Green Pages Where There Is No Doctor 2011 353
Ampicillin and amoxicillin are often
interchangeable. When you see a recommendation
for ampicillin in this book, you will often be able to
use amoxicillin in its place, in the correct dose (see
below). But do not take amoxicillin by mouth
when injected ampicillin is recommended
(amoxicillin does not come in injectable form). Also
note that amoxicillin may be less effective against
Shigella infections. Use ampicillin or another
antibiotic (see p. 158).
Ampicillin and amoxicillin are more expensive
than penicillin and they can cause diarrhea or
‘thrush’. Therefore, they should not be used for
infections that could be treated with penicillin just
as effectively (see p. 58).
Ampicillin works well when taken by mouth.
Injections should only be used for severe illnesses
such as meningitis, peritonitis, and appendicitis, or
when the sick person vomits or cannot swallow the
medicine.
Ampicillin and amoxicillin are often useful in
treating pneumonia or ear infections of children
under 6 years, severe urinary tract infections,
chlamydia, tooth abscess, and typhoid fever (in
some parts of the world). Ampicillin is also useful in
treating septicemia and unexplained illness in the
newborn, meningitis, peritonitis, and appendicitis.
Amoxicillin is also used to treat ulcers and chronic
bronchitis.
Persons allergic to penicillin should not take
ampicillin or amoxicillin. See Risks and Precautions
for all types of penicillin, page 351.
Dosage for ampicillin and amoxicillin:
By mouth (25 to 50 mg./kg./day)—capsules of
250 mg.; syrup with 125 mg. per teaspoon (5 ml.)
Ampicillin: Give 4 doses a day for 7 days.
Amoxicillin: Give 3 doses a day for 7 days.
In each dose give:
adults and children over 10: 1 capsule or
2 teaspoons (250 mg.)
children under 10: ½ capsule or
1 teaspoon (125 mg.)
newborn babies: ¼ capsule or
½ teaspoon (62 mg.)
For more serious infections: double the above
dosage.
For typhoid fever: give 100 mg./kg./day of
amoxicillin or ampicillin.
For chlamydia: see doses on p. 359.
Dosage for ampicillin:
By injection, for severe infections
Give 4 doses a day, for 10 to 14 days.
In each dose give:
adults: 500 mg. (one 500 mg. vial)
children age 8 to 12: 250 mg.
(½ of a 500 mg. vial)
children age 3 to 7: 125 mg.
(¼ of a 500 mg. vial)
children under 3: 62 mg.
(1⁄8 of a 500 mg. vial)
newborn babies: 125 mg.
(¼ of a 500 mg. vial) only 2 times a day
For meningitis: double the above dosage.
PENICILLIN WITH STREPTOMYCIN
Products that combine penicillin with
streptomycin are found in most countries and are
often used more than they should be. If one of
these products is widely used in your area, write
down its name, contents, and price:
Name:__________________ mg. of penicillin:________
mg. of streptomycin:_____ price:________ for_ ______
Penicillin and streptomycin should be used
together only in special cases when ampicillin
cannot be obtained or is too expensive. They
should not be used for minor infections or for
the common cold or ‘flu’.
Frequent use of streptomycin for illnesses other
than tuberculosis makes the tuberculosis bacteria
in a community resistant to streptomycin, and
therefore harder to treat. Also, streptomycin may
cause deafness.
Streptomycin with penicillin can be used
for most of the illnesses for which ampicillin is
recommended (see p. 352), but ampicillin is safer,
especially for babies.