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Ampicillin is a brand name for Ampicillin. The medicine, its uses, side effects and dosage are the same regardless of brand.
Used for: INDICATIONS AND USAGE To reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria and maintain the effectiveness of ampicillin capsules, ampicillin for oral suspension and other antibacterial drugs, ampicillin capsules and ampicillin for oral suspension should be used only to treat or prevent infections that are proven or…
Verbatim from this product's FDA label. Tap a section to expand.
DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION
Adults and children weighing over 20 kg:
For genitourinary or gastrointestinal tract infections other than gonorrhea in men and women, the usual dose is 500 mg qid in equally spaced doses; severe or chronic infections may require larger doses. 5 grams of ampicillin administered simultaneously with 1 gram of probenecid is recommended.
Physicians are cautioned to use no less than the above recommended dosage for the treatment of gonorrhea. Follow-up cultures should be obtained from the original site(s) of infection 7 to 14 days after therapy. In women, it is also desirable to obtain culture test-of-cure from both the endocervical and anal canals.
Prolonged intensive therapy is needed for complications such as prostatitis and epididymitis. For respiratory tract infections , the usual dose is 250 mg qid in equally spaced doses.
Pediatric patients weighing 20 kg or less:
For genitourinary or gastrointestinal tract infections , the usual dose is 100 mg/kg/day total, qid in equally divided and spaced doses. For respiratory tract infections, the usual dose is 50 mg/kg/day total, in equally divided and spaced doses three to four times daily.
Doses for children should not exceed doses recommended for adults.
All Patients, Irrespective of Age and Weight :
Larger doses may be required for severe or chronic infections. Although ampicillin is resistant to degradation by gastric acid, it should be administered at least one-half hour before or two hours after meals for maximal absorption.
Except for the single dose regimen for gonorrhea referred to above, therapy should be continued for a minimum of 48 to 72 hours after the patient becomes asymptomatic or evidence of bacterial eradication has been obtained. In infections caused by hemolytic strains of streptococci, a minimum of 10 days’ treatment is recommended to guard against the risk of rheumatic fever or glomerulonephritis (see PRECAUTIONS–Laboratory Tests ).
In the treatment of chronic urinary or gastrointestinal infections, frequent bacteriologic and clinical appraisal is necessary during therapy and may be necessary for several months afterwards. Stubborn infections may require treatment for several weeks.
ADVERSE REACTIONS
As with other penicillins, it may be expected that untoward reactions will be essentially limited to sensitivity phenomena. They are more likely to occur in individuals who have previously demonstrated hypersensitivity to penicillin and in those with a history of allergy, asthma, hay fever, or urticaria.
The following adverse reactions have been reported as associated with the use of ampicillin: Infections and Infestations: Clostridioides difficile -associated diarrhea (see WARNINGS section). Gastrointestinal : glossitis, stomatitis, nausea, vomiting, enterocolitis, pseudomembranous colitis, and diarrhea.
These reactions are usually associated with oral dosage forms of the drugs.
Hypersensitivity Reactions :
Severe cutaneous adverse reactions, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), angioedema, and acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP) have been reported in beta-lactam antibiotics (see WARNINGS ).
An erythematous, mildly pruritic, maculopapular skin rash has been reported fairly frequently. The rash, which usually does not develop within the first week of therapy, may cover the entire body including the soles, palms, and oral mucosa.
The eruption usually disappears in three to seven days. Other hypersensitivity reactions that have been reported are: skin rash, pruritus, urticaria, erythema multiforme, and an occasional case of exfoliative dermatitis. Linear IgA bullous dermatosis has been reported.
Anaphylaxis is the most serious reaction experienced and has usually been associated with the parenteral dosage form of the drug.
WARNINGS SERIOUS AND OCCASIONALLY FATAL HYPERSENSITIVITY (ANAPHYLACTIC) REACTIONS HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN PATIENTS ON PENICILLIN THERAPY. ALTHOUGH ANAPHYLAXIS IS MORE FREQUENT FOLLOWING PARENTERAL THERAPY, IT HAS OCCURRED IN PATIENTS ON ORAL PENICILLINS.
THESE REACTIONS ARE MORE LIKELY TO OCCUR IN INDIVIDUALS WITH A HISTORY OF SENSITIVITY TO MULTIPLE ALLERGENS. THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH A HISTORY OF PENICILLIN HYPERSENSITIVITY WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED SEVERE REACTIONS WHEN TREATED WITH CEPHALOSPORINS.
BEFORE THERAPY WITH ANY PENICILLIN, CAREFUL INQUIRY SHOULD BE MADE CONCERNING PREVIOUS HYPERSENSITIVITY REACTIONS TO PENICILLINS, CEPHALOSPORINS OR OTHER ALLERGENS. IF AN ALLERGIC REACTION OCCURS, APPROPRIATE THERAPY SHOULD BE CONSIDERED.
SERIOUS ANAPHYLACTIC REACTIONS REQUIRE IMMEDIATE EMERGENCY TREATMENT WITH EPINEPHRINE. OXYGEN, INTRAVENOUS STEROIDS, AND AIRWAY MANAGEMENT, INCLUDING INTUBATION, SHOULD ALSO BE ADMINISTERED AS INDICATED. Severe Cutaneous Adverse Reactions Ampicillin may cause severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCARs), such as toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), exfoliative dermatitis, erythema multiforme, and acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP).
If patients develop a skin rash, they should be monitored closely, and ampicillin discontinued if lesions progress. Hepatotoxicity Hepatic dysfunction, including hepatitis and cholestatic jaundice has been associated with the use of ampicillin.
Hepatic toxicity is usually reversible; however, deaths have been reported. Hepatic function should be monitored at regular intervals in patients with hepatic impairment. Clostridioides difficile -Associated Diarrhea Clostridioides difficile -associated diarrhea (CDAD) has been reported with use of nearly all antibacterial agents, including ampicillin, and may range in severity from mild diarrhea to fatal colitis.
CONTRAINDICATIONS
, anaphylaxis or Stevens-Johnson syndrome) to ampicillin or to other beta-lactam antibacterial drugs. Ampicillin is also contraindicated in infections caused by penicillinase-producing organisms. Ampicillin is contraindicated in patients with a previous history of cholestatic jaundice/hepatic dysfunction associated with treatment with ampicillin.
Not medical advice. Always read the patient information leaflet and follow your prescriber or pharmacist.
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Smaller doses than those indicated above should not be used.
NOTE :
Urticaria, other skin rashes, and serum sickness-like reactions may be controlled by antihistamines, and, if necessary, systemic corticosteroids. Whenever such reactions occur, ampicillin should be discontinued unless, in the opinion of the physician, the condition being treated is life-threatening, and amenable only to ampicillin therapy.
Serious anaphylactic reactions require emergency measures (see WARNINGS ).
Liver :
Moderate elevation in serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) has been noted, but the significance of this finding is unknown.
Hemic and Lymphatic Systems :
Anemia, thrombocytopenia, thrombocytopenic purpura, eosinophilia, leukopenia, and agranulocytosis have been reported during therapy with penicillins. These reactions are usually reversible on discontinuation of therapy and are believed to be hypersensitivity phenomena.
Other adverse reactions that have been reported with the use of ampicillin are laryngeal stridor and high fever. An occasional patient may complain of sore mouth or tongue as with any oral penicillin preparation.
Treatment with antibacterial agents alters the normal flora of the colon leading to overgrowth of C. difficile . C. difficile produces toxins A and B which contribute to the development of CDAD. Hypertoxin producing strains of C. difficile cause increased morbidity and mortality, as these infections can be refractory to antimicrobial therapy and may require colectomy.
CDAD must be considered in all patients who present with diarrhea following antibacterial drug use. Careful medical history is necessary since CDAD has been reported to occur over two months after the administration of antibacterial agents.
If CDAD is suspected or confirmed, ongoing antibacterial drug use not directed against C. difficile may need to be discontinued. Appropriate fluid and electrolyte management, protein supplementation, antibacterial treatment of C. difficile , and surgical evaluation should be instituted as clinically indicated.