Medications and Drugs

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Brand Names: Principen

Generic Name: ampicillin (Pronunciation: am pi SIL in)

• What is ampicillin (Principen)?
• What are the possible side effects of ampicillin (Principen)?
• What is the most important information I should know about ampicillin (Principen)?
• What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking ampicillin (Principen)?
• How should I take ampicillin (Principen)?
• What happens if I miss a dose (Principen)?
• What happens if I overdose (Principen)?
• What should I avoid while taking ampicillin (Principen)?
• What other drugs will affect ampicillin (Principen)?
• Where can I get more information?

What is ampicillin (Principen)?

Ampicillin is an antibiotic in the penicillin group of drugs. It fights bacteria in your body.

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

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

Ampicillin 250 mg-STA

blue/gray, imprinted with WC 402

Ampicillin 250 mg-TEV

blue/white, imprinted with AMP, 250

Ampicillin 500 mg-STA

blue/gray, imprinted with WC 404

Ampicillin 500 mg-TEV

blue/white, imprinted with AMP, 500

Principen 250 mg

gray/red, imprinted with BRISTOL 7992

Principen 500 mg

gray/red, imprinted with BRISTOL 7993

What are the possible side effects of ampicillin (Principen)?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• fever, sore throat, and headache with a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash;
• diarrhea that is watery or bloody;
• fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms;
• easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness;
• urinating less than usual or not at all;
• agitation, confusion, unusual thoughts or behavior; or
• seizure (black-out or convulsions).

Less serious side effects may include

• nausea, vomiting, stomach pain;
• vaginal itching or discharge;
• headache;
• swollen, black, or "hairy" tongue; or
• thrush (white patches or inside your mouth or throat).

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What is the most important information I should know about ampicillin (Principen)?

Do not use this medication 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.

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.

Take this medication for the entire length of time prescribed by your doctor. Your symptoms may get better before the infection is completely treated. Ampicillin will not treat a viral infection such as the common cold or flu.

Do not give this medication to another person, even if they have the same symptoms you do.

Antibiotic medicines can cause diarrhea, which may be a sign of a new infection. If you have diarrhea that is watery or has blood in it, call your doctor. Do not use any medicine to stop the diarrhea unless your doctor has told you to.