Ampicillin

Why should Ampicillin not be prescribed?

You should not take ampicillin if you are allergic to penicillin or cephalosporin antibiotics.

Special warnings about Ampicillin

If you have an allergic reaction, stop taking this drug and contact your doctor immediately.

After you have taken ampicillin for a long time, you may get a new infection (called a superinfection) due to an organism this medication cannot treat. Consult your doctor if your symptoms do not improve or seem to get worse.

Ampicillin sometimes causes diarrhea. Some diarrhea medications can make the diarrhea worse. Check with your doctor before taking any diarrhea remedy.

Oral contraceptives may not work properly while you are taking ampicillin. For greater certainty, use other measures while taking this drug.

If you are diabetic, be aware that ampicillin may cause a false positive in certain urine glucose tests. You should talk to your doctor about the right tests to use while you are taking ampicillin.

For infections such as strep throat, it is important to take ampicillin for the entire amount of time your doctor has prescribed. Even if you feel better, you need to continue taking the medication.

Possible food and drug interactions when taking Ampicillin

If ampicillin is taken with certain other drugs the effects of either could be increased, decreased, or altered. It is especially important to check with your doctor before combining ampicillin with any of the following:

Allopurinol (Zyloprim)
Atenolol (Tenormin)
Chloroquine (Aralen)
Mefloquine (Lariam)
Oral contraceptives

Special information if you are pregnant or breastfeeding

The effects of ampicillin during pregnancy have not been adequately studied. If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, inform your doctor immediately. Ampicillin should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the developing baby.

Ampicillin appears in breast milk and could affect a nursing infant. If this medication is essential to your health, your doctor may advise you to stop breastfeeding until your treatment is finished.