The most common side effects of ampicillin include diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. You should reach out to your doctor if any of these symptoms do not go away or are severe. You should also call your doctor if you experience any of the following symptoms, as you may be experiencing a more severe adverse or allergic reaction:
- Skin rash
- Itching
- Hives
- Difficulting breathing or swallowing
- Severe diarrhea (watery or bloody stools) and stomach cramps
- Fever
This is not a complete list of adverse effects, although these are among the most common. Seek medical attention right away if you experience these symptoms while taking ampicillin.
As with all prescription medication, be sure to inform the prescribing doctor or health care professional about any medical conditions you have been previously diagnosed with, as well as any medication/ supplements you are currently taking before starting treatment with ampicillin. Ampicillin can interact with other forms of medication and substances, causing potentially serious side effects. These drug interactions include allopurinol (Lopurin, Zyloprim), other antibiotics, oral contraceptives (birth control pills), and probenecid (Probalan in Col-Probenecid). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
It is also critical to talk with your doctor if you have been diagnosed with kidney disease, as people who have kidney disease must take smaller doses of antibiotics than people who have healthy kidneys. Antibiotics like ampicillin, amoxicillin, and ciprofloxacin can be extremely dangerous for those with kidney disease and can cause further damage to your kidney function or possible renal failure.
Although lactation research shows that ampicillin produces low levels in breastmilk that are not expected to cause adverse effects in breastfed infants, you should still consult with your doctor if you are breastfeeding before taking ampicillin. In addition, let your doctor know if you are pregnant or plan on becoming pregnant before starting treatment with this medication.