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Ampicillin

Ampicillin Eberth, Ampicillin Mip, Standacillin · ATC code J01CA01

Also known as: Ampisilin · Brand names: Ampicillin Eberth, Ampicillin Mip, Standacillin, Ampicillin Antibiotice, Ampicillin Ratiopharm, Alfasilin, Ampisina, Makrosilin, Penbisin, Penoral, Semisilin, Silina, Topsilin

Key facts
Active substance
Ampicillin
Drug class
Extended-spectrum penicillin
ATC code
J01CA01
Authorisation
authorised nationally; no central EU authorisation
Information as of
2026-10-29

Key facts

Ampicillin is a penicillin antibiotic. Per the US prescribing information, its capsules and oral suspension are used for infections caused by susceptible bacterial strains.

What it is used for

  • Genitourinary tract infections including gonorrhea (e.g. E. coli, P. mirabilis, enterococci, Shigella, Salmonella, nonpenicillinase-producing N. gonorrhoeae)
  • Respiratory tract infections due to nonpenicillinase-producing H. influenzae and staphylococci, and streptococci including Streptococcus pneumoniae
  • Gastrointestinal tract infections (Shigella, Salmonella, E. coli, P. mirabilis, enterococci)
  • Meningitis due to N. meningitidis
  • Only for infections proven or strongly suspected to be caused by bacteria

Dosing

  • Adults and children over 20 kg, genitourinary or gastrointestinal infections (other than gonorrhea): usually 500 mg four times daily; severe or chronic infections may require larger doses
  • Gonorrhea: a single oral dose of 3.5 grams ampicillin given with 1 gram probenecid; follow-up cultures 7 to 14 days after therapy
  • Respiratory tract infections in adults: usually 250 mg four times daily
  • Children 20 kg or less: 100 mg/kg/day (genitourinary/gastrointestinal) or 50 mg/kg/day (respiratory) in equally divided doses; not more than adult doses
  • Take at least one-half hour before or two hours after meals; continue at least 48 to 72 hours after symptoms resolve, and at least 10 days for hemolytic streptococcal infections

Contraindications

  • History of serious hypersensitivity reactions (e.g. anaphylaxis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome) to ampicillin or other beta-lactam antibacterials
  • Infections caused by penicillinase-producing organisms
  • Previous cholestatic jaundice/hepatic dysfunction associated with ampicillin

Important warnings

  • Serious and occasionally fatal anaphylactic reactions with penicillin therapy, including oral use; ask beforehand about allergy to penicillins, cephalosporins and other allergens
  • Severe cutaneous adverse reactions (TEN, SJS, DRESS, exfoliative dermatitis, erythema multiforme, AGEP); discontinue if lesions progress
  • Hepatotoxicity including hepatitis and cholestatic jaundice, usually reversible, though deaths have been reported; monitor hepatic function regularly in hepatic impairment
  • Clostridioides difficile-associated diarrhea, ranging from mild diarrhea to fatal colitis

Side effects

  • Mainly sensitivity reactions, more likely with a history of penicillin allergy, asthma, hay fever or urticaria
  • Glossitis, stomatitis, nausea, vomiting, enterocolitis, pseudomembranous colitis and diarrhea
  • Severe cutaneous reactions and angioedema

Interactions

  • Allopurinol: substantially increased incidence of skin rashes
  • Chloramphenicol, erythromycins, sulfonamides, tetracyclines: may interfere with the bactericidal effect (shown in vitro)
  • Oral contraceptives: may be less effective, with increased breakthrough bleeding
  • Probenecid: increased ampicillin blood levels

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

  • Use during pregnancy only if clearly needed; no adequate studies in pregnant women
  • Excreted in milk and may sensitize infants; caution when breastfeeding

Summary of the official product information, written with AI on 2026-10-29. Every number was checked automatically against the original text. Not reviewed by a physician – the full official text is authoritative.

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For patients

Patient information (US)

This product has no separate US patient information.

Authorisation and brand names by country

Medicines with exactly this active-substance composition, as listed in the national registers – alphabetical and without ranking. Whether a product is currently available is not shown here.

Austria

  • Ampicillin EberthDr. Friedrich Eberth Arzneimittel Gmbh · 1 register entry
  • Ampicillin MipMip Pharma Gmbh · 2 register entries
  • StandacillinSandoz Gmbh · 2 register entries

Source: EMA – Article 57 product data (EU/EEA), as of 2026-10-29

Germany

  • Ampicillin AntibioticeAntibiotice Sa · 2 register entries
  • Ampicillin EberthDr. Friedrich Eberth Arzneimittel Gmbh · 1 register entry
  • Ampicillin MipMip Pharma Gmbh · 2 register entries
  • Ampicillin RatiopharmRatiopharm Gmbh · 2 register entries

Source: EMA – Article 57 product data (EU/EEA), as of 2026-10-29

Turkey

  • AlfasilinTEVA İLAÇLARI SAN. VE TİC. A.Ş., TEVA İLAÇ SAN. VE TİC. A.Ş. · 3 register entries
  • AmpisinaGENSENTA İLAÇ SANAYİ VE TİC. A.Ş. · 11 register entries
  • MakrosilinATABAY İLAÇ FABRİKASI A.Ş. · 3 register entries
  • PenbisinMENARİNİ SAĞLIK VE İLAÇ SAN. TİC. A.Ş. · 3 register entries
  • PenoralNOBEL İLAÇ SAN. VE TİC. A.Ş. · 13 register entries
  • SemisilinADEKA İLAÇ SAN. VE TİC. A.Ş. · 3 register entries
  • SilinaBİLİM İLAÇ SAN. VE TİC. A.Ş. · 14 register entries
  • TopsilinTOPRAK İLAÇ VE KİMYEVİ MADDELER SAN.VE TİC. A.Ş. · 6 register entries

Source: TİTCK – Ruhsatlı Beşeri Tıbbi Ürünler Listesi, as of 2026-10-16

Brand names in 21 more European countries
Bulgaria
Ампицилин Tzf
Croatia
Ampicilin Noridem, Ampicilin Sandoz
Cyprus
Pamecil, Syntocil
Czechia
Ampicilin Bbp, Ampicillin Ardez, Ampicillin Noridem
Denmark
Ampicillin "pcd", Ampicillin Medochemie, Ampicillin Pcd, Ampicillin Stada, Ampitar
Estonia
Standacillin
Finland
A-Pen, Ampicillin Noridem, Ampicillin Stada, Ampitar
France
Ampicilline Panpharma
Greece
Adefocin, Ampicillin Cooper, Outcyst
Hungary
Ampicillin Antibiotice, Ampicillin Noridem, Ampicillin Sgs Pharma, Semicillin, Standacillin
Iceland
Amipicilin Stada, Doktacillin
Italy
Ampicillina Biopharma, Ampicillina Ethypharm, Ampicillina Noridem, Ampicillina Tillomed
Latvia
Pamecil
Lithuania
Standacillin
Norway
Ampicillin Noridem, Ampicillin Sgs Pharma, Ampicillin Stada Nordic, Ampitar
Poland
Ampicillin Adamed, Ampicillin Tzf, Ampitar
Portugal
Ampicilina Labesfal, Ampicilina Noridem, Hiperbiótico
Romania
Ampicilina Atb, Ampicilina Forte, Ampicilină Arena, Ampicilină Atb, Epicocillin, Pamecil
Slovakia
Ampicilin Bbp, Ampicillin Noridem
Spain
Ampicilina Antibiotice, Ampicilina Noridem, Britapen, Gobemicina
Sweden
Ampicillin Noridem, Ampicillin Stada Nordic, Ampitar, Doktacillin

EMA – Article 57 product data (EU/EEA), 2026-10-29

Medelix receives no money from pharmaceutical companies. Brand names are listed alphabetically and without ranking.

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Sources

  1. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Ampicillin (Sandoz Inc) – Prescribing Information, 2025-07-17. DailyMed (NLM), 2026-10-29. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/lookup.cfm?setid=0a66c5c3-63bf-46e3-835e-26b555ab6954
  2. EMA – Article 57 product data (EU/EEA), 2026-10-29. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/human-regulatory-overview/post-authorisation/data-medicines-iso-idmp-standards-post-authorisation/public-data-article-57-database
  3. EMA – Article 57 product data (EU/EEA), 2026-10-29. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/human-regulatory-overview/post-authorisation/data-medicines-iso-idmp-standards-post-authorisation/public-data-article-57-database
  4. TİTCK – Ruhsatlı Beşeri Tıbbi Ürünler Listesi, 2026-10-16. https://www.titck.gov.tr/dinamikmodul/85
  5. Wikidata (CC0): ATC J01CA.

Editorial: Medelix editorial team · last updated 2026-10-29 · How these pages are made · Report an error

Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), prescribing information, via DailyMed (NLM); public domain. Not advertising, not a treatment recommendation. For questions about your own treatment, ask your doctor or pharmacist.