A-Pen
A-Pen is an antibiotic used to treat infections caused by bacteria that are sensitive to ampicillin.
Form
injektio-/infuusiokuiva-aine liuosta varten
Strength
1 g
Active Ingredient
Ampicillin sodium
Manufacturer
Orion Corporation
How to Use
Dosage
Typically 500 mg.
Method
A-Pen is given as an injection into a muscle or vein, or as an infusion into a vein. Your doctor will decide the exact dose and how long you need to take it.
Important
Your doctor will decide your maximum daily dose based on your illness.
Possible Side Effects
COMMON
- •Diarrhea, nausea, stomach pain, vomiting, gas, soft stools
- •Oral and vaginal yeast infection
- •Rash, itchy rash, bumpy rash, swelling
- •Swelling and pain at the injection site
- •Local vein inflammation after the medicine is given
RARE
- •Infections caused by fungi or resistant bacteria (with long-term use)
- •Anemia, changes in blood test results
- •Low red blood cell count (hemolytic anemia)
- •Increased liver enzyme levels
- •Hives
- •Sudden kidney inflammation
- •Severe allergic reaction with skin symptoms, breathing difficulties, or drop in blood pressure (shock); other allergic reactions like drug fever, throat swelling, blood vessel inflammation in the skin, or kidney inflammation
- •Fever and swollen lymph nodes (serum sickness)
- •Dizziness
- •Headache
- •Sudden, short, involuntary muscle twitching (myoclonus) and seizures (especially with kidney problems or very high doses given into a vein)
- •Liver damage
- •Colon inflammation (colitis)
- •Severe allergic skin reactions, such as widespread rash with small pus-filled blisters or ring-shaped rash with possible blisters
- •Kidney damage
- •Life-threatening anaphylactic shock
- •Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction (fever, chills, headache, muscle pain, and rash)
- •Severe allergic skin reactions, such as a life-threatening illness with skin blistering (Lyell's syndrome), or widespread rash with blisters and peeling skin, especially around the mouth, nose, eyes, and genitals (Stevens-Johnson syndrome)
- •Low count of all blood cells (pancytopenia)
- •Prolonged bleeding and clotting time
- •Acute kidney failure
- •Crystals in urine (especially with very high doses given into a vein)
- •Black hairy tongue
- •Joint pain
Important Warnings
- Do not use if you are allergic to ampicillin, other penicillins, or any other ingredient in A-Pen.
- Do not use if you have had a severe allergic reaction to any antibiotic before (e.g., rash, swelling of face/throat).
- Do not use if you have had jaundice or liver problems caused by ampicillin.
- Do not use if you have glandular fever (mononucleosis).
- Tell your doctor if you are allergic to cephalosporin antibiotics.
Show 5 more warnings
- Tell your doctor if you have kidney problems.
- Tell your doctor if you have a lymphatic disease (like lymphoma or lymphatic leukemia) or a cytomegalovirus infection.
- Tell your doctor if you have diarrhea.
- Stop using A-Pen and contact your doctor if you get an allergic reaction or severe, bloody diarrhea.
- If you are being treated for syphilis or Lyme disease, tell your doctor if you get symptoms like fever, chills, headache, muscle pain, and rash, as this could be a Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction.