20+ Differences Between Amoxicillin And Penicillin

Antibiotics, such as amoxicillin and penicillin, are commonly used treatments for bacterial infections. Antibiotics of the penicillin class, such as these two medications, are among the most frequently prescribed medicines in the world.

Amoxicillin and penicillin are both antibiotics that are effective against germs that may affect the lungs, urinary system, sinuses, and throat.

These medicines are effective because they prevent bacteria from constructing and maintaining their protective barrier, the cell wall. Bacteria can’t exist without their cell wall.

Table of Contents

Comparison Between Amoxicillin And Penicillin

Parameter	Amoxicillin	Penicillin
What it is	Antibiotic works in a way that is similar to that of penicillin, namely by damaging the cell wall of the bacterium it is treating. Ineffective in removing viruses from the system; a false positive result.	An antibiotic that is developed from a mold that is a member of the genus Penicillium and that works by inducing disruptions in the cell walls of the bacteria that it is directed against. Does not effective against illnesses caused by viruses.
Treatment	Microorganisms are said to be penicillin-resistant when they are able to resist the antibiotic penicillin, have a morphology that is Gram-positive, and can be isolated from a broad range of sources.	Gram-positive bacteria, even if there were only a few of them in total. Gram-positive bacteria. bacteria that are gram-positive Gram-positive bacteria are bacteria that have a gram-positive bacterial chromosome. bacteria that are gram-positive Bacteria that have a bacterial chromosome are referred to be gram-positive bacteria.
For children	As soon as the kid reaches the age of 5, the procedure may be performed on the child, provided that it is done so while the child is still under the care of an experienced medical practitioner who is well-versed in the topic that the child is being treated for.	When the child reaches the age of ten, they are still being monitored by a seasoned medical practitioner.
Cost	Tablets are sold in packages of 30, with each tablet carrying a dosage of 500 milligrams; the unit cost may vary anywhere from $4.00 to $12.79, depending on the specific brand that is being bought.	Depending on the pricing range, one may get tablets that each contain 500 milligrams for anywhere from ten dollars to thirty-seven and a half dollars apiece.

Major Differences Between Amoxicillin And Penicillin

What Exactly Is Amoxicillin?

Because of its effectiveness against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, as well as Streptococcus spp. (a- and b-hemolytic strains exclusively, such as S. pyrogens), amoxicillin is classified as a broad-spectrum antibiotic.

Combinations of Amoxicillin and clavulanic acid are available to combat beta-lactamases. Amoxicillin is similar in action to ampicillin, with the exception that it is better absorbed and has higher blood levels since it is resistant to stomach acid.

Infections in the ear, nose, and throat (pharyngitis/tonsillitis, otitis media) may be treated with Amoxicillin.

Amoxicillin Key Differences

There are a few different brand names for amoxicillin, the most common of which are Moxatag and Amoxil.
A rash is more common when amoxicillin is used. However, it does not always indicate that the patient has an allergy to the medicine.
Amoxicillin has the ability to treat and cure genitourinary infections and acute gonorrhea and even eliminate H. pylori from the body when used in conjunction with other drugs.
Despite the fact that amoxicillin wasn’t used in the area of medicine for the very first time till 1972, the antibiotic was discovered in 1958.

What Exactly Is Penicillin?

In 1928, Dr. Alexander Fleming discovered the first antibiotic, Penicillin. Penicillin V is an improved antibiotic that was created to be administered orally and survive exposure to stomach acid.

Since it is most effective against gram-positive aerobic organisms like Streptococcus pneumoniae and Groups A, B, C, and G streptococci, Penicillin falls under the category of “narrow-spectrum” antibiotics.

Penicillin may be more effective against group B streptococcus (S. agalactiae), S. viridans, and Enterococcus faecalis if coupled with aminoglycosides.

Penicillin Key Differences

In addition to “Penicillin G,” “Permapen Isoject” and “Pfizerpen” are two more brand names for this antibiotic.
Rheumatic fever, bacterial endocarditis, and dental infections of the gum tissue are some of the conditions that penicillin may cure. It can also be used to prevent these conditions.
Penicillin may treat a variety of illnesses, including cholera, which is one among them.
The widespread use of penicillin did not begin until a few years after the end of World War II, although the discovery of penicillin proved essential in preventing the loss of lives.

Contrast Between Amoxicillin And Penicillin

Treatment

Amoxicillin- Amoxicillin is effective in the treatment of syphilis. It is also used to treat bacterial illnesses, including pneumonia, ear infections, and even oral (mouth) infections.

The same is true for bronchitis, other lung infections, and sinusitis. Urinary tract infections, which E. coli often brings on, were formerly treated with Amoxicillin as the first line of defense. However, this is not advised due to the rise of antibiotic resistance.

Penicillin- If you have strep throat, pneumonia, meningitis, or syphilis, your doctor may prescribe Penicillin.

Penicillin is effective against a wide variety of other bacterial illnesses as well. Penicillin used to be widely prescribed by doctors for the treatment of gonorrhea and staph infections, but this is no longer advised since antibiotic resistance is on the rise.

Dosage

Amoxicillin- Amoxicillin comes in capsule or tablet form and is administered orally. If you have trouble swallowing capsules or pills, you may be able to take a liquid oral suspension instead.

The proper dose of Amoxicillin for every given medical condition is condition-specific. The recommended dose of Amoxicillin might increase if your doctor determines that you have a specific ailment, such as an ear infection.

Amoxicillin, like any other antibiotic, should be taken precisely as prescribed by your doctor.

Penicillin- Tablets of 250–500 milligrams of penicillin V are typically administered orally to adults every 6–8 hours for 7–20 days.

You may choose benzathine penicillin G, procaine, potassium, or sodium for intravenous or intramuscular administration. The standard dose is injecting 300,000 to 4 million units of penicillin G every 6 to 8 hours.

Syphilis therapy calls for a single dosage of 2.4 million units of benzoyl penicillin G. The dosage will be given to you by your doctor or healthcare professional.

Costs

Amoxicillin- Amoxicillin prices vary from pharmacy to pharmacy and from patient to patient. The cost of Amoxicillin, 500mg in a package of four capsules, is roughly $10, and a package of twenty pills will set you back around $13.

If you want to determine how much Amoxicillin will set you back, it’s best to consult your doctor or pharmacy. They’ll be able to calculate how much it will cost for each dose. Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance policies often pay for generic Amoxicillin.

Penicillin- Medicare and private health insurance policies do not exclude penicillin treatment. Depending on the drugstore you visit, a 6-tablet box of penicillin V potassium oral pills (500mg) would set you back roughly $29.

The average price of a vial of penicillin G potassium injectable powder for injection is around $50. The cost may be reduced by using discount coupons and shopping for the best local pharmacies deal.

Effectiveness

Amoxicillin- There are a number of gram-positive bacteria that Amoxicillin may be effective against, and it may also be effective against certain gram-negative bacteria.

Amoxicillin is useful for treating pharyngitis, tonsillitis, and middle ear infections caused by streptococcus in both children and adults.

Amoxicillin is useful for treating stomach ulcers because it kills the Helicobacter pylori bacteria that are responsible for the condition.

Amoxicillin is part of a triple treatment consisting of clarithromycin and lansoprazole or a dual therapy consisting of lansoprazole and clarithromycin.

Penicillin- Infections in the respiratory system, throat, gums, and mouth caused by bacteria are all treatable with penicillin V potassium. Also useful in the treatment of rheumatic fever is penicillin V potassium.

After recovering from an illness like scarlet fever or strep throat, rheumatic fever is a real possibility. In addition to impacting the heart valves, it also affects the joints, skin, and brain. A recurrence of rheumatic fever may be prevented with penicillin V potassium.

Precaution

Amoxicillin- Hypersensitivity to Amoxicillin may cause symptoms including hives and respiratory problems. You may unlikely damage your baby if you take Amoxicillin while nursing; nevertheless, some babies have suffered stomach upset and yeast infections.

You need to weigh the benefits of taking this medication while breastfeeding against the hazards. Amoxicillin is safe for children. However, parents should use care if giving it to infants less than three months.

Penicillin- If you have any kind of response to this medication, you should immediately stop taking it. Use this medication cautiously if you have asthma, a history of hypersensitivity reactions, or a case of Stevens-Johnson syndrome.

Penicillin shouldn’t be taken without first seeing a doctor if you have renal disease. A greater dosage of Penicillin may be prescribed if you are on hemodialysis due to the increased rates of penicillin excretion.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are some other ways that Penicillin may be used?

Penicillins are a kind of antibiotic that is used in the process of curing conditions that are brought on by bacteria.

They are efficient due to the fact that they either eradicate the microbes or prevent the growth of the bacteria. Penicillin is an antibiotic that has been modified in a variety of different ways.

Every one of these drugs is recommended for the treatment of a different disease.

Additional to Penicillin, what other antibiotics are available for the treatment of infections?

Patients have often been prescribed antibiotics that fall into the category of penicillins since they are among the antibiotics used most frequently.

You’ll find a wide variety of antibiotic drugs in this category, including penicillin G, Amoxicillin, nafcillin, oxacillin, dicloxacillin, flucloxacillin, ampicillin, carbenicillin, ticarcillin, and piperacillin, to name just a few examples. Other examples include ampicillin, carbenicillin, ticarcillin, and piperacillin.

Where could one go to get their hands on some penicillin?

Penicillin is a naturally occurring chemical that is produced by the antibiotic penicillium mold. Penicillin is used to treat a wide variety of bacterial infections.

Researchers were able to effectively produce Penicillium mold in large fermentation tanks by using a certain kind of sugar in combination with a few other components.

This allowed them to achieve their goal of successfully producing mold.

Would it be fair to characterize Amoxicillin as an antibiotic that is particularly effective?

Compared to its forerunner, Penicillin, the antibiotic Amoxicillin is known for being more effective against a greater variety of bacterial strains than it achieved with Penicillin.

In order to improve the antibiotic’s effectiveness, Amoxicillin is often coupled with a beta-lactamase inhibitor such as clavulanic acid.

This practice is common practice. Because of this, the antibiotic is better equipped to combat the germs that cause infection.

How soon does it take for Amoxicillin to start working?

Amoxicillin begins to kill the germs that are responsible for your illness as soon as it is taken, but it will take some time before you start to feel better.

Within a few days of starting Amoxicillin, most people feel better. On the other side, you might see a gradual improvement in your symptoms over the course of three to four days.