Ampicillin sodium combined with sulbactam sodium

Trade Name: Unasyn

Type of Drug: Ampicillin sodium combined with sulbactam sodium is an antibiotic that belongs to the class of drugs called penicillins. It is used to treat infections caused by gram-negative and some gram-positive bacteria. It is used to treat infections of the lungs, throat, sinuses, kidneys, bladder, and skin.

How Drug Works: Ampicillin and forms of ampicillin stops bacteria from making their protein cell wall, so the bacteria die. Penicillins are able to do this because they contain a special beta-lactam ring. Some bacteria contain an enzyme that breaks down the beta-lactam ring so that it doesn’t work anymore, and the antibiotic no longer kills the bacteria. Sulbactam sodium stops this enzyme, so that the bacteria can still be killed by the ampicillin sodium.

How Drug Is Given: Ampicillin sodium combined with sulbactam sodium is given as a shot into a vein over 10 to 15 minutes, or by shot into the muscle, 4 times a day. The dose and length of treatment depend on the type of infection being treated.

Read the following information. If you do not understand it or if any of it causes you special concern, check with your doctor.

Before taking this drug, tell your doctor if you are taking any other prescription or over-the-counter drugs, including vitamins and herbals.

Should I avoid any other medicines, foods, alcohol, and/or activities? Your prescription and nonprescription medicines may interact with other drugs, causing harm. Certain foods or alcohol can also interact with drug products. Never begin taking a new medicine—prescription or nonprescription—without asking your doctor or nurse if it will interact with alcohol, food, or other medicines. Some drug products can cause drowsiness and affect activities such as driving.

Precautions: Tell your doctor if you have any drug allergies, especially to antibiotic drugs.

All antibiotics can cause allergic reactions. Stop taking the drug and tell your doctor or nurse right away if you develop a rash, hives, fever and chills, red blotches on your skin, or difficulty breathing.

Use of antibiotics can change the normal organisms in your body. Women are at risk for getting fungal infections. Tell your nurse or doctor if you have vaginal itching or discharge.

Ampicillin and forms of ampicillin may decrease the effectiveness of oral contraceptives (birth control pills). Women should add barrier contraception while taking the antibiotics.

Ampicillin sodium combined with sulbactam sodium can interact with many other medicines. Some of these are aminoglycosids, rifampin, probenicid, and oral contraceptives. Make sure you tell your doctor about all the medicines you are taking.

Ampicillin sodium combined with sulbactam sodium should be used with caution if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

The dose of ampicillin sodium combined with sulbactam sodium will be reduced if kidney disease is present.

Tell all the doctors, dentists, and pharmacists you visit that you are taking this drug.

Most of the following side effects probably will not occur. Your doctor or nurse will want to discuss specific care instructions with you. They can help you understand these side effects and help you deal with them.

Side Effects:

More Common Side Effects Nausea Diarrhea

Less Common Side Effects Vomiting Vaginal itching Vaginal candidiasis (fungal infection)

Rare Side Effects Diarrhea related to infection of the intestinal lining (pseudomembranous colitis) Decreased white blood cell count with increased risk of infection Decreased red blood cell count with increased risk of anemia and tiredness (fatigue) Decreased clotting of the blood with risk of bleeding Allergic reaction with rash, hives, fever, chills, swelling of face or lips, and difficulty breathing

Other side effects not listed above can also occur in some patients. Tell your doctor or nurse if you develop any problems.

FDA Approval: Yes