Medicines
Green Pages
amoxicillin
Amoxicillin is an antibiotic of the
penicillin family used to treat womb
infections, urine system infections,
pneumonia, and other infections. It is
now used instead of ampicillin in many
places.
Important: Take with food. If you do
not start to get better in 3 days, get
medical help. You may need a
different medicine.
Side effects: Diarrhea, rash, nausea,
vomiting. May cause yeast infection in
women or diaper rash in children.
Often comes in: tablets of 250 and 500
mg; liquid for injection of 125 or 250 mg
per 5 ml; syrup of various strengths.
How to use:
For kidney infection (see p. 129), give
500 mg by mouth 3 times a day for
7 days.
For chlamydia (see p. 324), give 500 mg
by mouth 3 times a day for 7 days.
For pelvic infection (see p. 325),
give 500 mg by mouth 3 times a day
for 14 days.
For infection after genital cutting (see
p. 369), give 500 mg by mouth 3 times
a day for 10 days.
For preventing infection after an
invasive procedure (see p. 231),
give 1 g by mouth, 1 time only. Also
give metronidazole.
Other drugs that may work: Ampicillin
can almost always be used instead of
amoxicillin. A person who is allergic to
penicillins can try erythromycin.
ampicillin
Ampicillin is an antibiotic of the
penicillin family used to treat many
kinds of infections.
Important: Take ampicillin before eating.
Side effects: May cause stomach upset,
diarrhea, and rash. May cause yeast
infection in women or diaper rash in
children.
Often comes in: tablets or capsules of
250 and 500 mg; liquid for injection of
125 or 250 mg per 5 ml; powder for
mixing injections.
How to use:
For infection during labor (see p. 179),
give 2 g by mouth 4 times a day for
7 to 10 days. Also give metronidazole.
For infection after birth (see p. 271),
give 2 g by mouth or injected into
muscle for the first dose, then give 1 g
4 times a day until fever has been gone
for 48 hours. Give other antibiotics too.
For infection in a newborn baby (see
p. 279), inject in the thigh muscle 2 times
a day for a baby less than 1 week old,
3 times a day for a baby 1 week old or
more. For a baby that weighs 2 kg or
less, use 80 mg; 3 kg, use 150 mg; 4 kg
or more, use 200 mg.
For infection after abortion (see p. 410),
inject 2 g in the muscle, then reduce
dose to 1 g, 4 times a day until fever has
been gone for 48 hours. Give other
antibiotics too.
or give 3.5 g by mouth 1 time only.
Other drugs that may work: Amoxicillin
can almost always be used instead of
ampicillin. A person who is allergic to
penicillins can try erythromycin.
WARNING: Do not give amoxicillin
to someone who is allergic to
drugs in the penicillin family.
474
A Book for Midwives (2010)
WARNING: Do not give ampicillin
to someone who is allergic to
drugs in the penicillin family.