, swelling, any discharge) and may take a wound swab for culture to confirm the causative organism. If the infection is mild and localised, oral flucloxacillin is appropriate. If it is spreading rapidly, is deep, or involves the foot, you may need IV antibiotics and urgent specialist review.

Q: Why must I take flucloxacillin on an empty stomach?
Food significantly reduces flucloxacillin absorption — taking it with food can reduce the amount reaching your bloodstream by up to 50%, potentially making the antibiotic insufficient to clear the infection. Take it 30–60 minutes before meals or 2 hours after meals. Set an alarm if needed — maintaining consistent dosing timing every 6 hours is important for keeping blood antibiotic levels above the minimum inhibitory concentration throughout the day.

Q: Can I stop taking it early once my skin infection looks better?
No — never stop an antibiotic course early. When symptoms improve, the bacterial burden has been reduced but not eliminated. Stopping early allows surviving bacteria (often the most resistant) to multiply and cause relapse — frequently a harder-to-treat infection. Always complete the full prescribed course. This is particularly important in diabetic patients, where residual infection can spread rapidly due to impaired immune function.

Medical Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Diabetic patients with skin, wound, or foot infections should seek immediate medical evaluation — never self-treat. Infections in diabetic patients can escalate rapidly. Prescription required.