Injection (available primarily in hospitals and nursing facilities)
Ampicillin sodium/sulbactam sodium is used to treat moderately severe bacterial infections requiring hospitalization. These infections are frequently caused by bacteria that are likely to be resistant to penicillin and not treatable with oral antibiotics alone.
Ampicillin blocks the formation of bacterial cell walls, rendering bacteria unable to multiply and spread; sulbactam is added to protect ampicillin from the effects of a destructive enzyme (betalactamase) produced by certain drug-resistant strains of bacteria.
Adults: 1.5 to 3 g injected into a muscle or vein every 6 hours. Children age one and older: 300 mg per 2.2 lbs (1 kg) of body weight per day into a vein in divided doses every 6 hours.
Immediate with intravenous injection; unknown for intramuscular injection.
Unknown.
No special restrictions.
Not applicable.
Not applicable; the dosage schedule is determined by a doctor or other health care professional.
The decision to stop treatment with this drug will be made by your doctor.
Therapy with ampicillin sodium/sulbactam sodium is usually completed within seven to 14 days. Infections in hospitalized patients may be more serious and can respond unpredictably to treatment. But treatment may also result in rapid improvement, and your doctor may stop intravenous or intramuscular ampicillin sodium/sulbactam sodium earlier than seven to 14 days and begin oral therapy with another appropriate antibiotic in preparation for your discharge.
Adverse reactions may be more likely and more severe in older patients.
Not applicable; therapy with this drug generally requires hospitalization.
Avoid alcohol.
Adequate studies of the use of penicillin antibiotics during pregnancy have not been done. Consult your doctor concerning the use of ampicillin sodium/sulbactam sodium if you are pregnant.
Avoid or discontinue the use of ampicillin sodium/sulbactam sodium while nursing.
This drug is not recommended for infants and children under age one.
Anyone who has had a prior allergic reaction to penicillin or any penicillin antibiotic should not take this drug. Those who are prone to asthma, hay fever, hives, or allergies are at increased risk of having an allergic reaction to it.
Seizures may occur with very high doses; overdose is nonetheless unlikely.
Call your doctor or emergency medical services (EMS) immediately if you suspect an overdose.
Consult your doctor for specific advice if you are taking aminoglycosides, ACE inhibitors, diuretics, potassium supplements or potassium-containing medications, anticoagulants or other anticlotting drugs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, sulfinpyrazone, cholestyramine, colestipol, oral contraceptives, methotrexate, probenecid, allopurinol, or rifampin.
No known food interactions.
Consult your doctor if you have a history of allergies, asthma, bleeding disorders (such as hemophilia), congestive heart failure, gastrointestinal disorders (especially colitis associated with the use of antibiotics), infectious mononucleosis, or impaired kidney function.