Ampicillin and sulbactam (Injection)

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Feb 22, 2022.

Commonly used brand name(s)

In the U.S.

• Unasyn

Available Dosage Forms:

• Powder for Solution

Therapeutic Class: Antibiotic

Pharmacologic Class: Ampicillin

Uses for ampicillin and sulbactam

Ampicillin and sulbactam combination is used to treat bacterial infections in many different parts of the body.

Ampicillin and sulbactam combination is an antibiotic that belongs to the group of medicines known as penicillins and beta-lactamase inhibitors. It works by killing the bacteria and preventing their growth. However, ampicillin and sulbactam will not work for colds, flu, or other virus infections.

Ampicillin and sulbactam is to be given only by or under the direct supervision of your doctor.

Before using ampicillin and sulbactam

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For ampicillin and sulbactam, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to ampicillin and sulbactam or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated pediatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of ampicillin and sulbactam combination in children with skin infections. However, safety and efficacy have not been established in children younger than 1 year of age.

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of ampicillin and sulbactam combination in children with bowel or stomach infections. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Geriatric

No information is available on the relationship of age to the effects of ampicillin and sulbactam combination in geriatric patients.

Breastfeeding

Studies in women suggest that this medication poses minimal risk to the infant when used during breastfeeding.

Interactions with medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are receiving ampicillin and sulbactam, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using ampicillin and sulbactam with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Amifampridine
• Bupropion
• Chlortetracycline
• Cholera Vaccine, Live
• Demeclocycline
• Desogestrel
• Dienogest
• Donepezil
• Doxycycline
• Drospirenone
• Eravacycline
• Estradiol
• Ethinyl Estradiol
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