Ampicillin Sodium
Generic name: penicillin (oral route, injection route, intravenous route, intramuscular route)
Drug class:Natural penicillins
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Mar 13, 2022.
Commonly used brand name(s)
In the U.S.
- Amoxil
- Bactocill
- Bicillin L-A
- Cloxapen
- Crysticillin
- Dynapen
- Geocillin
- Nafcil
- Pfizerpen
- Pipracil
- Principen
- Staphcillin
- Ticar
- Veetids
In Canada
- Amoxil Pediatric
- Ampicillin Sodium
- Apo-Amoxi
- Apo-Amoxi Sugar-Free
- Apo-Pen-Vk
- Gen-Amoxicillin
- Med Amoxicillin
- Nadopen V 200
- Nadopen V 400
- Novamoxin
- Novamoxin Reduced Sugar
Available Dosage Forms:
- Powder for Solution
- Tablet
- Solution
- Suspension
- Capsule
- Powder for Suspension
- Tablet, Chewable
- Tablet, Extended Release
Uses for Ampicillin Sodium
Penicillins are used to treat infections caused by bacteria. They work by killing the bacteria or preventing their growth.
There are several different kinds of penicillins. Each is used to treat different kinds of infections. One kind of penicillin usually may not be used in place of another. In addition, penicillins are used to treat bacterial infections in many different parts of the body. They are sometimes given with other antibacterial medicines (antibiotics). Some of the penicillins may also be used for other problems as determined by your doctor. However, none of the penicillins will work for colds, flu, or other virus infections.
Penicillins are available only with your doctor's prescription.
Before using Ampicillin Sodium
Allergies
Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to medicines in this group 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
Many penicillins have been used in children and, in effective doses, are not expected to cause different side effects or problems in children than they do in adults.
Some strengths of the chewable tablets of amoxicillin contain aspartame, which is changed by the body to phenylalanine, a substance that is harmful to patients with phenylketonuria.
Geriatric
Penicillins have been used in the elderly and have not been shown to cause different side effects or problems in older people than they do in younger adults.
Pregnancy
Penicillins have not been studied in pregnant women. However, penicillins have been widely used in pregnant women and have not been shown to cause birth defects or other problems in animal studies.
Breastfeeding
Penicillins pass into the breast milk. Even though only small amounts may pass into breast milk, allergic reactions, diarrhea, fungus infections, and skin rash may occur in nursing babies.
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, y...
