Sultamicillin
About
Sultamicillin belongs to the group of antibiotics called 'penicillin' used to treat a wide range of bacterial infections. It is a 'broad-spectrum antibiotic' that treats various bacterial infections of the middle ear and sinus infections, throat or lung respiratory tract infections, urinary tract infections, skin infections, soft tissue infections, joint and bone infections, and post-operative infections. Bacterial infections are caused due to 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.
Sultamicillin contains two penicillin antibiotics namely: Ampicillin and Sulbactam. Ampicillin acts by destroying the outer protein layer thereby killing the bacteria (bactericidal). Sulbactam inhibits the enzyme beta-lactamase which prevents bacteria from destroying the efficacy of ampicillin. As a result, the action of sulbactam allows ampicillin to work better and kill the bacteria. Sultamicillin does not work against infections caused by viruses including colds and flu.
You should take this medicine as prescribed by your doctor. The common side-effects of Sultamicillin are nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and skin rash. Most of these side effects do not require medical attention and will resolve gradually over time. However, you are advised to talk to your doctor if you experience these side effects persistently.
Do not take Sultamicillin if you are allergic to any antibiotics (especially penicillin), clavulanic acid, or other ingredients present in it. Before taking Sultamicillin, inform your doctor if you have liver disease, kidney disease, a history of jaundice (yellowing of the skin) with an antibiotic, glandular fever (fever with a sore throat, swollen glands, and extreme tiredness), urination problems, weak immune system (by disease or using medicine), short bowel syndrome (physical or functional loss of small intestine), fits, and inflammation of the large intestine. Do not take Sultamicillin on your own as, self-medication may lead to antibiotic-resistance in which antibiotics fail to act against specific bacterial infections. Avoid taking Sultamicillin if you are pregnant or breastfeeding unless prescribed by a doctor. If prescribed by your doctor Sultamicillin is safe well-tolerated among adults, children, pregnant, and breastfeeding women.
Uses of Sultamicillin
Medicinal Benefits
Sultamicillin is a combination of two medicines: Ampicillin and Sulbactam. It is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that covers a very wide range of bacterial infections. Ampicillin is a penicillin antibiotic and shows bactericidal (kills bacteria) activity. It works by preventing the formation of bacterial cell covering, which is necessary for their survival. Thereby, kills the bacteria and helps in treating and preventing the spread of infections. Sultamicillin has the advantage of having Sulbactam which protects Ampicillin from getting destroyed by the bacterial enzyme increasing its efficacy. Besides this, it helps overcome antibiotic resistance in bacteria caused by the enzyme which destroys ampicillin (beta-lactamase). This makes the drug effective in multiple infections like skin and soft tissue infections (bacterial infections), urinary tract infections, female genital infections (gonorrhoea), ear infections, respiratory tract infections, infections of the nose, sinuses, and throat, and postoperative infections. After oral administration, Sultamicillin is hydrolyzed in the intestine and increases the absorption in the bloodstream as ampicillin and sulbactam and decreases the chances of diarrhea and dysentery.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Sultamicillin
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Skin rashes
In-Depth Precautions and Warning
Drug Warnings
Before starting Sultamicillin, please inform your doctor if you have any allergy to any penicillin antibiotics or other antibiotics. Do not take Sultamicillin on your own as self-medication may lead to antibiotic-resistance in which antibiotics fail to act against specific bacterial infections. Consult your doctor immediately if you experience skin rash or prolonged, significant diarrhoea with abdominal pains. Talk to your doctor before taking Sultamicillin if you had diarrhoea after taking antibiotics or inflammation of the bowel. Avoid taking Sultamicillin if you are pregnant or breastfeeding unless prescribed by a doctor. Avoid alcohol consumption while taking Sultamicillin to prevent unpleasant side effects. Intake of Sultamicillin may increase the risk of jaundice (liver problem) in newborn babies so it should be only given after consulting a doctor. Sultamicillin should not be given to people with infectious mononucleosis (viral infection with sore throat and fever) and leukaemia (blood cancer). It is advisable to check periodically for organ system dysfunction during prolonged therapy; this includes renal, hepatic, and hematopoietic systems. Your symptoms may improve before the bacterial infection is completely cured. Therefore, it is always advised to complete the course of therapy.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interactions: Sultamicillin may have interaction with antibiotics (sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim, sulfadiazine, azithromycin, gentamycin, chloramphenicol, erythromycin, sulfonamides, tetracyclines), anticoagulants (warfarin), anti-gout which decreases uric acid (allopurinol, probenecid), and pain killer (aspirin), antimetabolites (methotrexate), BCG vaccine live, cholera vaccine
Drug-Food Interactions: Avoid taking eating high-fat meal as this make it harder for your body to absorb Sultamicillin.
Drug-Disease Interaction: Sultamicillin may have interactions with colitis (inflammation in the lining of the intestine or colon), bone marrow toxicity (blood cancer), liver disease, and mononucleosis (viral infection with sore throat and fever).
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
cautionLimit consuming alcohol while taking Sultamicillin to avoid unpleasant side-effects.
Pregnancy
cautionSultamicillin is a category B medicine and may not cause any harmful effects to the fetus. However, Sultamicillin should be used only when the benefits outweigh the risks.
Breast Feeding
cautionSultamicillin may pass through the breast milk. Please consult your doctor if you are breastfeeding, your doctor will decide if Sultamicillin can be taken by breastfeeding mother's or not.
Driving
safe if prescribedSultamicillin does not affect your ability to drive.
Liver
unsafeDrug-induced liver injury such as cholestatic hepatitis and jaundice have been associated with the use of Sultamicillin. However, People having severe liver disease or jaundice (yellowing of skin/eye) should not take Sultamicillin, as it can damage your liver severely.
Kidney
cautionSultamicillin to be taken with caution, especially if you have a history of kidney diseases/conditions. The dose may have to be adjusted by your doctor.
Children
safe if prescribedSultamicillin is safe for children if prescribed by a doctor. The dose and duration may vary depending upon age and severity of the infection.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Antibiotics can alter the useful bacteria in the stomach, which help with indigestion. Therefore, you are advised to take foods rich in probiotics such as yogurt/curd, kefir, sauerkraut, tempeh, kimchi, miso, kombucha, buttermilk, natto, and cheese.
- Eat fiber-rich food like whole grains, beans, lentils, berries, broccoli, peas, and bananas.
- Avoid foods rich in calcium, grapefruit, and grapefruit juice as they might hinder the absorption of antibiotics.
- Avoid the consumption of alcohol to treat your condition effectively.
- Avoid the usage of tobacco.
- To cure your condition effectually complete the full course of Sultamicillin even though you find symptomatic relief.
Special Advise
- Even if you feel better after taking Sultamicillin, do not stop taking it until your doctor says so. This might cause the symptoms to reappear and will make the infection difficult to treat due to antibiotic resistance.
- Make sure you drink plenty of fluids when you are sick. This will in general help you clear out the infection faster, protect you from dehydration, and will help you overcome some unpleasant side effects of taking Sultamicillin.
- Some people may be allergic to Sultamicillin or other penicillin or cephalosporin group of antibiotics. So a prior sensitivity test may be necessary. Inform your doctor if you are allergic to any medicine particularly antibiotics belong to these groups.
- If you feel nauseous after taking Sultamicillin, stick to simple meals like porridge, khichdi, dal roti and other home-cooked meals. Avoid spicy and fatty food.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Bacterial infections: A bacterial infection is a condition in which harmful bacteria enter, multiply and infect our body. It can target any body part and multiply very quickly. When you get infected with bacteria, you can experience generalized symptoms, like fevers, chills, and fatigue. Bacteria are of various forms comprising commonly of spherical, rod and spiral-shaped. Bacterial infections vary from minor illnesses like sore throat and ear infections to severe brain infections like meningitis and encephalitis. Anyone can become infected with a bacterial infection. But, people with weak immune systems or taking immunosuppressive medicine are more prone to bacterial infection.
FAQs
Sultamicillin is a combination of ampicillin and sulbactam. It kills bacteria by preventing them from forming the bacterial protective covering. It has enhanced activity against bacteria and less antibiotic resistance.
Sultamicillin may alter test results of laboratory tests such as liver function tests, complete blood count, or urine tests (for glucose), so inform your doctor that you are taking Sultamicillin.
Sultamicillin does not treat a viral infection like the flu or a common cold. So if you are feeling under the weather, it is best to consult the doctor to know if you need Sultamicillin for your condition.
No, You should complete the full course of Sultamicillin as prescribed by your doctor. After completing the full course of Sultamicillin will work. It is important that you take Sultamicillin at the right dose, right times and for the right numbers of days.
Try to stay well hydrated by drinking at least 6 glass of water or other fluid per day. Keep your underwear clean and try to use underwear made of cotton to avoid spread of infection. Always keep your bladder empty as much possible by peeing regularly. Your doctor may prescribe cranberry juice with antibiotics to treat urinary tract infection.
Do not use anti diarrhoeal until the doctor has prescribed you. You can drink plenty of fluids (electrolytes) to avoid dehydration. Besides this, you can also take prebiotics or probiotics to manage diarrhoea as it may help in increasing the number of good bacteria in the intestine which aids in digestion.
Sultamicillin belongs to the class of penicillin antibiotic. Sultamicillin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic effective against a wide range of bacteria. On the other hand, penicillin is a narrow-spectrum antibiotic effective against less number of bacteria.
Yes, Sultamicillin decreases the efficacy of estrogen-containing oral contraceptives. Talk to your doctor about additional methods of contraception that you will need to follow.
