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AmpicillinOral:MedlinePlusDrugInformation

NationalInstitutesofHealth/ U.S.NationalLibraryofMedicine

HomeDrugs,HerbsandSupplementsAmpicillinOral

URLofthispage:https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a685002.html

AmpicillinOral
pronouncedas(ampisil'in)

Whyisthismedicationprescribed?
Ampicillinisapenicillinlikeantibioticusedtotreatcertaininfectionscausedbybacteriasuchas
pneumoniabronchitisandear,lung,skin,andurinarytractinfections.Antibioticswillnotworkfor
colds,flu,orotherviralinfections.
Thismedicationissometimesprescribedforotherusesaskyourdoctororpharmacistformore
information.

Howshouldthismedicinebeused?
Ampicillincomesasacapsule,liquid,andpediatricdropstotakebymouth.Itisusuallytakenevery6
hours(fourtimesaday).Followthedirectionsonyourprescriptionlabelcarefully,andaskyourdoctor
orpharmacisttoexplainanypartyoudonotunderstand.Takeampicillinexactlyasdirected.Donot
takemoreorlessofitortakeitmoreoftenthanprescribedbyyourdoctor.
Shaketheliquidandpediatricdropswellbeforeeachusetomixthemedicationevenly.Usethebottle
droppertomeasurethedoseofpediatricdrops.Thepediatricdropsandliquidmaybeplacedona
child'stongueoraddedtoformula,milk,fruitjuice,water,gingerale,orothercoldliquidandtaken
immediately.
Thecapsulesshouldbeswallowedwholeandtakenwithafullglassofwater.
Continuetotakeampicillinevenifyoufeelwell.Donotstoptakingampicillinwithouttalkingtoyour
doctor.

WhatspecialprecautionsshouldIfollow?
Beforetakingampicillin,
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tellyourdoctorandpharmacistifyouareallergictoampicillin,penicillin,oranyotherdrugs.
tellyourdoctorandpharmacistwhatprescriptionandnonprescriptionmedicationsyouaretaking,
especiallyotherantibiotics,allopurinol(Lopurin),anticoagulants('bloodthinners')suchaswarfarin
(Coumadin),atenolol(Tenormin),oralcontraceptives,probenecid(Benemid),rifampin,
sulfasalazine,andvitamins.
tellyourdoctorifyouhaveorhaveeverhadkidneyorliverdisease,allergies,asthma,blood
disease,colitis,stomachproblems,orhayfever.
tellyourdoctorifyouarepregnant,plantobecomepregnant,orarebreastfeeding.Ifyoubecome
pregnantwhiletakingampicillin,callyourdoctor.
ifyouarehavingsurgery,includingdentalsurgery,tellthedoctorordentistthatyouaretaking
ampicillin.

WhatspecialdietaryinstructionsshouldIfollow?
Takeampicillinatleast1hourbeforeor2hoursaftermeals.

WhatshouldIdoifIforgetadose?
Takethemisseddoseassoonasyourememberit.However,ifitisalmosttimeforthenextdose,skip
themisseddoseandcontinueyourregulardosingschedule.Donottakeadoubledosetomakeupfor
amissedone.

Whatsideeffectscanthismedicationcause?
Ampicillinmaycausesideeffects.Tellyourdoctorifanyofthesesymptomsare
severeordonotgoaway:
upsetstomach
diarrhea
vomiting
mildskinrash

Ifyouexperienceanyofthefollowingsymptoms,callyourdoctorimmediately:
severeskinrash
itching
hives
difficultybreathingorswallowing
wheezing
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vaginalinfection
Ifyouexperienceaserioussideeffect,youoryourdoctormaysendareporttotheFoodandDrug
Administration's(FDA)MedWatchAdverseEventReportingprogramonline
(http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch[http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch])orbyphone(1800332
1088).

WhatshouldIknowaboutstorageanddisposalofthismedication?
Keepthismedicationinthecontaineritcamein,tightlyclosed,andoutofreachofchildren.Storethe
capsulesatroomtemperatureandawayfromexcessheatandmoisture(notinthebathroom).Throw
awayanymedicationthatisoutdatedornolongerneeded.Keepliquidmedicineintherefrigerator,
tightlyclosed,andthrowawayanyunusedmedicationafter14days.Donotfreeze.Theliquidisgood
for7daysatroomtemperature.Talktoyourpharmacistabouttheproperdisposalofyourmedication.

Incaseofemergency/overdose
Incaseofoverdose,callyourlocalpoisoncontrolcenterat18002221222.Ifthevictimhascollapsed
orisnotbreathing,calllocalemergencyservicesat911.

WhatotherinformationshouldIknow?
Keepallappointmentswithyourdoctorandthelaboratory.Yourdoctormayordercertainlabteststo
checkyourresponsetoampicillin.
Ifyouarediabetic,useClinistixorTesTape(notClinitest)totestyoururineforsugarwhiletakingthis
drug.
Donotletanyoneelsetakeyourmedication.Yourprescriptionisprobablynotrefillable.Ifyoustillhave
symptomsofinfectionafteryoufinishtheampicillin,callyourdoctor.
Itisimportantforyoutokeepawrittenlistofalloftheprescriptionandnonprescription(overthe
counter)medicinesyouaretaking,aswellasanyproductssuchasvitamins,minerals,orotherdietary
supplements.Youshouldbringthislistwithyoueachtimeyouvisitadoctororifyouareadmittedtoa
hospital.Itisalsoimportantinformationtocarrywithyouincaseofemergencies.

Brandnames
Amcill
Omnipen
Penbritin
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Pfizerpen
Polycillin
Principen
Totacillin
Thisbrandedproductisnolongeronthemarket.Genericalternativesmaybeavailable.
LastReviewed09/01/2010

AmericanSocietyofHealthSystemPharmacists,Inc.Disclaimer
AHFSPatientMedicationInformation.Copyright,2016.TheAmericanSocietyofHealthSystem
Pharmacists,Inc.,7272WisconsinAvenue,Bethesda,Maryland.AllRightsReserved.Duplicationfor
commercialusemustbeauthorizedbyASHP.

U.S.NationalLibraryofMedicine 8600RockvillePike,Bethesda,MD20894
U.S.DepartmentofHealthandHumanServices NationalInstitutesofHealth
Pagelastupdated:02February2016

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