Ampicillin (Principen)

Description

Ampicillin is a drug used to treat infections that are brought about by bacterial growth. Do not use the medication to treat viral infections such as the flu. Misusing ampicillin can reduce the effectiveness of the drug to a great extent.

How It Works

Ampicillin is a type of penicillin antibiotic medication. These kind of drugs work by killing off harmful bacteria in your system. This is done by damaging the bacteria’s cell wall at the birth stage before it can grow to become a serious threat. This interference with the wall weakens the bacteria cells and eventually results in the death of the bacteria.

Uses

Ampicillin is used for a wide range of bacterial infections. Note that this drug is not effective in curing viral diseases like the common cold. To learn the precise abilities and benefits of this medication, contact your doctor.

Dosage

This drug should be consumed once every six hours. This means that you have to take ampicillin 4 times a day. Take the medication on an empty stomach, ideally 2 or 3 hours before or after your meals. The medication must not be consumed with food, so swallow it with a glass of water. Unless your physician tells you otherwise, do not forget to consume plenty of fluids when taking this drug. Your doctor might make slight changes to the dose in order to suit the treatment to your specific medical condition.

Antibiotics tend to work best when they are maintained at a constant level. Therefore, take the meticulously on a regular basis without missing a dose. In case you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. Do not double the dose in order to make up for one you didn’t take. You must continue the treatment even after the symptoms have disappeared. If you discontinue the treatment abruptly, the infection can return.

Side Effects

Keeping an eye on the following the side effects will help you to prevent them from complicating into a worse state.

 Inflammation of the tongue
 Irritation of the mouth
 Nausea
 Vomiting
 Mild diarrhea
 Redness of the tongue
 Throat irritation

In the event of such effects, contact your physician as soon as possible.

Precautions

Following the precautionary guidelines given below will help you to reduce the possibility of experiencing the above side effects.

 Do not use the medication on children who are younger than 10.

 Take regular lab tests to keep an eye on your blood cell count and liver condition.

 Consume plenty of water and other fluids to avoid dehydration.

Self-Care

Using this drug during the period of pregnancy is highly dangerous for your baby. If you become pregnant while using the drug, inform your physician about the situation. Since ampicillin is found in breast milk, it is best to avoid the drug when breast feeding a baby too.

Consuming antibiotic medication can result in mild diarrhea. However, if this side effect goes unnoticed, it could develop into a severe condition. So, if you notice unusual stomach pain or cramps, contact your physician immediately.