Ampicillin Sodium inj.

Ampicillin is a penicillin antibiotic. It works by killing sensitive bacteria by interfering with formation of the bacteria's cell wall while it is growing. This weakens the cell wall and it ruptures resulting in the death of the bacteria.

Therapeutic actions:
Belonging to the penicillin group of beta-lactam antibiotics, ampicillin is able to penetrate Gram-positive and some Gram-negative bacteria. It differs from penicillin only by the presence of an amino group. That amino group helps the drug penetrate the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria. Ampicillin acts as a competitive inhibitor of the enzyme transpeptidase. Transpeptidase is needed by bacteria to make their cell walls. It inhibits the third and final stage of bacterial cell wall synthesis, which ultimately leads to cell lysis.

What is it used for?:
Ampicillin is used to treat different types of infections caused by bacteria, such as ear infections, bladder infections, pneumonia, gonorrhea, and E. coli or salmonella infection.

Contraindications and cautions:
• Do not use Ampicillin if you are allergic to ampicillin or to any other penicillin antibiotic, such as amoxicillin (Amoxil), carbenicillin (Geocillin), dicloxacillin (Dycill, Dynapen), oxacillin (Bactocill), penicillin (Beepen-VK, Ledercillin VK, Pen-V, Pen-Vee K, Pfizerpen, V-Cillin K, Veetids), and others.
• Before using ampicillin, tell your doctor if you are allergic to cephalosporins such as Ceclor, Ceftin, Duricef, Keflex, and others,
• or if you have:
• asthma,
• kidney disease,
• a bleeding or blood clotting disorder,
• mononucleosis (also called "mono"), or
• a history of any type of allergy.

Side effects:
Common: Inflammation and redness of the tongue; irritation of mouth or throat; mild diarrhea; nausea; second infection; vomiting. Severe allergic reactions (rash; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; hives; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); severe diarrhea; bloody stools; stomach pain/cramps; vaginal irritation or discharge.

Interactions:
• Ampicillin 's effectiveness may be decreased by tetracyclines (eg, doxycycline);
• the risk of skin rash may be increased by Allopurinol;
• Ampicillin may increase the risk of side effects of anticoagulants (heparin, warfarin) or methotrexate;
• Ampicillin may decrease effectiveness of aminoglycosides or birth control pills.