When your little one goes to the doctor with a fever, cough, or ear infection, they may prescribe a liquid medicine called Ampicillin. This is a very common medicine given to children in our country. But there are a few things that we as parents must be careful about when giving this to our child. Sometimes, we can forget what the doctor says when we get home after listening to it in a panic. So, today we will talk about this medicine in detail.
What exactly is Ampicillin?
Simply put, Ampicillin is an antibiotic that belongs to the penicillin group . Its main function is to destroy certain types of bacteria that have entered our body and cure infections caused by them .
The most important thing is that this medicine only works for bacterial infections. It does not cure viral illnesses like the common cold, flu, and cough. Therefore, never use this medicine without a doctor's prescription.
Things to tell your doctor before using the medicine
If your doctor prescribes this medication for your child or you, you should definitely tell your doctor the following information before you start using the medication. To make it easier to remember, let's look at this table.
| Information you need to provide | Why is that? (Simple explanation) |
|---|---|
| Allergies | Have you or your child ever had an allergic reaction to ampicillin, penicillin, or any other antibiotic? Be sure to tell your doctor if you have had any skin reactions, such as hives, itching, or swelling. Also, tell your doctor if you have any allergies to other medications, foods, or preservatives. |
| Kidney disease | If you have any kidney disease, this medicine will be eliminated from the body slowly. In that case, the doctor will have to change the dosage of the medicine. |
| Pregnancy or expecting a child | If you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant, it is essential to inform your doctor before taking any medication. |
| If the baby is breastfed | This medicine can pass to the baby through breast milk. So inform your doctor about this as well. |
What is the best way to give medicine to a child?
This is the most important part. To get the most out of the medicine, you need to use it correctly.
- Shake well: The medicine powder is mixed with water and given as a liquid by the pharmacy. When this is refrigerated, the powder settles to the bottom. Therefore, you should always shake the bottle well before giving the medicine to your child . That way, each dose contains the same amount of medicine.
- Correct measurement: Do not measure this medicine with household teaspoons or measuring spoons. Their sizes vary. Use a special oral syringe, measuring cup, or dropper marked in milliliters (ml) provided by the pharmacy to give the exact dose prescribed by the doctor.
- Give before meals: This medicine is best absorbed by the body when given on an empty stomach. This means it should be given at least 30 minutes before meals, or 2 hours after meals .
- Complete the prescribed period: This is a mistake that many people make. After giving the medicine for two or three days, the child's fever and cough may seem to have subsided and he or she will be better. Then some parents stop giving the medicine. Never do that! If the doctor tells you to give the medicine for 5, 7, or 10 days, you should give the entire period. If you don't, the bacteria that caused the disease will not be completely eliminated. The remaining bacteria can cause the disease again, and the bacteria may become resistant to the medicine later.
What to do if you miss a dose of medicine?
If this happens, take the dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the next dose at the scheduled time. Never take a double dose.
What if you take too much medicine? (Overdose)
If your child or you accidentally ingest too much medicine, do not panic and immediately call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital . Or take the child to the Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) of the nearest hospital.
Other things to be aware of when using this medicine
- Severe skin reactions: Sometimes, even weeks after starting the medication, severe skin reactions can occur. If you notice anything like a fever, body aches, redness of the skin, then blisters and peeling of the skin, or a red rash with small bumps on the face, lips, neck, or armpits , tell your doctor right away .
- Diarrhea: It's normal to experience some mild diarrhea when taking antibiotics. However, if you have diarrhea that lasts more than two days, is watery , or has blood in it , don't take anything from the pharmacy and talk to your doctor.
- Diabetes: If you are diabetic, you may get false-positive results when testing for sugar in your urine while taking this medication. Talk to your doctor about this.
- Birth control pills: The effectiveness of birth control pills may be reduced while taking this medication. Therefore, consult your doctor about using an additional form of birth control.
What are the possible side effects of the medication?
Like any medicine, ampicillin can cause side effects in some people. Let's break them down into two categories.
| Possible side effects | |
|---|---|
| Symptoms that should be reported to your doctor immediately | |
| Severe allergic reactions | Skin rash, itching, swelling of the face, lips or tongue, difficulty breathing. |
| Diarrhea | Severe diarrhea with blood or water. |
| Skin problems | Redness of the skin, blistering, peeling of the skin (even inside the mouth). |
| Other serious symptoms | Unexplained fever, difficulty swallowing, seizures, extreme fatigue, fainting. |
| Symptoms that are usually not serious, but should be reported to the doctor if they persist | |
| Digestive system problems | Moderate diarrhea, nausea, vomiting. |
How to store medicine properly? (Storage)
This liquid medicine should definitely be kept in the fridge . But do not keep it in the freezer, which means do not let it freeze. It should be used within 14 days of the day the pharmacy dispenses it. If there is any left over after 14 days, throw it away. Also, like all medicines, keep this one out of the reach of small children and pets.
Take-Home Message
- Ampicillin is an antibiotic given for bacterial infections. It does not cure viral diseases.
- Always shake the bottle well before giving the medicine. Use the correct measure.
- Taking the medicine on an empty stomach increases its effectiveness.
- Even if your child seems well, give the medicine for the full duration prescribed by the doctor. Never stop taking it halfway.
- If you experience symptoms such as severe skin reactions, bloody diarrhea, or difficulty breathing, contact your doctor immediately.
- Refrigerate the medicine. Discard any leftovers after 14 days.
- In case of any problem, never hesitate to consult your doctor.
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