What is the Difference between Ampicillin and Amoxicillin?

Antibiotics are an important part of medical treatments. They are used to treat infections caused by bacteria. Two of the most commonly prescribed antibiotics are ampicillin and amoxicillin. Both are used to treat bacterial infections, but there are important differences between them.

What is Ampicillin?

Ampicillin is a broad-spectrum penicillin antibiotic. It is used to treat a wide range of bacterial infections, including those in the respiratory tract, urinary tract, skin, and ear. Ampicillin works by attacking the cell walls of bacteria and preventing them from growing and multiplying.

What is Amoxicillin?

Amoxicillin is a type of penicillin antibiotic. It is a semi-synthetic antibiotic that belongs to the aminopenicillin family. It is used to treat infections caused by certain types of bacteria, including streptococcal infections, gonorrhea, and Lyme disease. It works by attacking the cell walls of bacteria, preventing them from growing and multiplying.

Differences between Ampicillin and Amoxicillin

The main difference between ampicillin and amoxicillin is their spectrum of activity.

• Ampicillin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic, meaning it is effective against a wide variety of bacteria.
• Amoxicillin is a narrower-spectrum antibiotic, meaning it is only effective against certain types of bacteria.

Ampicillin is also more stable in acidic conditions, which makes it more suitable for treating infections in the stomach and intestines. In terms of side effects, both ampicillin and amoxicillin can cause diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and rash. However, amoxicillin is more likely to cause an allergic reaction than ampicillin.

Conclusion

Ampicillin and amoxicillin are both antibiotics used to treat bacterial infections. The main difference between them is their spectrum of activity; ampicillin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic while amoxicillin is a narrower-spectrum antibiotic. In terms of side effects, both can cause diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and rash, but amoxicillin is more likely to cause an allergic reaction than ampicillin.

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