Patient leaflet - Ampicillin capsules BP 250 mg
1. What Ampicillin Capsules are and what they are used for
These capsules contain the active ingredient, ampicillin (as trihydrate). Ampicillin belongs to a group of antibiotics called penicillins. It is used to kill bacteria which cause infections in your body.
Ampicillin Capsules are used to treat bacterial infections including infections of the ear and throat, respiratory tract (e.g. lungs and chest); urinary tract (e.g. kidneys and bladder), heart, brain, blood (septicaemia), abdomen (peritonitis), gonorrhoea, gastrointestinal tract, skin and soft tissues as well as typhoid (enteric fever) and gynaecological infections. It may also be used following surgery to prevent infection or for other infections determined by your doctor.
2. What you need to know before you take Ampicillin Capsules
Do not take Ampicillin Capsules:
- if you have ever had an allergic reaction to ampicillin, beta lactam antibiotics or any penicillin or cephalosporin-type antibiotics
- if you are allergic to any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6). An allergic reaction may be recognised as shortness of breath, blocked nose, rash, itching, swollen face or lips.
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse before taking Ampicillin Capsules:
- if you have kidney problems
- if you have glandular fever
- if you have leukaemia.
Other special warnings
If you need to have any urine or blood tests, tell the doctor or nurse you are taking this medicine as it may affect the result.
Other medicines and Ampicillin Capsules
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines, especially:
- medicines to thin the blood (anti-coagulants) such as warfarin and phenindione
- probenecid, sulfinpyrazone or allopurinol (used to treat gout)
- methotrexate (a cancer drug which can also be used to treat psoriasis)
- chloroquine (used to prevent and treat malaria)
- oral typhoid vaccine (used to prevent typhoid)
other drugs which prevent the growth of bacteria such as erythromycin, chloramphenicol, tetracycline. Pregnancy and breast-feeding
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you maybe pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.
Ampicillin Capsules contain sodium
This medicine contains less than 1mmol sodium (23mg) per capsule, that is to say essentially ‘sodium-free’.
3. How to take Ampicillin Capsules
Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure. It is important that you take your medicine at the right times of day. Space the doses out as evenly as possible throughout the day.
Swallow the capsules whole with a drink of water, half an hour to one hour before food.
The recommended doses are as follows:
Adults (including the elderly)
For most infections the usual dose is between 250 mg - 1g to be taken four times a day.
For urinary tract infections the usual dose is 500 mg to be taken three times a day.
For gonorrhoea the usual dose is 2 grams and 1 gram of Probenecid to be taken as a single dose. Women will take additional doses.
For typhoid (enteric fever) the usual dose is 1 to 2 grams to be taken four times a day for two weeks. If you are a carrier of typhoid the treatment will be four to twelve weeks.
If you have kidney problems the dose might be lower than the usual dose.
Use in children
Children up to 10 years of age: Half the adult dose is usually prescribed.
Other forms of this medicine may be more suitable for children; ask your doctor or pharmacist. If you take more Ampicillin Capsules than you should
You should contact your doctor or go to your nearest hospital casualty department immediately. Take the capsules or pack with you so that the doctor knows what you have taken. Symptoms of an overdose may include feeling sick, being sick and diarrhoea.
If you forget to take Ampicillin Capsules
If you forget to take a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take the next dose at the usual time. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
If you stop taking Ampicillin Capsules
Keep taking this medicine until your doctor tells you to stop. Do not stop taking it just because you feel better. If you stop taking the medicine, your condition may reoccur or get worse.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.
4. Possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. If any of the following occur STOP TAKING the capsules IMMEDIATELY and contact your doctor, as they may be signs of an allergic reaction:
- red skin rash, itching or raised itchy red lumps (hives)
- swelling of the face, mouth or throat
- other allergic reactions such as difficulty breathing, wheezing or shortness of breath, dizziness, peeling, swelling or blistering of the skin
- severe bloody diarrhoea with fever and abdominal pain.
The following side effects have also been reported rarely (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people):
- swollen liver and jaundice (symptoms include yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, loss of appetite, pale stools and dark urine)
- changes in blood which can cause unexplained bleeding, bruising, pale skin, weakness, tiredness, make infections more likely such as sore throat or mouth ulcers and also problems with blood clotting.
Other effects reported:
- inflammation or disease of the kidney (symptoms may include swollen ankles or other parts of the body, decreased or increased urine output, fever, rash, weight gain)
- diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting.
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. How to store Ampicillin Capsules
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the label and carton. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
Keep the capsules in the pack provided. Protect from heat, light and moisture.
Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.
6. Contents of the pack and other information
What Ampicillin Capsules contain
- The active substance is ampicillin (as trihydrate). The capsules are available in two strengths and contain either 250mg or 500mg of ampicillin (as trihydrate).
- The other ingredients are sodium starch glycolate and magnesium stearate. The capsule shells contain gelatin, water, sodium laurilsulfate and the colours titanium dioxide (E171), erythrosine (E127) and black iron oxide (E172). The printing ink contains shellac, titanium dioxide (E171) and polyoxyethylene 20 sorbitan mono-oleate. What Ampicillin Capsules look like and contents of the pack
Ampicillin 250mg capsules are presented as size 2, black/pink opaque capsules printed with “AMP 250” on one side and company logo on the other side.
Ampicillin 500mg capsules are presented as size 0, black/pink opaque capsules printed with “AMP 500” on one side and company logo on the other side.
They are supplied to your pharmacist in packs containing 9, 10, 14, 15, 20, 21, 28, 30, 50, 56, 84, 100, 250, 500 and 1000 capsules. Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer
Crescent Pharma Ltd., Key House, Sarum Hill, Basingstoke, RG21 8SR, UK.
This leaflet was last revised in October 2025.
If you require this leaflet in a different format please contact the Marketing Authorisation Holder at the address above.