Ampicillin

Ampicillin

Drug Information

This medication is penicillin like antibiotic that helps various infections like respiratory infections, gastrointestinal infections, meningitis, genital and urinary tract system infections. Ampicillin is used to treat other infections such as infections related to ears, infection of bladder, E.coli, gonorrhea, pneumonia or salmonella infection. This medicine does not work for common cold, flu and other viral infections. It is effective against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria.

Mechanism

This medicine belongs to penicillin group of antibiotics. It is effective for Gram-positive and some Gram-negative bacteria. This medicine works by killing bacteria by interfering with the formation of the bacterial cell wall, while it is growing. This medicine inhibits enzyme transpeptidase, which the bacteria require to make the cell wall. It weakens the bacterial cell wall which ruptures and prevents bacterial growth of any sort. Ampicillin has been approved by the FDA for its effective mechanism and is a widely used medicine.

How to take Ampicillin

Ampicillin medicine basically comes as a capsule, liquid and pediatric drops to should be taken orally. This medicine can be prescribed for various infections, the dose depends on the type and severity of infection a person is suffering. Moreover, it also depends on age and sex of the patient and the dose varies for different infections.

It is recommended that this medicine should be taken exactly as prescribed by the doctor for the full time period it is prescribed for and preferably at same time every day. Do take the medicine for full prescribed time even if the symptoms of infection disappear.

It should be swallowed whole with glass full of water on empty stomach or an hour or two before taking food. It is also recommended to avoid stopping the consumption of this medicine without consulting doctor. Do not share the medicine with anybody else with same symptoms. Take the medicine for full prescribed time period even if the symptoms get cured before the dosage is over.

Precautions

Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to Ampicillin or any other penicillin antibiotics or to cephalosporin. If you are allergic to any other medicine then inform doctor before taking Ampicillin.

If you are taking birth control pills then inform your doctor about it, before taking Ampicillin as it may decrease the effect of the birth control pills and make you pregnant.

Antibiotic medicines may cause diarrhea. If you get any severe symptom of diarrhea like loose and frequent stool then stop taking Ampicillin and consult your doctor immediately.

Ampicillin may cause harm to small babies so if you are nursing a child then do not take this medicine or consult doctor before taking the medicine. Any severe present or past medical history of kidney, liver, heart, asthma, allergies or any other disease should be reported to doctor before starting on this medicine.

Skipping of doses or not completing the full course of medicine may slow down the process of healing and increase the likelihood that the bacteria will develop resistance and may not be treatable by Ampicillin or any other antibiotics. So it is very important to take the medicine exactly as prescribed by the doctor.