Ampicillin

Ampicillin is a type of drug that stops bacteria from infecting organs growing in your body. It is only given to you when your healthcare provider prescribes it for one of the following conditions:

• When you have an infection in your heart, throat or lungs that is caused by bacteria.
• An infection in your bladder, kidneys, stomach or intestines or the covering of your brain.
• Your healthcare provider may also prescribe this medicine to prevent you from contracting infections if you need surgery or a procedure in your mouth.

Ampicillin is a medicine used to treat infections caused by bacteria. This medicine will not work for conditions that are caused by a virus, like the common cold. Your healthcare provider will only give you this medicine if you have a prescription.

You should not take this medicine if you have had an allergic reaction to it before because it can cause a bad allergic reaction.

• Ampicillin can be taken as an injection given by a healthcare provider or a trained caregiver, or as a capsule or liquid to be taken by mouth. You may require the injection if your infection is severe or you can not take anything by mouth.
• In case you forget a dose, then take it as soon as you remember, but if you remember at a time close to your next dose, then take only the next dose.
• Do not add more doses or intentionally skip a dose. Doing this can put you at risk of an infection that is more difficult to treat.
• If you take more of this medicine than what was prescribed for you, go to the nearest health centre (with the remaining medicine) and report the overdose.
• Do not take more of this medicine than prescribed and do not share it with others. This may make the medicine not work against this infection or other infections.  

You may experience mild unpleasant effects of this medicine. They will usually go away within 2 to 3 days. You should mention these or other undesirable effects to your healthcare provider, especially if it stays longer than a week. 

• You may experience pain or irritation at the place where you are given an injection.
• You may have a skin rash or skin itching.
• You may pass loose stools or feel you want to vomit and vomit.
• Your tongue may turn black and hairy. This effect goes away when you stop the medicine.

You must inform your healthcare provider if you have any disease condition. This will help them check your risk for any severe unpleasant effect.

• • Do not take ampicillin if you had a drug reaction to it before, like a rash that went away when you stopped taking it.
  • Tell your healthcare provider if you have had another drug reaction before, even if unrelated to this one.
  • Tell your healthcare provider if you are currently taking other antibiotics such as tetracycline or if you need to take a vaccine while taking this medicine.
  • Do not take this medicine if you have a rare condition called infectious mononucleosis.
  • If you have kidney disease, your healthcare provider may need to modify your dose.