Ampicillin

Trade Names:
Principen
- Capsules 250 mg (as trihydrate)
- Capsules 500 mg (as trihydrate)
- Powder for oral suspension 125 mg/5 mL (as trihydrate) when reconstituted
- Powder for oral suspension 250 mg/5 mL (as trihydrate) when reconstituted

Trade Names:
Ampicillin Sodium
- Powder for injection 250 mg
- Powder for injection 500 mg
- Powder for injection 1 g
- Powder for injection 2 g

Pharmacology

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Inhibits bacterial cell wall mucopeptide synthesis.

Pharmacokinetics

Absorption

Well absorbed from GI tract. C _max is approximately 3 mcg/mL (500 mg capsules) and 3.4 mcg/mL (500 mg oral suspension). Food affects absorption; take on empty stomach.

Distribution

Diffuses readily into most body tissues and fluids; penetrates into the CSF and brain only when meninges are inflamed. Approximately 20% protein bound; excreted in breast milk.

Elimination

Excreted largely unchanged in the urine.

Special Populations

T _1/2 may be prolonged. Dosing interval adjustments may be necessary.

Indications and Usage

Treatment of respiratory, GI, and GU tract and soft tissue infections, bacterial meningitis and enterococcal endocarditis, septicemia and gonococcal infections caused by susceptible microorganisms.

Unlabeled Uses

Prophylaxis in Cesarean section in certain high risk patients.

Contraindications

Hypersensitivity to penicillins, cephalosporins or imipenem. Oral form not used to treat severe pneumonia, empyema, bacteremia, pericarditis, meningitis, and purulent or septic arthritis during acute stage.

Dosage and Administration

IV 12 g/day either continuously or in equally divided doses every 4 h plus mg/kg IM or IV gentamicin every 8 h for 4 to 6 wk.

IV / IM 250 to 500 mg every 6 h.

IV / IM 25 to 50 mg/kg/day in equally divided doses every 6 to 8 h.

PO 250 mg every 6 h.

PO 50 mg/kg/day in equally divided dose every 6 to 8 h.

Initial treatment is usually IV followed by IM 150 to 200 mg/kg/day in equally divided doses every 3 to 4 h.

IV 150 to 200 mg/kg/day for at least 3 days followed by IM every 3 to 4 h.

PO 500 mg every 6 h; use larger doses for severe or chronic infections, if needed.

PO 100 mg/kg/day in equally divided doses every 6 h.

PO 3.5 g administered simultaneously with 1 g probenecid.

IV / IM 500 mg every 6 h.

IV / IM 50 mg/kg/day in equally divided doses every 6 to 8 h.

IV / IM Two 500 mg doses at an interval of 8 to 12 h. Dose may be repeated if necessary. In complicated gonorrheal urethritis, intensive therapy is recommended.

Drug Interactions

Increases potential for ampicillin-induced skin rash.

Antihypertensive and antianginal effects may be impaired.

May reduce efficacy of oral contraceptives.

May impair bactericidal effects of ampicillin.

Incompatibility

Do not mix with aminoglycosides (eg, gentamicin).

Laboratory Test Interactions

May cause false-positive urine glucose test results with Benedict solution, Fehling solution, or Clinitest tablets (enzyme-based tests, eg, Clinistix , Tes-tape , are recommended); false-positive direct Coombs test result in certain patient groups; false-positive protein reactions with sulfosalicylic acid and boiling test, acetic acid test, biuret reaction and nitric acid test (the bromphenol blue test, Multistix , is recommended).

Adverse Reactions

Cardiovascular

Thrombophlebitis at injection site.

CNS

Dizziness; fatigue; insomnia; reversible hyperactivity; neurotoxicity (eg, lethargy, neuromuscular irritability, hallucinations, convulsions, seizures).

Dermatologic

Urticaria; maculopapular to exfoliative dermatitis; vesicular eruptions; erythema multiforme; skin rashes.

EENT

Itchy eyes; laryngospasm; laryngeal edema.

GI

Diarrhea; pseudomembranous colitis.

Genitourinary

Interstitial nephritis (eg, oliguria, proteinuria, hematuria, hyaline casts, pyuria); nephropathy; increased BUN and creatinine; vaginitis.

Hematologic

Decreased Hgb, Hct, RBC, WBC, neutrophils, lymphocytes, platelets; increased lymphocytes, monocytes, basophils, eosinophils, and platelets.

Metabolic

Elevated serum alkaline phosphatase, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, ALT, AST, and LDH; reduced serum albumin and total proteins.

Miscellaneous

Pain at injection site; hyperthermia.

Precautions

Pregnancy

Category B .

Lactation

Excreted in breast milk.

Hypersensitivity

Reactions range from mild to life threatening. Use cautiously in cephalosporin-sensitive patients because of possible cross-allergenicity.

Renal Function

Use cautiously with altered dosing interval.

Superinfection

May result in overgrowth of nonsusceptible bacterial or fungal organisms.

Overdosage

Symptoms

Hyperexcitability, convulsive seizures.

Patient Information

• Instruct patient to time the doses evenly over a 24-h period.
• Inform patient that medication works best on an empty stomach, but may be taken with food if there is GI upset.
• Tell patient to increase fluid intake to 2,000 to 3,000 mL/day, unless contraindicated.
• Advise patient to refrigerate oral liquid preparations, and to discard unrefrigerated preparations that are more than 7 days old.
• Inform patient to notify health care provider immediately if rash develops or if having difficulty breathing.
• Warn diabetic patient that product may cause false-positive glucose urine test results, and identify alternative tests.
• If therapy is changed because of allergic reaction, explain the significance of penicillin allergy and inform of potential sensitivity to cephalosporins.

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