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Nafcillin sodium is a narrow-spectrum beta-lactam antibiotic of the penicillin class. As a beta-lactamase-resistant penicillin, it is used to treat infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria, in particular, species of staphylococci that are resistant to other penicillins.

Nafcillin is considered therapeutically equivalent to oxacillin, although its safety profile is somewhat different.  Nafcillin is also used in the treatment of staphylococcal infections, except those caused by MRSA.

U.S. clinical practice guidelines recommend either nafcillin or oxacillin as the 'first-line treatment of choice' for staphylococcal endocarditis in patients without artificial heart valves.

Side-effects

As with all penicillins, serious life-threatening allergic reactions can occur.  Milder side-effects include:

• Hypokalemia
• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea, often due to suppression of normal gastrointestinal bacteria, which, on occasion, leads to a more serious super-infection with an organism like Clostridium difficile
• Abdominal pain
• Yeast infections (thrush) affecting the mouth and tongue or vagina
• Agranulocytosis, neutropenia

On Jan, 12, 2016: 439 people reported to have side effects when taking Nafcillin sodium. Among them, 4 people (0.91%) have Hallucination.

On Dec, 27, 2015: 439 people reported to have side effects when taking Nafcillin sodium. Among them, 2 people (0.46%) have Death.