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Drugs and Medicinal Substances

Ampicillin

Antiinfective Agents for Systemic Use

Ampicillin is an antibiotic in the aminopenicillin class of the penicillin family. It is used to prevent and treat several bacterial infections, including respiratory tract infections, urinary tract infections, meningitis, salmonellosis and endocarditis, and it may be given to prevent group B streptococcal infection in newborns. It can be taken by mouth, injected into a muscle or given into a vein. Common side effects are rash, nausea and diarrhea, and people who are allergic to penicillin should not take it. Serious effects can include Clostridioides difficile colitis or anaphylaxis. The drug was discovered in 1958 and came into commercial use in 1961. It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines, which classifies it as critically important for human medicine, and it is available as a generic medication.

Facts
Classification
Approval Status
Approved 1
ATC Class
J: Antiinfectives for Systemic Use 2
ATC Class
S: Sensory Organs 2
Route of Administration
Oral 1
Route of Administration
Intravenous 1
Route of Administration
Intramuscular 1
WHO Essential Medicine
Core List 3
First Approved / Isolated Year
1961 1
Sources
1. Ampicillin (Wikipedia)
  • Lead section of the English Wikipedia article
    It is available as a generic medication.
  • Lead section of the English Wikipedia article [first-approved-year]
    came into commercial use in 1961
  • Lead section of the English Wikipedia article [route-of-administration]
    It is used by mouth, by injection into a muscle, or intravenously.
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2. RxNav RxClass, National Library of Medicine: RxClass ATC classes of Ampicillin
RxNav RxClass, National Library of Medicine
  • RxClass ATC class of the drug (levels 1 to 4); ATC class derived from cited code J01CA (main group J)
    "classId": "J01CA", "className": "Penicillins with extended spectrum", "classType": "ATC1-4"
  • RxClass ATC class of the drug (levels 1 to 4); ATC class derived from cited code S01AA (main group S)
    "classId": "S01AA", "className": "Antibiotics", "classType": "ATC1-4"
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3. World Health Organization: The selection and use of essential medicines, 2025: WHO Model List of Essential Medicines, 24th list
World Health OrganizationPDF page 12; section 5.1.6.1; the entry ampicillin is in the Core List of the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines, 24th list (2025)
Quote, PDF page 12; section 5.1.6.1; the entry ampicillin is in the Core List of the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines, 24th list (2025)
ampicillin FIRST CHOICE
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