Principen

Do not use this medication if you are allergic to ampicillin or to any other penicillin antibiotic, such as:

• amoxicillin (Amoxil, Amoxicot, Biomox, Dispermox, Trimox);
• carbenicillin (Geocillin);
• dicloxacillin (Dycill, Dynapen);
• oxacillin (Bactocill); or
• penicillin (Beepen-VK, Ledercillin VK, Pen-V, Pen-Vee K, Pfizerpen, V-Cillin K, Veetids, and others).

To make sure you can safely take ampicillin, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs (especially cephalosporins such as Omnicef, Cefzil, Ceftin, Keflex, and others), or if you have:

• asthma;
• kidney disease;
• a bleeding or blood clotting disorder;
• mononucleosis (also called "mono");
• a history of diarrhea caused by taking antibiotics; or
• a history of any type of allergy.

FDA pregnancy category B. Ampicillin is not expected to harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

Ampicillin can make birth control pills less effective, which may result in pregnancy. Before taking ampicillin, tell your doctor if you use birth control pills.

Ampicillin can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while you are taking ampicillin.

• Gonorrhea In Women
• Mitral Valve Prolapse (MVP)
• Strep Throat
• Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)

Ampicillin is a penicillin antibiotic that fights bacteria.

Ampicillin is used to treat or prevent many different types of infections such as bladder infections, pneumonia, gonorrhea, meningitis, or infections of the stomach or intestines.

Ampicillin may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Antibiotic medicines can cause diarrhea, which may be a sign of a new infection. If you have diarrhea that is watery or bloody, call your doctor. Do not use anti-diarrhea medicine unless your doctor tells you to.

Other drugs may interact with ampicillin, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell each of your health care providers about all medicines you use now and any medicine you start or stop using.

In the U.S.

• Amoxil
• Bactocill
• Bicillin L-A
• Cloxapen
• Crysticillin
• Dynapen
• Geocillin
• Nafcil
• Pfizerpen
• Pipracil
• Principen
• Staphcillin
• Ticar
• Veetids

In Canada

• Amoxil Pediatric
• Ampicillin Sodium
• Apo-Amoxi
• Apo-Amoxi Sugar-Free
• Apo-Cloxi
• Apo-Pen-Vk
• Gen-Amoxicillin
• Med Amoxicillin
• Nadopen V 200
• Nadopen V 400
• Novamoxin

Available Dosage Forms:

• Tablet
• Powder for Suspension
• Capsule
• Powder for Solution
• Suspension
• Solution
• Tablet, Chewable
• Tablet for Suspension
• Tablet, Extended Release
• Syrup

• If you have an allergy to ampicillin, any penicillin, or any other part of Principen (ampicillin capsules).
• If you are allergic to any drugs like this one, any other drugs, foods, or other substances. Tell your doctor about the allergy and what signs you had, like rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat; or any other signs.
• If you have mono.
• If you are breast-feeding or plan to breast-feed.

This is not a list of all drugs or health problems that interact with this medicine.

Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all of your drugs (prescription or OTC, natural products, vitamins) and health problems. You must check to make sure that it is safe for you to take Principen with all of your drugs and health problems. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any drug without checking with your doctor.

All drugs may cause side effects. However, many people have no side effects or only have minor side effects. Call your doctor or get medical help if any of these side effects or any other side effects bother you or do not go away:

• Upset stomach or throwing up.
• Loose stools (diarrhea).

These are not all of the side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, call your doctor. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. You may also report side effects at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.

• If your symptoms or health problems do not get better or if they become worse, call your doctor.
• Do not share your drugs with others and do not take anyone else's drugs.
• Keep a list of all your drugs (prescription, natural products, vitamins, OTC) with you. Give this list to your doctor.
• Talk with the doctor before starting any new drug, including prescription or OTC, natural products, or vitamins.
• Some drugs may have another patient information leaflet. Check with your pharmacist. If you have any questions about Principen, please talk with your doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.

This information should not be used to decide whether or not to take this medicine or any other medicine. Only the healthcare provider has the knowledge and training to decide which medicines are right for a specific patient. This information does not endorse any medicine as safe, effective, or approved for treating any patient or health condition. This is only a brief summary of general information about Principen (ampicillin capsules). It does NOT include all information about the possible uses, directions, warnings, precautions, interactions, adverse effects, or risks that may apply to this medicine. This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from the healthcare provider. You must talk with the healthcare provider for complete information about the risks and benefits of using Principen.

Review Date: October 4, 2017