Ampicillin is used for treatment of some bacterial infections, such as infection of, sinus, urinary bladder, intestines and for treatment of acute bronchites at patients with chronic diseases of lungs, caused by mild bronchites. Ampicillin is not effective at cold or a flu. If you have disease of kidneys, you should accept a doze less than a usual therapeutic doze of Ampicillin.

At many people during reception of ampicillin appearance of a rash is observed, that however may not be an attribute of an allergy to this preparation. If you had a rash after reception of ampicillin, call a doctor. Some of by-effects of Ampicillin can be shown only in a month after the termination of reception of a preparation.

Follow the following recommendations for prevention of an infection of uric ways. Drink a plenty of liquid, especially water. Though cranberry juice also is not effective for treatment of an infection of uric ways, it can weaken a smell at enuresis. Carefully observe the rules of hygiene: after each visit of a toilet wipe yourself from front to back, not vice versa, and then wash up hands. Prepare and store products according to rules of storage, especially during trips to prevent a diarrhea. Do not use a lot of caffeine, which can expand an urethra. Constants catheters provoke development of an infection of urinary tracts. However, if the symptoms of an infection are not observed, it is not necessary to accept medical products only because bacteria are found out at the analysis of urine. Women are especially subject to infectious diseases of urinary tracts. If you observe symptoms of an infection of urino-genital tracts at yourself, ask your doctor to prescribe you a necessary preparation in the quantity sufficient to have it always available. In an ideal case the antibiotic, which you use, should be the most effective, the least toxic and the cheapest.

Inform your attending doctor if at you observe or observed at yourself: an allergy to medical products, an allergy to any penicillin or cephalosporin, other kinds of an allergy, diseases of gastrointestinal tract, diseases of kidneys, infectious mononucleosis, if you are on a diet with the lowered maintenance of salt (sodium) (injection forms of ampicillin contain sodium).

Inform the attending doctor on the preparations that you accept, including aspirin, grasses, vitamins and other medical products.

Inform your attending doctor if improvements in your condition are not observed within two or three days or if you have a diarrhea. Do not try to cure it yourself.

Accept all the amount of ampicillin prescribed by your doctor even if you will feel better before the termination of course of treatment. If you will cease to accept the preparation too early, symptoms may return.

Do not give this preparation to somebody else. The preparation can’t be used after the expiry of the term of validity.

If surgical intervention, including treatment of teeth is necessary to you, inform the doctor that you accept the given preparation

Store liquid medicinal forms in a refrigerator, but do not let them freeze. Stir up well before the application.

It is not necessary to store capsules in a bathroom. Do not subject the preparation of to the influence of heat, moisture and direct sunlight.

If you have missed the next reception, accept the preparation as soon as you have recollected it, but if the time of following reception of a preparation has already almost come miss a reception. Do not accept double dozes.

Ampicillin cooperates with chlortetracycline, gentamycin, heparin, oral contraceptives, warfarin.

Immediately call a doctor, if you have attributes of heavy allergic reaction (anaphylactic shock): laryngospasm, strong weakness, a pain in the field of a stomach, nausea and vomiting, a diarrhea, a rash.

Immediately call a doctor, if even after a month after the termination of the course of therapy by ampicillin you have: pains, colic in the field of a belly or a stomach, a frequent aqueous diarrhea (possibly with blood), heat and pharyngitis, nausea or vomiting, strong thirst, unusual fatigue or weakness, unusual reduction of weight of a body, the convulsive attacks, complicated urination, depression, unusual bleeding or hematomas, yellowing of skin or eyes, painful feelings in the zone of an injection.

Call a doctor if constantly, during rather long time, you observe the following symptoms at yourself: a diarrhea of small intensity, an inflammation of an oral cavity or tongue, dimness or decolouration of a tongue, an itch and vaginal discharge.

What is ampicillin?

• Ampicillin is an antibiotic in the class of drugs called penicillins. Ampicillin fights bacteria in your body.
• Ampicillin is used to treat many different types of infections, such as tonsillitis, pneumonia, bronchitis, urinary tract infections, gonorrhea, and infections of the intestines such as salmonella (food poisoning).
• Ampicillin may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

What is the most important information I should know about ampicillin?

• Take all of the ampicillin that has been prescribed for you even if you begin to feel better. Your symptoms may begin to improve before the infection is completely treated.
• Do not break, chew, open, or crush the capsules. Swallow them whole.
• Ampicillin may decrease the effectiveness of birth control pills. Use a second method of birth control while taking ampicillin to protect against pregnancy.

Who should not take ampicillin?

• If you have ever had an allergic reaction to another penicillin or to a cephalosporin, do not take ampicillin unless your doctor is aware of your allergy and monitors your therapy.
• Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you have kidney disease, stomach or intestinal disease, or infectious mononucleosis. You may not be able to take ampicillin because of an increased risk of side effects.
• If you are a diabetic, some glucose urine tests may give false positive results while you are taking ampicillin.
• Ampicillin is in the FDA pregnancy category B. This means that it is unlikely to harm an unborn baby. Ampicillin is generally considered to be safe for use during pregnancy. Do not, however, take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant.
• Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take ampicillin?

• Take ampicillin exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand the instructions, ask your nurse, doctor, or pharmacist to explain them to you.
• Take each dose with a full glass of water.
• Take ampicillin on an empty stomach 1 hour before or 2 hours after meals.
• Ampicillin should be taken at evenly spaced intervals throughout the day and night to keep the level in your blood high enough to treat the infection.
• Do not crush, chew, or open the ampicillin capsules. Swallow them whole.
• ake all of the ampicillin that has been prescribed for you even if you begin to feel better. Your symptoms may start to improve before the infection is completely treated.
• Store the tablets and capsules at room temperature and store the suspension in the refrigerator for longer use.

What happens if I miss a dose?

• Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take only your next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of this medication unless otherwise directed by your doctor.
• If you have only missed one dose, you can take the rest of your scheduled doses for the day at evenly spaced intervals.

What happens if I overdose?

• Seek emergency medical attention.
• Symptoms of an ampicillin overdose include muscle spasms or weakness, pain or twitching, pain in the fingers or toes, loss of feeling in the fingers or toes, seizures, confusion, coma, and agitation.

What should I avoid while taking ampicillin?

• Alcohol may irritate your stomach if taken with ampicillin, so use it with moderation.

What are the possible side effects of ampicillin?

• If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking ampicillin and seek emergency medical attention:
  • an allergic reaction (shortness of breath; closing of your throat; hives; swelling of your lips, face, or tongue; rash; or fainting);
  • seizures;
  • severe watery diarrhea and abdominal cramps; or
  • unusual bleeding or bruising.
• Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take ampicillin and talk to your doctor if you experience
  • mild nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or abdominal pain;
  • white patches on the tongue (thrush/ yeast infection);
  • itching or discharge of the vagina (vaginal yeast infection); or
  • black, "hairy" tongue or sore mouth or tongue.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What drug(s) may interact with ampicillin?

• allopurinol
• certain antibiotics given by injection
• clavulanic acid
• entacapone
• female hormones, including contraceptive or birth control pills
• methotrexate
• probenecid

What is the shelf life of the pills?

• The expiry date is mentioned on each blister. It is different for different batches. The shelf life is 2 years from the date of manufacture and would differ from batch to batch depending on when they were manufactured.