Ampicillin Oral Capsule

Ampicillin oral capsule doesn’t cause drowsiness, but it can cause other side effects.

More common side effects

The more common side effects of ampicillin oral capsule can include:

• nausea
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• rash

If these effects are mild, they may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. If they’re more severe or don’t go away, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Serious side effects

Call your doctor right away if you have serious side effects. Call 911 if your symptoms feel life-threatening or if you think you’re having a medical emergency. Serious side effects and their symptoms can include the following:

• Allergic reactions. Symptoms can include:
  • flu-like symptoms, such as fever and body aches
  • painful red or purple rash that spreads
  • blisters that could lead to skin breakdown
• Diarrhea that lasts after you stop taking the drug. Symptoms can include:
  • diarrhea with or without stomach cramps
  • diarrhea with a fever

Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information. However, because drugs affect each person differently, we cannot guarantee that this information includes all possible side effects. This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Always discuss possible side effects with a healthcare provider who knows your medical history.

Ampicillin oral capsule can interact with other medications, vitamins, or herbs you may be taking. An interaction is when a substance changes the way a drug works. This can be harmful or prevent the drug from working well.

To help avoid interactions, your doctor should manage all of your medications carefully. Be sure to tell your doctor about all medications, vitamins, or herbs you’re taking. To find out how this drug might interact with something else you’re taking, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Examples of drugs that can cause interactions with ampicillin oral capsule are listed below.

Interactions that increase your risk of side effects

Increased side effects from ampicillin: Taking ampicillin with certain medications raises your risk of side effects from ampicillin. This is because the amount of ampicillin in your body may be increased. Examples of these drugs include:

• Probenecid
  • Taking this drug with ampicillin can cause more side effects. These can include severe nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
• Allopurinol
  • This drug increases the risk of skin rash when you take it with ampicillin.

Interactions that can make your drugs less effective

When ampicillin is less effective: When you take ampicillin with certain drugs, it may not work as well to treat your condition. This is because the amount of ampicillin in your body may be decreased. Examples of these drugs include:

• Antibiotics such as chloramphenicol, macrolides, sulfonamides, and tetracyclines
  • Your doctor may increase your ampicillin dosage or decrease the dosage of your other antibiotic if you need to take them together.

When other drugs are less effective: When certain drugs are used with ampicillin, they may not work as well. This is because the amount of these drugs in your body may be decreased. Examples include:

• Oral contraceptives (birth control pills)
  • Your doctor may prescribe a different form of birth control for you.

Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information. However, because drugs interact differently in each person, we cannot guarantee that this information includes all possible interactions. This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Always speak with your healthcare provider about possible interactions with all prescription drugs, vitamins, herbs and supplements, and over-the-counter drugs that you are taking.

This dosage information is for ampicillin oral capsule. All possible dosages and drug forms may not be included here. Your dosage, drug form, and how often you take the drug will depend on:

• your age
• the condition being treated
• how severe your condition is
• other medical conditions you have
• how you react to the first dose

The dosage information below is for the conditions that this drug is most often prescribed to treat. This list may not contain all conditions that your doctor can prescribe this drug for. If you have questions about your prescription, talk with your doctor.

Forms and strengths

Generic: Ampicillin

• Form: oral capsule
• Strengths: 250 mg, 500 mg

Dosage for genitourinary tract infections, gonorrhea

Adult dosage (ages 18–64 years)

For genitourinary tract infections other than gonorrhea:

• Typical dosage is 500 mg four times per day.

For gonorrhea:

• Typical dosage is 3.5 grams as a single dose.

Child dosage (children who weigh 20kg or more)

For genitourinary tract infections other than gonorrhea:

• Typical dosage is 500 mg four times per day.

For gonorrhea:

• Typical dosage is 3.5 grams as a single dose.

Child dosage (children who weigh less than 20kg)

For genitourinary tract infections:

• Typical dosage is 100 mg/kg per day in four equally divided and spaced doses.

Senior dosage (ages 65 years and older)

The kidneys of older adults may not work as well as they used to. This can cause your body to process drugs more slowly. As a result, more of a drug stays in your body for a longer time. This raises your risk of side effects.

Your doctor may start you on a lowered dosage or a different schedule. This can help keep levels of this drug from building up too much in your body.

Dosage for respiratory tract infections

Adult dosage (ages 18–64 years)

• Typical dosage is 250 mg four times per day.

Child dosage (children who weigh 20kg or more)

• Typical dosage is 250 mg four times per day.

Child dosage (children who weigh less than 20kg)

• Typical dosage is 50 mg/kg per day in equally divided and spaced doses three to four times per day.

Senior dosage (ages 65 years and older)

The kidneys of older adults may not work as well as they used to. This can cause your body to process drugs more slowly. As a result, more of a drug stays in your body for a longer time. This raises your risk of side effects.

Your doctor may start you on a lowered dosage or a different schedule. This can help keep levels of this drug from building up too much in your body.

Dosage for gastrointestinal tract infections

Adult dosage (ages 18–64 years)

• Typical dosage is 500 mg four times per day.

Child dosage (children who weigh 20kg or more)

• Typical dosage is 500 mg four times per day.

Child dosage (children who weigh less than 20kg)

• Typical dosage is 100 mg/kg per day in four equally divided and spaced doses.

Senior dosage (ages 65 years and older)

The kidneys of older adults may not work as well as they used to. This can cause your body to process drugs more slowly. As a result, more of a drug stays in your body for a longer time. This raises your risk of side effects.

Your doctor may start you on a lowered dosage or a different schedule. This can help keep levels of this drug from building up too much in your body.

Dosage for meningitis

Adult dosage (ages 18–64 years)

Your doctor will decide the dosage that’s right for you.

Child dosage (ages 0–17 years)

Your child’s doctor will decide the dosage that’s right for your child.

Senior dosage (ages 65 years and older)

The kidneys of older adults may not work as well as they used to. This can cause your body to process drugs more slowly. As a result, more of a drug stays in your body for a longer time. This raises your risk of side effects.

Your doctor may start you on a lowered dosage or a different schedule. This can help keep levels of this drug from building up too much in your body.

Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information. However, because drugs affect each person differently, we cannot guarantee that this list includes all possible dosages. This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Always to speak with your doctor or pharmacist about dosages that are right for you.

Ampicillin oral capsule is used for short-term treatment. It comes with serious risks if you don’t take it as prescribed.

If you stop taking the drug suddenly or don’t take it at all: Your bacterial infection may not get better. It may even get worse.

If you miss doses or don’t take the drug on schedule: Your medication may not work as well or may stop working completely. For this drug to work well, a certain amount needs to be in your body at all times.

Finish all of your medication that your doctor prescribes. Don’t stop taking your drug or skip doses if you start to feel better. Doing so could make your infection last longer. You could also become resistant to the drug. This means that if you get another bacterial infection, ampicillin may not work to treat it.

If you take too much: You could have dangerous levels of the drug in your body. Symptoms of an overdose of this drug can include upset stomach and diarrhea.

If you think you’ve taken too much of this drug, call your doctor or local poison control center. If your symptoms are severe, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room right away.

What to do if you miss a dose: Take your dose as soon as you remember. But if you remember just a few hours before your next scheduled dose, take only one dose. Never try to catch up by taking two doses at once. This could result in dangerous side effects.

How to tell if the drug is working: The symptoms of your infection will get better.

Keep these considerations in mind if your doctor prescribes ampicillin oral capsule for you.

General

• Don’t take this drug with food.
• Take this drug with 8 oz. of water 30 minutes before eating or two hours after eating.

Storage

• Store the capsules at room temperature between 68°F and 77°F (20°C and 25°C).
• Store them away from light.

Refills

A prescription for this medication is refillable. You should not need a new prescription to refill this medication. Your doctor will write the number of refills authorized on your prescription.

Travel

When traveling with your medication:

• Always carry your medication with you. When flying, never put it into a checked bag. Keep it in your carry-on bag.
• Don’t worry about airport x-ray machines. They can’t hurt your medication.
• You may need to show airport staff the pharmacy label for your medication. Always carry the original prescription-labeled box with you.
• Don’t put this medication in your car’s glove compartment or leave it in the car. Be sure to avoid doing this when the weather is very hot or very cold.

Clinical monitoring

Your doctor will likely monitor certain health issues during your treatment. This can help make sure you stay safe while you take this drug. These issues include:

• Kidney function. Your doctor may do blood tests to check how well your kidneys are working. If your kidneys don’t work well, your doctor may reduce how often you take this drug.
• Liver function. Your doctor may do blood tests to check how well your liver is working. If your liver doesn’t work well, your doctor may lower your dosage of this drug.
• Blood cell counts. Your doctor may do blood tests to check if this drug is reducing your red blood cell and platelet levels. If it is, your doctor may lower your dosage or your stop treatment with the drug.
• Syphilis. If you have gonorrhea, your doctor will also test for you for syphilis. They’ll do this when you start the drug and then again three months later. This is because treatment for gonorrhea can mask symptoms of syphilis.