# Ampicillin + Cloxacillin in Nigeria

Ampicillin + Cloxacillin has 26 active NAFDAC registrations in our October 2026 copy of the register, from 19 registration holders; 30 further listings have lapsed.

- Source: https://ogbogwu.com/drugs/ampicillin-cloxacillin/
- Drug class: Combination penicillin antibiotic (Antibiotics)
- Also known as: Ampiclox, Ampicillin and cloxacillin, Ampiclox capsules
- Prescription required: yes
- Last updated: August 2026

## Price in Nigeria

As of October 2026, the only ampicillin + cloxacillin our sampled online pharmacies (HealthPlus) list is Ampiclox, at about ₦7,260. That is Ampiclox's price, not the molecule's: 26 ampicillin + cloxacillin brands are NAFDAC-registered and generic versions usually cost less, so ask a licensed pharmacy for a generic by name and check its NAFDAC number before you pay.

## What is Ampicillin + Cloxacillin?

Ampicillin plus cloxacillin is a fixed combination of two penicillin antibiotics, and in Nigeria it is one of the most recognised medicines on the market under the name Ampiclox. Ampicillin covers a broad range of bacteria including many gram-negatives; cloxacillin is specifically resistant to the penicillinase enzyme that Staphylococcus aureus uses to destroy ordinary penicillin. The idea of the combination is to cover both at once.

Our copy of the NAFDAC register shows twenty-six active registrations of this combination from nineteen companies, and — unusually — the great majority are made in Nigeria: Ziclox from SKG, Euroclox from Chris-Ejik, Miraclox, Avroclox, Compi-Clox from Drugfield, Cloxypak and many more. This is genuinely a locally manufactured medicine, well supplied and cheap.

It also has to be said plainly that this combination is heavily over-used in Nigeria. It is bought over the counter for coughs and colds that are viral, taken for a day or two and stopped, and used to 'flush the system' after unprotected sex or before travel — none of which it does. Fixed-dose combinations of two antibiotics are not recommended by most modern guidelines, which prefer to choose one appropriate antibiotic for the organism suspected. Every unnecessary course pushes resistance further along.

## What is Ampicillin + Cloxacillin used for?

- Skin and soft-tissue infections including boils, abscesses and infected wounds, where staphylococci are likely
- Respiratory tract infections, on a doctor's judgement
- Ear, nose and throat infections such as otitis media and tonsillitis
- Infected surgical or obstetric wounds
- Mixed infections where both staphylococcal and broader cover is wanted
- Bone and joint infections, usually with the injectable form in hospital

## Dosage

Always follow a doctor's or pharmacist's instructions; this is general reference information.

- Adults: The usual adult dose is one 500mg capsule (250mg ampicillin plus 250mg cloxacillin) four times daily — every six hours — taken on an empty stomach, at least an hour before food or two hours after. Both penicillins absorb considerably better without food, and this genuinely matters for whether the medicine works. A course is normally five to seven days, and must be completed even after symptoms improve. More severe infections may need the injectable form in hospital.
- Children: Children are dosed by weight using the 125mg/5ml suspension, typically around 50mg per kg per day of the combination split into four doses. The powder is reconstituted with clean water to the mark on the bottle, shaken well before each dose, measured with a proper syringe or measuring spoon, and kept refrigerated once mixed — most reconstituted suspensions last only seven days. Confirm the dose with a pharmacist against the child's weight.
- Elderly: Older adults tolerate penicillins well in general, but the four-times-daily schedule is hard to keep to, and doses are reduced in significant kidney impairment. Missed doses matter more with a short-acting antibiotic than with a once-daily one.

TAKE IT ON AN EMPTY STOMACH — this is the most common practical mistake with this medicine, and food substantially reduces how much is absorbed. Complete the full course; stopping when you feel better is how resistance is bred. And be clear about what this medicine does not do: it does not treat malaria, it does not treat viral coughs, colds or flu, and it does not prevent sexually transmitted infections. Taking it after unprotected sex is a widespread practice in Nigeria that provides no protection and drives resistance.

## Side effects

Common: Diarrhoea and loose stools; Nausea and stomach upset; Oral or vaginal thrush after a course; Skin rash; Altered taste.

Serious (seek medical help immediately): Anaphylaxis — sudden severe allergic reaction with facial swelling and breathing difficulty; Clostridioides difficile-associated diarrhoea — severe, persistent or bloody; Severe skin reactions including Stevens-Johnson syndrome — rare; Cholestatic jaundice, more associated with the cloxacillin component; Blood-count abnormalities and, at high doses in kidney impairment, seizures.

When to see a doctor: Seek emergency care for swelling of the face, lips or throat, wheezing or difficulty breathing — a penicillin allergy can be immediate and life-threatening. See a doctor promptly for a widespread or blistering rash, for severe or bloody diarrhoea, or for yellowing of the eyes or skin. If the infection has not improved after 48 to 72 hours, return to the clinic rather than adding another antibiotic yourself.

## Warnings

Do not take if: Known allergy to penicillin or to any beta-lactam antibiotic; Previous severe skin reaction or jaundice on a penicillin; Infectious mononucleosis (glandular fever) — ampicillin causes a widespread rash in most people with it; Use with caution and dose adjustment in significant kidney impairment.

Interactions: Hormonal contraceptives — reduced effectiveness is possible if the antibiotic causes vomiting or diarrhoea; use additional protection during the course and for seven days after; Methotrexate — penicillins reduce its clearance and increase toxicity; Allopurinol — increases the likelihood of an ampicillin rash; Warfarin — penicillins can affect the INR; monitor if you take it; Live oral typhoid vaccine — the antibiotic blunts it; separate the two; Probenecid — raises and prolongs penicillin blood levels.

Pregnancy & breastfeeding: Penicillins are among the antibiotics best established as safe in pregnancy, and ampicillin has a long record of use across all trimesters when an antibiotic is genuinely needed. Small amounts pass into breast milk; breastfeeding is normally continued while watching the infant for loose stools or thrush. As with any antibiotic in pregnancy, it should be prescribed rather than self-selected.

## Brands in Nigeria

Well-known NAFDAC-registered brands: Ampiclox (GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Nigeria, made in India); Ziclox Capsule (SKG - Pharma Ltd, made in Nigeria); Euroclox Capsule (Chris-Ejik Pharmaceuticals & Healthcare Products Limited, made in Nigeria); Miraclox Capsules (Miraflash Nig Ltd, made in Nigeria); Avroclox Suspension (Avro Pharma Limited, made in Nigeria); Compi-Clox Powder for Oral Suspension (Drugfield Pharmaceuticals Limited, made in Nigeria).
Full searchable brand list: https://ogbogwu.com/drugs/ampicillin-cloxacillin/brands/

## How to verify it is genuine

1. Check the NAFDAC number on the pack — Ziclox carries A4-4154, Euroclox 04-3059, Miraclox A11-0038, Avroclox Suspension A4-5669 and Compi-Clox 04-2350 in our copy of the register.
2. Confirm any brand with our NAFDAC checker. Twenty-one companies hold active registrations, so a genuine product should be findable.
3. Avoid loose capsules sold by the piece. This is one of the most counterfeited antibiotic presentations in West Africa, and a capsule without a pack cannot be verified at all.
4. Check the expiry date and that the blister foil is intact and crisply printed.
5. Most registered products in this class are made in Nigeria — a locally made, register-verified brand is a sound choice here, not a compromise.

Verify any NAFDAC number free (no login): https://ogbogwu.com/nafdac-checker/

## FAQs

### What is Ampiclox used for?

It is a combination antibiotic used mainly for bacterial infections of the skin and soft tissue — boils, abscesses, infected wounds — and for some respiratory and ENT infections, where staphylococci are among the likely causes. It is not a general-purpose remedy. It does nothing for malaria, nothing for viral coughs, colds or flu, and nothing to prevent sexually transmitted infections, despite all three being common reasons people buy it in Nigeria.

### Does Ampiclox prevent STIs after unprotected sex?

No. This is a widespread and harmful belief. Ampicillin and cloxacillin do not reliably treat or prevent gonorrhoea, chlamydia, syphilis or any other sexually transmitted infection, and they do nothing at all against HIV. Taking a couple of capsules after unprotected sex provides no protection, may mask early symptoms of a real infection, and contributes to antibiotic resistance. If you are worried after unprotected sex, get tested at a clinic — testing is the answer, not a capsule.

### Should Ampiclox be taken before or after food?

Before — on an empty stomach, at least an hour before eating or two hours after. Both ampicillin and cloxacillin are absorbed substantially less well when taken with food, and this is the single most common mistake people make with this medicine. If it upsets your stomach badly on an empty stomach, tell your pharmacist rather than simply switching to taking it with meals.

### How much is Ampiclox in Nigeria?

It is one of the cheaper antibiotics available, largely because around nineteen companies hold active NAFDAC registrations and most manufacture locally, which keeps competition healthy. Prices differ between the capsule and the paediatric suspension and between brands. Check the price section of this page for current sampled figures, and note that open-market prices are usually below pharmacy prices — with the counterfeit risk that comes with that.

### Is Ampiclox good for staph infection?

The cloxacillin component is specifically designed for penicillinase-producing Staphylococcus aureus, so the combination does cover ordinary staph. What it does not cover is MRSA — methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus — which needs entirely different antibiotics. A staph infection that is not responding after two or three days should be reassessed by a doctor, ideally with a swab sent for culture, rather than treated with a longer or repeated course.

### Can I give Ampiclox to my baby?

Only if a doctor or pharmacist has prescribed it and calculated the dose against the baby's weight. The paediatric form is a powder reconstituted with clean water to the mark on the bottle, shaken before each dose, measured with a syringe rather than a kitchen spoon, and refrigerated once mixed — most reconstituted suspensions are discarded after seven days. Giving a leftover bottle from a previous illness, or guessing the dose, is how children are both under-treated and harmed.

## Sources

- NAFDAC Greenbook (official register of approved products in Nigeria)
- British National Formulary (BNF)
- Nigerian Standard Treatment Guidelines (Federal Ministry of Health)