What is "benzathine benzylpenicillin"

n. (context pharmaceutical drug English) An alternative name for benzathine penicillin.

Benzathine benzylpenicillin ( rINN) is a form of penicillin also known as benzathine penicillin. It is an antibiotic useful for the treatment of a number of bacterial infections.

It is slowly absorbed into the circulation, after intramuscular injection, and hydrolysed to benzylpenicillin in vivo. It is the drug-of-choice when prolonged low concentrations of benzylpenicillin are required and appropriate, allowing prolonged antibiotic action over 2–4 weeks after a single IM dose. It is marketed by Pfizer (formerly by Wyeth) under the trade name Bicillin L-A.

Medical uses for benzathine penicillin include: prevention of rheumatic fever and early or latent syphilis.

It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines, a list of the most important medication needed in a basic health system.