Penicillin G Benzathine Injection (Bicillin L-A, Lentocilin) shortage
Penicillin g benzathine injections (Bicillin L-A, Lentocilin) are on the FDA’s drug shortage list as of Oct 7, 2026. The companies reporting it have not given the FDA a specific reason. 1 other company sells the same medicine and has not reported a problem, so your pharmacy may be able to order another company’s version.
Bicillin L-A (penicillin G benzathine) injection has been in shortage for over a year due to manufacturing delays. Most strengths still have some supply from reporting makers, though the 600,000 IU/mL strength has no listed source from any manufacturer right now.
Don’t stop or change your therapy on your own — ask your pharmacist about other companies’ versions (see options) and your prescriber about a long-term plan.
Do you take this medicine? See the ‘What to do’ note from Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD →Is penicillin g benzathine still in shortage? — status as of Oct 7, 2026
Yes, still current as of Oct 7, 2026. 3 of the 4 strengths / sizes are still made by at least one company; 1 is not. 2 of the 2 companies that reported this shortage say they still have some supply, and 1 other company sells the same medicine and has not reported a problem. Your pharmacy may still need to order it or offer another company’s version.
The charts count only the companies that reported this shortage to the FDA; companies that haven’t reported a problem are in the green card, and the Supply-Risk rating counts them too.
Shortage timeline
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Sep 21, 2026Currently in shortage4 of 4 products affected.
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Sep 15, 2026FDA refreshed this shortage record1 product updated.
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Apr 26, 2023First reported to the FDA4 products first listed.
Built from FDA posting and update dates. The end date FDA publishes is the posting/update date, not a true resolution date, so durations are approximate.
Which penicillin g benzathine products are affected — by company
Company: Laboratorios Atral 📞 Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company: 682-428-8081 1 NDC click to expand
| Status | NDC / product | Strength / size | Availability | Related information | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current | Lentocilin Injection, 1200000 U/4 mL | 1200000 U/4 mL | Available | — | — |
Company: Pfizer Inc. 📞 800-533-4535 3 NDCS click to expand
| Status | NDC / product | Strength / size | Availability | Related information | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current | Bicillin L-A Injection, 2400000 [IU]/4 mL | 2400000 [IU]/4 mL | Limited Availability | Next Delivery: Fourth Quarter 2026 Estimated Recovery: 3Q 2027; Manufacturing delay | Other |
| Current | Bicillin L-A Injection, 600000 [IU]/mL | 600000 [IU]/mL | Unavailable | Next Delivery and Estimated Recovery: 4Q 2027; Manufacturing delay | Other |
| Current | Bicillin L-A Injection, 1200000 [IU]/2 mL | 1200000 [IU]/2 mL | Limited Availability | Next Delivery: Fourth Quarter 2026 Estimated Recovery: 3Q 2027; Manufacturing delay | Other |
These rows are company reports to the FDA for Penicillin G Benzathine Injection — they do not cover every company that lists this medicine. A company appears here only if it told the FDA it has a supply problem, so other companies may still have stock. That’s the basis for the Where else can I get penicillin g benzathine? options further down this page.
Why is penicillin g benzathine in shortage?
For Pfizer's Bicillin L-A brand of Penicillin G Benzathine, the shortage is due to a manufacturing delay — essentially, a hold-up at the factory that's slowing down production. This is affecting all three strengths they make. The 600,000 IU/1 mL size is currently completely unavailable, with the next delivery and expected recovery not until the fourth quarter of 2027. The 1,200,000 IU/2 mL and 2,400,000 IU/4 mL sizes have limited supply available right now, with the next deliveries expected in the fourth quarter of 2026 and fuller recovery estimated by the third quarter of 2027.
It's worth knowing that this report covers only Pfizer's Bicillin L-A products. Laboratorios Atral's product (Lentocilin, 1,200,000 U/4 mL) is listed as available in this same FDA report. Pfizer has not shared a more specific public reason beyond describing it as a manufacturing delay.
Based on the company-reported reason(s) and notes on file with the FDA for Penicillin G Benzathine Injection, summarized in plain English by HelloPharmacist. A drug can be short for more than one reason, and the FDA updates these as companies report changes.
What should I do if I take penicillin g benzathine?
Penicillin G Benzathine injection is currently on the FDA shortage list. This has been an ongoing situation for over a year, and importantly, most strengths still have a source among the companies reporting the shortage.
Here is how the strengths break down. The 1,200,000 U/4 mL, 1,200,000 IU/2 mL, and 2,400,000 IU/4 mL strengths still have an available source, though a couple are in limited supply. The 600,000 IU/mL strength currently has no listed source; the company reporting it notes a manufacturing delay with estimated recovery in late 2027.
The reported reason is listed broadly as "other," tied to manufacturing delays. Both manufacturers on this record are still supplying some strengths, so the overall supply risk is considered low.
Here is what I suggest:
- Do not stop, skip, or change your dose on your own.
- If you use one of the strengths that still has supply, ask your pharmacy to order it — they can check wholesalers and other manufacturers.
- The same medicine (Bicillin L-A, 1,200,000 IU/2 mL) is also listed from another supplier; your pharmacy may be able to source it, though it may not be in local stock.
- If your exact strength cannot be found, ask your prescriber or pharmacist about options.
Manufacturer contact numbers are listed on this page for reference.
- Ask your pharmacy to check other companies’ versions, other strengths / sizes, package sizes, and nearby stores — the options below are a starting point.
- If this is part of an ongoing or essential regimen (for example HIV, seizure, heart, transplant, diabetes or mental-health medicines), arrange continued supply before you run out rather than rationing doses.
Uses, dosing, side effects, prices, and the complete FDA label — written in plain English and pharmacist-reviewed.
Where else can I get penicillin g benzathine?
FDA shortages are company-reported — a company only shows up on the shortage list if it told the FDA it has a supply problem, so not every company that lists penicillin g benzathine injections is necessarily short. Below are the other listings in the current FDA NDC Directory that are not reported in shortage: the same medicine from companies that haven’t reported a problem (the reporting companies are excluded), and other dosage forms. Some listings are repackagers, which relabel another company’s product. These may still be out of stock at your pharmacy, and only your prescriber or pharmacist can decide what’s right for you.
Same medicine from other companies (not reporting a shortage)
Same active ingredient, dosage form & route as the shortage (matched on the FDB HICL ingredient code), from companies that have not filed a shortage with the FDA:
| Product | Strength | Form / route | Company | NDC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bicillin L-A | PENICILLIN G BENZATHINE 1200000 [iU]/2mL | Injection, Suspension · Intramuscular | A-S Medication Solutions | 50090-1016-00 |
Therapeutic equivalents & pricing 3 productsclick to expand
Orange Book–rated equivalents of the affected strengths / sizes, with the latest NADAC price (a federal retail-acquisition benchmark, not your copay) and an evidence-based availability label. Cheapest first.
| Product | Manufacturer | Package | NADAC $/unit | AB rating | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lentocilin 1200000 U/4mL | LABORATRIOS | 4 ml | — | — | FDA listed |
| Bicillin L-A 2400000 [iU]/4mL | Pfizer | 10 syringes | — | BC | FDA listed |
| Bicillin L-A 600000 [iU]/mL | Pfizer | 10 syringes | — | BC | FDA listed |
Equivalents share the same ingredient, strength, dosage form and route; an AB rating means the FDA considers them substitutable. NADAC is a national retail-pharmacy acquisition benchmark from CMS — not what you pay. Availability is inferred from recent pricing, not a stock check.
Other drugs in the same treatment class
These are different medicines — not other versions of penicillin g benzathine — that fall in the same broad treatment class (penicillin antibiotics) . They are not automatic substitutes: they can differ in how they work, dosing, effectiveness, side effects and what they’re approved to treat. Do not switch on your own. This list is for information only — ask your prescriber or pharmacist whether any of them is appropriate for you.
Codes & classification for pharmacists and billers
Where does this data come from?
Other anti-infective shortages
Penicillin g benzathine shortage FAQs
Is penicillin g benzathine still in shortage?
Which strengths / sizes of penicillin g benzathine are affected?
Why is penicillin g benzathine in shortage?
Which penicillin g benzathine products are affected?
When will penicillin g benzathine be available again?
Can I still get penicillin g benzathine somewhere?
Is the brand or the generic affected?
What should I do if I take penicillin g benzathine?
Still have a question about the penicillin g benzathine shortage?
Ask a pharmacist about this shortage →View Penicillin G Benzathine Injection on the FDA drug-shortage database →
Where does this data come from?
/drug/shortages) — drug, manufacturer & contact, NDC/product, status, availability, reason, therapeutic category and posting/update dates. Current / To Be Discontinued = active; Resolved is kept for history. The Supply-Risk rating is assessed per active ingredient and adds the FDA NDC Directory (companies listing the same ingredient & form — the "other companies" the rating counts); same-medicine and equivalent products use First Databank classification + CMS NADAC pricing; Medicaid use + most-affected states come from CMS Medicaid State Drug Utilization Data. Reference only — confirm current status with the manufacturer or FDA before acting on it.