Have any adverse effects been reported?
Any serious side effects will need to be reported to your health care provider as soon as you get them, as they can interfere with the success of your treatment making it less effective. The following serious side effects are sometimes reported by people using ampicillin: chills, unusual weakness, body aches, seizure, confusion, fever, flu symptoms, easy bruising or bleeding, urinating less than usual, unusual thoughts, and watery or bloody diarrhea. The side effects mentioned are quite rare, but you still need to be aware of their possibility and report immediately to see what needs to be done about them. Mild side effects are more likely and include any of the following: white patches or inside your mouth, vomiting, vaginal itching, nausea, stomach pain, and headache. The mild side effects listed are generally short-lived and unlikely to interfere with your normal life. You are most likely to get a few mild side effects at the beginning of your treatment, but will probably forget about them soon.
However, if the side effects you developed originally persist, get bothersome and change in intensity – it’s best to report them to your health care provider. Sometimes persisting side effects can mean your dose is too high and you may need to be taking a lower dose still benefitting from your treatment. How much you take is not critical for the success of your treatment, but can cause side effects. It’s important for you doctor to determine the lowest efficient dose in your particular case that will make it possible for your immune system to fight off the infection. Some drugs you are taking are likely to affect ampicillin and also add to its side effects. Therefore, your health care provider needs to know if you intend to take such medicines as sulfa drugs, allopurinol, probenecid, methotrexate, or tetracycline antibiotics. Also inform your doctor if you are already taking any of the medicine mentioned when starting the treatment, as this may be important for the dose you will be prescribed.
Most people tolerate ampicillin pretty well and can continue with the treatment without suffering from any side effects whatsoever. If you happen to develop any side effects that seem strange and you haven’t found them on the list provided above – try to decide whether they are mild or serious. It’s impossible to predict all the side effects that may potentially occur, as different people may have different reactions to the same dose. It will therefore be your responsibility to determine which of the symptoms you experience you need to report and which ones are most likely to go away on their own. Tell your doctor if you get too many side effects and need to have your dose lowered, but do not adjust the dose yourself based on your own judgment. It’s always best to consult a qualified professional if you experience any problems related to taking ampicillin regularly.