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- $Unique_ID{BRK03027}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{ampicillin}
- $Subject{D-Amp Dunhall Omnipen Wyeth-Ayerst Polycillin Apothecon Principen
- Totacillin SK-Beecham Antibiotic ampicillin bacterial infections middle ear
- infections children respiratory urinary gastrointestinal tracts injuring cell
- walls}
- $Volume{}
- $Log{
- Omnipen 250 mg*0302701.scf
- Omnipen 500 mg*0302702.scf}
-
- Copyright (C) 1993 Publications International, Ltd.
-
-
- ampicillin
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- BRAND NAMES (Manufacturers)
-
- ampicillin (various manufacturers)
- D-Amp (Dunhall)
- Omnipen (Wyeth-Ayerst)
- Polycillin (Apothecon)
- Principen (Apothecon)
- Totacillin (SK-Beecham)
-
- TYPE OF DRUG
-
- Antibiotic
-
- INGREDIENT
-
- ampicillin
-
- DOSAGE FORMS
-
- Capsules (250 mg and 500 mg)
- Oral suspension (125 mg and 250 mg per 5-ml spoonful)
- Oral suspension drops (100 mg per ml)
-
- STORAGE
-
- Ampicillin capsules should be stored at room temperature; ampicillin
- liquid suspension and drops should be refrigerated but should never be frozen.
- Do not keep any of these medications beyond the expiration date written on the
- container. All containers should be closed tightly to keep out moisture.
-
- USES
-
- Ampicillin is used to treat a wide variety of bacterial infections,
- including middle ear infections in children and infections of the respiratory,
- urinary, and gastrointestinal tracts. This type of antibiotic acts by
- severely injuring the cell walls of the infecting bacteria, thereby preventing
- them from growing and multiplying. Ampicillin kills susceptible bacteria but
- is not effective against viruses, parasites, or fungi.
-
- TREATMENT
-
- It is best to take ampicillin on an empty stomach (one hour before or two
- hours after a meal) with a full glass of water (not juice or soda pop).
- Always follow your doctor's directions.
- If you have been prescribed the liquid suspension form of this drug, be
- sure to shake the bottle well before taking this medication. The contents
- tend to settle on the bottom of the bottle, so it is necessary to shake the
- container to distribute the ingredients evenly and equalize the doses. Be
- sure to use specially marked droppers or spoons to accurately measure the
- correct amount of liquid. Household teaspoons vary in size and may not give
- you the correct dosage.
- Ampicillin works best when the level of medicine in your bloodstream is
- kept constant. It is, therefore, best to take the doses at evenly spaced
- intervals day and night. For example, if you are to take four doses a day,
- the doses should be spaced six hours apart.
- If you miss a dose, take it as soon as possible. If it is already time
- for the next dose, take it; space the next two doses at half the normal time
- interval (for example, if you were supposed to take one tablet every six
- hours, take your next two doses every three hours); then resume your normal
- dosing schedule.
- Please remember that it is very important that you continue to take this
- medication for the entire duration prescribed to you by your doctor (usually
- ten days), even if the symptoms are no longer apparent before the end of that
- period. If you stop taking this medication too soon, resistant bacteria are
- given a chance to continue growing, and the infection could recur.
-
- SIDE EFFECTS
-
- Minor.
-
- Diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting. These side effects should disappear as
- your body adjusts to the medication.
-
- Major.
-
- Tell your doctor about any side effects that are persistent or
- particularly bothersome. IT IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO TELL YOUR DOCTOR about
- darkened tongue, difficulty in breathing, fever, joint pain, mouth sores,
- rash, rectal or vaginal itching, severe or bloody diarrhea, or sore throat.
- Also, if your symptoms of infection seem to be getting worse rather than
- improving, you should contact your doctor.
-
- INTERACTIONS
-
- This drug interacts with other types of medications:
- 1. Ampicillin interacts with allopurinol, chloramphenicol, erythromycin,
- paromomycin, tetracycline, and troleandomycin.
- 2. Ampicillin may decrease the effectiveness of oral contraceptives
- (birth control pills), and pregnancy could result. You should, therefore, use
- a different or additional form of birth control while taking ampicillin.
- BE SURE TO TELL YOUR DOCTOR about any medications you are taking,
- especially any of those listed above.
-
- WARNINGS
-
- * Tell your doctor about unusual or allergic reactions you have had to
- any medications, especially to penicillin, ampicillin, amoxicillin,
- cephalosporin antibiotics, penicillamine, or griseofulvin.
- * Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had liver or kidney disease,
- asthma, hay fever, or other allergies.
- * This medication has been prescribed for your current infection only.
- Another infection later on, or one that someone else has, may require a
- different medicine. Do not give your medicine to other people or use it for
- other infections, unless your doctor directs you to do so.
- * Diabetics taking ampicillin should know that this drug may cause a
- false-positive sugar reaction with a Clinitest urine glucose test. To avoid
- this problem while taking ampicillin, you should switch to Clinistix or
- Tes-Tape to test your urine for sugar.
- * Be sure to tell your doctor if you are pregnant. Although ampicillin
- appears to be safe during pregnancy, extensive studies in humans have not been
- conducted. Also, tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding an infant. Small
- amounts of this medication pass into breast milk and may temporarily alter the
- bacterial balance in the intestinal tract of the nursing infant, resulting in
- diarrhea.
-
- ----------------
-
- The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
- the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your
- doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
- problem.
-