Details

Ampicillin is a penicillin antibiotic that fights bacteria. Ampicillin is used to treat or prevent many different types of infections such as bladder infections, pneumonia, gonorrhoea, meningitis, or infections of the stomach or intestines. You should not use ampicillin if you are allergic to ampicillin or to any other penicillin antibiotic, such as amoxicillin. To make sure ampicillin is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have asthma, kidney disease, history of diarrhoea caused by taking antibiotics or if you are allergic to a cephalosporin antibiotic. Ampicillin is not expected to harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. This medicine can make birth control pills less effective. Ask your doctor about using non hormonal birth control (condom, diaphragm with spermicide) to prevent pregnancy.

Typical Uses

Ampicillin is used to treat a wide variety of bacterial infections. It is a penicillin-type antibiotic. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria. This antibiotic treats only bacterial infections. It will not work for viral infections (e.g., common cold, flu). Unnecessary use or overuse of any antibiotic can lead to its decreased effectiveness. Take this medication by mouth usually 4 times a day (every 6 hours), or as directed by your doctor. Take ampicillin on an empty stomach (1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal) with a full glass of water. Drink plenty of fluids while using this medication unless your doctor tells you otherwise. Continue to take ampicillin until the full-prescribed amount is finished even if symptoms disappear after a few days.

Side Effects

Side effects of ampicillin that you should report to your doctor include pain at injection site, fatigue and malaise, upset stomach, abdominal distension, sore throat/mouth, vomiting, gas, nausea, and diarrhoea, itching, swelling of the face/hands/feet, difficulty in breathing, mucosal bleeding, dizziness, chest pain, skin rash, unusual bleeding or bruising, sore throat, difficult or painful urination and swollen tongue.

Drug Interactions

• Ampicillin+methotrexate- Talk to your doctor before using methotrexate together with ampicillin. Medications like ampicillin, especially when given at high dosages for serious infections, can sometimes increase the blood levels and effects of methotrexate. You may have increased side effects such as nausea, vomiting, mouth ulcers, and low blood cell counts, which can make you more likely to develop anaemia, bleeding problems, and infections.

• Ampicillin+anisindione- Using anisindione together with ampicillin may increase the risk of bleeding, especially if you are elderly or have kidney or liver impairment. You may need more frequent monitoring of your prothrombin time.

• Ampicillin+chloroquine- Chloroquine may interfere with the absorption of ampicillin and reduce its effectiveness. To minimize the risk of an interaction, you should try to separate the dosing of these medications by at least 2 hours.

• Ampicillin+demeclocycline- Talk to your doctor before using demeclocycline together with ampicillin. Combining these medications may reduce the effectiveness of ampicillin. Your doctor may be able to prescribe alternatives that do not interact.

Mechanism of action

Ampicillin works by interfering with the ability of bacteria to form cell walls. The cell walls of bacteria are vital for their survival. They keep unwanted substances from entering their cells and stop the contents of their cells from leaking out. Ampicillin impairs the bonds that hold the bacterial cell wall together. This allows holes to appear in the cell walls and so kills the bacteria.

Pregnancy Category : B