Ampicillin ( Penicillin antibiotic )

It is an antibiotic-penicillin having a wide range of activity. It is bactericidal – it can stop the growth, as well as the multiplication of pathogenic bacteria.

Composition and form of release

The active substance is ampicillin.

This drug is given in the form of powder for the preparation of solution for injection, as well as in the form of tablets of 250 mg.

Indications

The medicine is used for infections that are caused by sensitive microorganisms. Ampicillin is used for:

• respiratory tract infections, ENT organs (bronchitis, sinusitis, pneumonia, otitis media, pharyngitis, tonsillitis);
• infectious gastroenteritis caused by salmonella, shigella, as well as in paratyphoid, typhoid fever;
• bile duct infections (cholecystitis, cholangitis);
• bacterial endocarditis;
• Meningitis;
• infections of the genitourinary system (pyelonephritis, urethritis, cystitis);
• peritonitis;
• infections of soft tissues and skin;

Contraindications

Do not use Ampicillin ( Penicillin ) with hypersensitivity to it and other beta-lactam antibiotics (cephalosporins, penicillins, carbapenems).

It is not used for serious violations of kidney and liver function, infectious mononucleosis, HIV infection, leukemia, as well as diseases of the digestive tract, the occurrence of which is associated with the use of antibiotics.

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Application in pregnancy and lactation

When pregnancy can be prescribed only if the expected benefit for the mother exceeds the potential risks to the fetus.

Ampicillin is able to penetrate into breast milk. Therefore, when it is used, it is necessary to stop breastfeeding.

Dosing and Administration

The dose of the drug and the duration of its use are set by the attending physician to each patient individually (depending on the location of the infection, the severity of the disease).

Ampicillin tablets are administered orally for half an hour before or two hours after eating. The duration of the use of tablets can be from five days to three weeks or more. After the signs of the disease disappear, the drug should be taken another two to three days.

The standard single dose for children over fourteen years old and for adults is 250-1000 mg every six hours. Dosing regimen is set by the doctor.

With infections of the urinary tract, the drug is usually applied at 500 mg every eight hours. With infections of the ENT organs and respiratory tract, 250 mg every six hours.

Before starting the use of this drug in the form of a powder, each patient is required to perform a skin test to detect a hypersensitivity to this antibiotic.

The injection solution should be prepared immediately before use. The ready-made solution should be used immediately after its preparation. This drug is administered intramuscularly or intravenously (either jet or drip).

The recommended dose for adult patients is 250-500 mg four times a day. The daily dose – up to 1-3 g. With severe infection, the daily dose can be increased to 10 g or more.

Newborn medicine is usually used in a daily dose of 20-40 mg / kg, children of other age groups – 50-100 mg / kg. The daily dose should be administered in four to six receptions with a break of four to six hours.

 

Overdose

In case of an overdose, there may be symptoms such as headache, nausea, dizziness, vomiting, loose stools, skin rashes. When symptoms of an overdose appear, you must immediately discontinue the drug and give the patient symptomatic treatment.

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Side effects

Ampicillin ( Penicillin ) can cause the following side effects: nausea, various allergic reactions (rashes, redness of the skin, itching, hives, etc.), abdominal pain, diarrhea, dry mouth, vomiting, stomatitis, headache pain, enterocolitis, dizziness, tremor, reversible hematopoiesis (thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, hemolytic anemia), convulsions, candidiasis.

Also at the site of injection, there may be local adverse reactions (including swelling, flushing, itching at the injection site).

 

Terms and conditions of storage

Store Ampicillin at temperatures below + 25 ° C in places inaccessible to the child.