What is ampicillin

You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to ampicillin or to any other penicillin antibiotic, such as amoxicillin Amoxil, Augmentin, Moxatag, and others , carbenicillin, dicloxacillin, or penicillin. This medicine is not expected to harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Ampicillin can make birth control pills less effective. Ask your doctor about using non hormonal birth control condom, diaphragm with spermicide to prevent pregnancy.

Ampicillin can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. Ampicillin is injected into a muscle, or into a vein through an IV. You may be shown how to use an IV at home. Do not self-inject this medicine if you do not understand how to give the injection and properly dispose of used needles, IV tubing, and other items used to inject the medicine. You may need to mix ampicillin with a liquid diluent before using it.

If you are using the injections at home, be sure you understand how to properly mix and store the medicine. You should use the injection as soon as possible after mixing it. Use a disposable needle and syringe only once. Follow any state or local laws about throwing away used needles and syringes. Use a puncture-proof "sharps" disposal container ask your pharmacist where to get one and how to throw it away. Keep this container out of the reach of children and pets.

If you are being treated for gonorrhea, your doctor may also have you tested for syphilis, another sexually transmitted disease. Your doctor may switch you from ampicillin injection to an oral form of this medicine.

Use this medicine for the full prescribed length of time. Your symptoms may improve before the infection is completely cleared. Skipping doses may also increase your risk of further infection that is resistant to antibiotics.

Ampicillin will not treat a viral infection such as the flu or a common cold. Ampicillin can cause unusual results with certain lab tests for glucose sugar in the urine. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using this medicine.

After mixing your medicine, you will need to use it within a certain number of hours. Both antibiotics are used to treat a variety of bacterial infections more on this below. Although ampicillin and amoxicillin are both penicillin antibiotics, they are not exactly the same.

Continue reading to learn more about ampicillin and amoxicillin. Ampicillin is a penicillin antibiotic. It is used to treat many gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. The brand name of ampicillin is Principen; however, Principen is no longer available as a brand-name drug. The medication is available as the generic, ampicillin, as an oral capsule or as an injection. Ampicillin is also available in injection form as Unasyn , which contains ampicillin along with sulbactam to prevent antibiotic resistance.

Amoxicillin is also a penicillin antibiotic. It is chemically similar to ampicillin and has a broad spectrum of activity against many gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. The brand name of amoxicillin is Amoxil; however, Amoxil is no longer commercially available. The medication is only available in the generic form of amoxicillin.

Amoxicillin is most commonly prescribed as amoxicillin capsules for adults, or suspension for children, or in combination with clavulanic acid which prevents antibiotic resistance as a medication called Augmentin.

However, if you have been taking your antibiotic for several days and you are not feeling any better or you are feeling worse, contact your healthcare provider for guidance. Unasyn: ampicillin-sulbactam : injection Amoxicillin: capsule, suspension, tablet, chewable tablet. Augmentin : amoxicillin-clavulanate : tablet, chewable tablet, suspension.

Prevpac: a course of treatment containing amoxicillin capsules in combination with lansoprazole and clarithromycin used for stomach ulcers caused by H. Example: ampicillin mg every 6 hours for days Example: amoxicillin mg 3 times a day for 10 days How long is the typical treatment? Adults and children Adults and children Conditions treated by ampicillin and amoxicillin Ampicillin is used to treat bacterial infections including:.

Antibiotics such as ampicillin or amoxicillin should only be used in bacterial infections when determined to be appropriate by your healthcare provider. This helps prevent antibiotic resistance.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC is promoting the appropriate use of antibiotics by helping healthcare providers choose the appropriate antibiotic and reduce unnecessary antibiotic use when treating various infectious diseases.

This is called antibiotic stewardship. One study , from , compared the two drugs for ear infection in children and found both drugs to be similarly effective. Amoxicillin was better tolerated, with fewer side effects than ampicillin. Ampicillin alone is not prescribed as much as it was in the past , due to the development of drug resistance. Currently, amoxicillin is much more widely prescribed. However, ampicillin in combination with sulbactam Unasyn is commonly given as an injection in the hospital setting.

Sulbactam is a drug called a beta-lactamase inhibitor and helps prevent drug resistance. In the outpatient setting, this is similar to a patient taking Augmentin, which is amoxicillin plus clavulanic acid, a beta-lactamase inhibitor. The most effective medication can be determined by your healthcare provider, who can diagnose your infection as bacterial or viral. If you are diabetic and test your urine for sugar, use Clinistix or TesTape not Clinitest to test your urine while taking this medication.

Do not let anyone else take your medication. Your prescription is probably not refillable. If you still have symptoms of infection after you finish the ampicillin, call your doctor. It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription over-the-counter medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements.

You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies. Generic alternatives may be available. Ampicillin pronounced as am pi sil' in. Why is this medication prescribed?

How should this medicine be used? Other uses for this medicine What special precautions should I follow? What special dietary instructions should I follow?

What should I do if I forget a dose? What side effects can this medication cause? What should I know about storage and disposal of this medication? Brand names Other names. Shake the suspension well before each use to mix the medication evenly. The medication should be taken with a full glass of water.

Other uses for this medicine. What special precautions should I follow? Before taking ampicillin, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to ampicillin; penicillins; cephalosporin antibiotics such as cefaclor, cefadroxil, cefazolin Ancef, Kefzol , cefdinir, cefditoren, cefepime Maxipime , cefixime Suprax , cefotaxime Claforan , cefotetan, cefoxitin Mefoxin , cefpodoxime, cefprozil, ceftaroline Teflaro , ceftazidime Fortaz, Tazicef, in Avycaz , ceftibuten, ceftriaxone, cefuroxime Ceftin, Zinacef , and cephalexin Keflex ; any other medications; or any of the ingredients in ampicillin capsules or suspension.