Ampicillin+sulbactam
About
Ampicillin+sulbactam belongs to the group of medications called ‘antibiotics’ used to treat bacterial infections. Bacterial infections are caused by the multiplication of harmful bacteria inside or on the body. These harmful bacteria produce chemicals known as toxins, which can damage tissue and make you sick. Symptoms of bacterial infection vary depending on the organ affected by bacteria.
Ampicillin+sulbactam contains Ampicillin and Sulbactam. Ampicillin is a penicillin antibiotic. It has bactericidal action (kills bacteria). It works by preventing the formation of the cell wall (the outer protective layer of bacteria, which is essential for its survival) by preventing protein synthesis. Sulbactam is a beta-lactamase inhibitor. It broadens the spectrum of antibacterial activity by inhibiting the action of beta-lactamase, an enzyme produced by bacteria that can destroy antibiotics. Ampicillin+sulbactam is recommended for only bacterial infections and doesn’t treat viral infections.
Take this medicine exactly as prescribed by the doctor. The common side effects of Ampicillin+sulbactam are nausea, vomiting, headache, stomach pain and diarrhoea. These side effects are usually mild and temporary. However, if any of these side effects persist or get worse, inform your doctor immediately.
It is not recommended to take Ampicillin+sulbactam if you are allergic to penicillin, any other antibiotics, or the contents of Ampicillin+sulbactam. Ampicillin+sulbactam should not be given to people with infectious mononucleosis (viral infection with a sore throat and fever) and colitis (inflammation of the intestine). It should be used with caution in patients with kidney impairment. Do not discontinue or abruptly stop the medication, as it may lead to antibiotic resistance, a condition in which bacteria become resistant to antibiotics. Ampicillin+sulbactam should be used with caution in children, pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers and elderly people. It is not known whether Ampicillin+sulbactam can interact with alcohol or may affect your ability to drive. So, please discuss with your doctor the possible risks and benefits before taking this medicine.
Uses of Ampicillin+sulbactam
Medicinal Benefits
Ampicillin+sulbactam contains Ampicillin and Sulbactam. Ampicillin is a penicillin antibiotic that treats the infection by killing the bacteria. Sulbactam is a beta-lactamase (an enzyme produced by bacteria that can destroy antibiotics) inhibitor and prevents the destruction of ampicillin from the bacteria. Ampicillin+sulbactam has broad-spectrum activity and is effective against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. It is used to treat bacterial infections such as skin infections, gynaecological infections and intra-abdominal infections.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Ampicillin+sulbactam
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Headache
- Stomach pain
- Diarrhoea
In-Depth Precautions and Warning
Drug Warnings
If you notice watery and bloody stools with or without stomach cramps and fever, inform your doctor immediately as Ampicillin+sulbactam may cause diarrhoea, like many antibiotics. This condition usually resolves after the discontinuation of treatment. However, some patients may experience this condition even after two or more months after the antibiotic treatment. In addition, the severity of diarrhoea may range from mild conditions to severe colitis (inflammation of the intestine). Do not discontinue or abruptly stop the medication, as it may lead to antibiotic resistance, a condition in which bacteria become resistant to antibiotics. Ampicillin+sulbactam should not be used in patients with mononucleosis (viral infection with a sore throat and fever), as this medicine causes a skin rash. Ampicillin+sulbactam may cause superinfection (an additional infection that occurs with other microbes) on prolonged use. So, please do not use it for longer periods than your doctor intended.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interactions: Inform your doctor if you are taking medicines used to treat gout (probenecid, allopurinol), anticancer drugs (methotrexate), aminoglycosides, anticoagulants (blood thinners), antibiotics (erythromycin, sulphonamides, chloramphenicol, tetracyclines), or estrogen-containing oral contraceptives.
Drug-Food interactions: No interactions found.
Drug-Disease Interactions: Patients with rare hereditary problems of sucrase-isomaltase insufficiency, fructose intolerance or glucose-galactose malabsorption should avoid taking Ampicillin+sulbactam. If you have mononucleosis (a contagious disease), or severe kidney impairment, inform your doctor before taking Ampicillin+sulbactam.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
cautionIt is not known whether the Ampicillin+sulbactam may interact with alcohol.
Pregnancy
cautionAmpicillin+sulbactam should be used in pregnancy only if clinically needed and when the benefits outweigh the risks.
Breast Feeding
cautionAmpicillin+sulbactam may pass into breast milk in small amounts. So, it should be used with caution in breastfeeding.
Driving
cautionIt is not known whether Ampicillin+sulbactam can affect your driving ability. Avoid driving if you experience any undesirable effects that affect your alertness.
Liver
cautionAmpicillin+sulbactam should be used with caution in patients with liver diseases as it may affect liver function. Your doctor may adjust the dose if required based on your condition.
Kidney
cautionAmpicillin+sulbactam should be used with caution in patients with kidney diseases as it may cause nephrotoxicity (damage to the kidney). Your doctor may adjust the dose if required based on your condition.
Children
cautionAmpicillin+sulbactam should be used in children only if clinically needed. The dose is based on the age, body weight and medical history of your child.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Probiotics should be taken after taking the full course of Ampicillin+sulbactam to restore some healthy bacteria in the intestines that may have been killed. Taking probiotics after antibiotic treatment can reduce the risk of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea. Certain fermented foods like yoghurt, cheese, sauerkraut, kombucha and kimchi can help restore the intestine's good bacteria.
- Include more fibre-enriched food in your diet, as it can be easily digested by gut bacteria, which helps stimulate their growth. Thus, fibre-rich foods may help restore healthy gut bacteria after a course of antibiotics. Whole grains like whole-grain bread and brown rice should be included in your diet.
- Avoid alcoholic beverages as they can make you dehydrated and may affect your sleep. This can make it harder for your body to aid the antibiotic in fighting off infections.
Special Advise
- Ampicillin+sulbactam may cause false-positive results when a urine test is performed for the presence of glucose.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Bacterial infections: A bacterial infection is a condition in which harmful bacteria enter, multiply and infect the body. It can target any organ of the body and multiply very quickly. Many give off chemicals called toxins, which can damage tissue and make you sick. Bacterial infections vary from minor illnesses (like sore throat and ear infections) to severe brain infections (like meningitis and encephalitis). When you get infected with bacteria, you may experience generalized symptoms like fever, chills and fatigue. A few harmful bacteria that commonly cause infections include Streptococcus, Staphylococcus and E. coli. Anyone can get a bacterial infection, but people with a weak immune system or taking immunosuppressive medicines like steroids are more prone to infections.
FAQs
Ampicillin+sulbactam is used to treat bacterial infections. It contains Ampicillin and Sulbactam. Ampicillin reduces the infection by inhibiting bacterial growth. It disrupts the formation of the cell wall (outer layer), which is essential for bacteria's survival. Sulbactam inhibits the action of beta-lactamase, an enzyme produced by bacteria to destroy antibiotics (ampicillin).
People allergic to penicillin should not take Ampicillin+sulbactam as they may develop cross-sensitivity (sensitivity to drugs with similar structures). Ampicillin+sulbactam contains ampicillin, which has a similar structure to that of penicillin.
You are recommended to avoid taking Ampicillin+sulbactam if you have infectious mononucleosis (viral infection with a sore throat and fever) and colitis (inflammation of the intestine), as Ampicillin+sulbactam worsens these conditions.
Ampicillin+sulbactam may decrease the effectiveness of oral contraceptives. Therefore, discuss with your doctor about other non-hormonal contraceptives such as condoms, diaphragms, etc.
