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Ampicillin
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Description
Ampicillin is an antibiotic. It is used for the treatment of bacterial infections that affects your lungs, nose, throat, urinary tract, stomach, and intestine, etc. It works by preventing the formation of the protective outer layer of the bacteria and kills them. This medication is effective only for the treatment of infections caused by bacteria and not viruses.
Ampicillin may cause side effects such as diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, skin rash, etc. Consult your doctor if these symptoms persist or become severe.
Ampicillin is available in oral forms (tablets, dispersible tablets, capsules, dry syrup, syrup, suspension, oral drops), and injection. Take Ampicillin oral forms as prescribed by your doctor. You will start to feel better in a few days. However, continue taking the medicine for the prescribed duration. Skipping doses or not completing the full course of treatment may result in decreased effectiveness of the medicine or increased risk of re-infection that would be difficult to treat in the future. Ampicillin injection will be administered by a qualified healthcare professional in a hospital or clinical setting.
Ampicillin is not recommended for use if you are allergic to it. Inform your doctor if you have kidney problems before starting the treatment. Ampicillin is safe for use in pregnancy under your doctor's supervision. If you are breastfeeding, consult your doctor before taking this medicine.
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Side effects
Major & minor side effects for Ampicillin
Skin Rash
Diarrhoea
Nausea and Vomiting
Stomach pain
Headache
Uses of Ampicillin
What is it prescribed for?
Intra-abdominal Infection
Ampicillin is used in the treatment of intra-abdominal infections. It is a broad term that includes a number of infections of the organs in your abdomen (belly region). It includes:
Peritonitis (swelling and infection in the membrane that lines the abdominal wall which protects the organs within your abdomen)
Diverticulitis (swelling of diverticula- one or more small pouches in your intestine)
Cholecystitis (swelling of the gallbladder)
Cholangitis (swelling of the bile duct system)
Pancreatitis (swelling of the pancreas)
Shigellosis
Shigellosis is an infection of your intestine caused by a bacteria known as shigella. The symptoms include bloody diarrhoea, severe stomach pain, fever, etc. Ampicillin is used in the treatment of Shigella infection.
Urinary Tract Infection
Urinary Tract Infection is an infection in any part of your urinary system. It may affect your kidneys, bladder (an organ that stores urine), ureter (the tube that carries urine from the kidney to the urinary bladder), or urethra (the tube that carries urine out of the body). Symptoms may include increased urge to urinate, burning sensation during urination, blood in the urine, back pain, fever, etc. Ampicillin is used in the treatment of urinary tract infection.
Typhoid fever
Typhoid fever is a bacterial infection caused by Salmonella typhi. It spreads through contaminated food and water. Symptoms may include high fever, headache, stomach pain, vomiting, loose stools, weakness, etc. Ampicillin is used in the treatment of typhoid fever.
Gastroenteritis
Gastroenteritis, also called the stomach flu is an infection of your stomach and intestine. The symptoms include diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, and fever. Ampicillin is used in the treatment of gastroenteritis.
Pharyngitis
Pharyngitis, commonly called as sore throat is an infection of your throat and tonsils (lumps of tissue at the back of your throat). Symptoms may include difficulty in swallowing, dry/itchy throat, throat pain, headache, body aches, etc. Ampicillin is used in the treatment of pharyngitis.
Bronchopneumonia
Pneumonia is a lung infection that may occur in one or both of your lungs. It may be caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. Ampicillin is used in the treatment of pneumonia caused by bacteria.
Sinusitis
Sinuses are hollow spaces located behind your forehead, nose, cheekbones, and in between the eyes. Sinusitis is the swelling of the tissues surrounding the sinuses. The symptoms include a stuffed nose, headache, and pain/pressure behind your eyes, nose, cheeks, or forehead. Ampicillin is used in the treatment of bacterial sinusitis.
Acute bronchitis
Bronchitis is the swelling of the bronchial tubes which carries air to and from your lungs. Common symptoms include cough and shortness of breath. Ampicillin is used in the treatment of bronchitis caused by bacteria.
Bacterial Meningitis
Meningitis is a swelling of the protective membranes that surround your brain and spinal cord due to an infection. Ampicillin is used in the treatment of bacterial meningitis.
Bacterial Septicaemia
Septicaemia or sepsis is an infection of your blood caused by bacteria. Symptoms may include fast heartbeat, breathing difficulty, fatigue or weakness, diarrhoea, nausea or vomiting, etc. Ampicillin is used in the treatment of bacterial septicaemia.
Gonorrhoea
Gonorrhoea is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by a bacteria known as Neisseria gonorrhoea. It spreads through unprotected sexual intercourse. Ampicillin is used in the treatment of gonorrhoea.
Concerns
Commonly asked questions
Onset of action
The time required for Ampicillin to show its action is not known.Duration of effect
Ampicillin may remain in your body for 9 hours after oral administration. It is not known how long this medicine remains in your body after intravenous injection.Safe with alcohol?
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.Is it habit forming?
No habit-forming tendency has been reported with Ampicillin.Usage in pregnancy?
Ampicillin is considered safe in pregnancy to treat bacterial infections. Use this medicine under your doctor's supervision.Usage while breast-feeding?
Ampicillin passes into breast milk at very low levels. If you are breastfeeding, your baby may occasionally have diarrhoea. Hence consult your doctor before taking this medicine.
Allergy
Ampicillin is not recommended for use if you are allergic to it. Seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms such as skin rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, breathing difficulty, etc.
Warnings for special population
Pregnancy
Ampicillin is considered safe in pregnancy to treat bacterial infections. Use this medicine under your doctor's supervision.
Breast-feeding
Ampicillin passes into breast milk at very low levels. If you are breastfeeding, your baby may occasionally have diarrhoea. Hence consult your doctor before taking this medicine.
General warnings
Antibiotic resistance
Antibiotic resistance occur when the bacteria no longer respond to the antibiotics intended to kill them. Hence, to avoid antibiotic resistance, finish the entire course of treatment with Ampicillin even if you feel better after a few doses.
Diarrhoea
Ampicillin can cause diarrhoea as it may also kill the helpful bacteria in your stomach or intestine. Contact your doctor if you experience severe and/or persistent diarrhoea while taking this medicine.
Missed Dose
Oral forms: Try not to skip a dose of Ampicillin. Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is time for your next dose, skip the missed dose. Do not double the dose to compensate for a missed one.
Injection: Ampicillin is administered in a hospital or clinical setting by a qualified healthcare professional, the likelihood of a missed dose is very low.
Overdose
Oral forms: Do not take more than the prescribed dose. Seek emergency medical attention in case of an overdose with Ampicillin.
Injection: As Ampicillin injection is administered in a hospital or clinical setting by a qualified healthcare professional, the chances of an overdose are very low. However, emergency medical treatment will be initiated by your doctor if an overdose is suspected.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol
Description
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Instructions
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Interaction with Medicine
Atenolol
Doxycycline
Methotrexate
Warfarin
Live cholera vaccine
Ethinyl Estradiol
Disease interactions
Impaired kidney function
Ampicillin is filtered by your kidneys and removed from your body via urine. Use Ampicillin with caution if you have kidney problems as it may increase the risk of side effects. It may also cause further damage to your kidneys. Your doctor may suggest tests to monitor your kidney function and recommend dose adjustment based on your condition.
Mononucleosis
Mononucleosis is a viral infection that spreads through saliva. It may occur through kissing or sharing drinks and/or spoons. Ampicillin is not recommended for use if you have mononucleosis as you may develop a skin rash usually 5-10 days after starting the treatment. Consult your doctor before taking this medicine.
Food interactions
The absorption of Ampicillin from your stomach may be decreased in the presence of food. Hence, take it at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after the meals.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
Oral forms: Take Ampicillin 1 hour before or 2 hours after meals. Do not take more or less than the prescribed dose.
Complete the entire course of treatment even if you feel better after few doses. If you discontinue the medicine it may increase the risk of infection. Also, Ampicillin may lose its effectiveness in treating infections.
Avoid recommending Ampicillin to other people even if their condition appears to be the same as yours.
Syrup/Suspension/Drops: Shake the bottle well before use. Measure the dose of Ampicillin using a measuring spoon or dropper exactly as advised by your doctor.
Dry syrup: Reconstitute the preparation by adding the required amount of sterilized water and shake well. Measure an appropriate dose using a measuring spoon or dropper.
Dispersible Tablet: Disperse this medicine in a teaspoonful of water or a glass of water before administration.
Injection: Ampicillin injection is administered by a qualified healthcare professional in a clinic or hospital.
Miscelleneous
How it works
Ampicillin works by preventing the formation of bacterial cell walls (the outer covering required for cells to stay alive) and thereby killing the bacteria.
Legal Status
Classification
Category
Antibiotics, Penicillin Beta-Lactam Antibiotics
Schedule
Schedule H
Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. 2021. DailyMed - AMPICILLIN- ampicillin sodium injection, powder, for solutionAMPICILLIN- ampicillin sodium injection, powder, for solution. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 3 September 2021].
Drugs, H., 2021. Ampicillin Injection: MedlinePlus Drug Information. [online] Medlineplus.gov. Available at: < [Accessed 17 February 2021].
Pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. 2021. Ampicillin. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 23 March 2021].
Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. 2021. DailyMed - AMPICILLIN capsule. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 17 February 2021].
Medicines.org.uk. 2021. Penbritin 500 mg Capsules - Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) - (emc). [online] Available at: < [Accessed 17 February 2021].
Information on this page was last updated on 27 Sep 2021
Disclaimer
We’ve made all possible efforts to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date and complete, however, it should not be treated as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Practo only provides reference source for common information on medicines and does not guarantee its accuracy or exhaustiveness. The absence of a warning for any drug or combination thereof, should not be assumed to indicate that the drug or combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Practo does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided above. If you have any doubts about your medication then we strongly recommend that you consult with your doctor, nurse or healthcare provider. See detailed T&C here.