If you’ve been prescribed an antibiotic lately, chances are the doctor mentioned either cefprozil or amoxicillin. Both work against bacteria, but they’re not identical. Knowing the basics can help you take the right drug, avoid surprises, and get better results.
Cefprozil belongs to the cephalosporin family. It attacks the bacterial cell wall, stopping the bug from growing. Doctors often use it for ear infections, sinusitis, sore throat, and some skin problems. Amoxicillin is a penicillin‑type antibiotic. It stops bacteria from building their protein walls. It’s a go‑to for ear infections, strep throat, pneumonia, and urinary tract infections.
In practice, both can clear similar infections, but the exact bug matters. Some bacteria are naturally resistant to one but not the other. If a lab test shows the bug is sensitive to cefprozil, that drug will work better, and the same goes for amoxicillin.
Cefprozil usually comes in 250 mg or 500 mg tablets. Most adults take it twice a day for 5‑10 days, depending on the infection. Children’s doses are based on weight, often 7‑10 mg per kilogram twice daily.
Amoxicillin is more flexible. It’s available as 250 mg, 500 mg, and 875 mg tablets, plus a powder for kids. Typical adult dosing is 500 mg three times a day, or 875 mg twice daily, for 7‑10 days. Kids get 20‑40 mg per kilogram per day split into two or three doses.
Both drugs need to be taken at evenly spaced times. Skipping doses or stopping early can let the infection come back and may cause resistance.
When it comes to side effects, cefprozil can cause stomach upset, diarrhea, and a mild rash. In rare cases, it might trigger a severe allergic reaction. Amoxicillin is famous for causing diarrhea and, in some people, a harmless rash. Those with penicillin allergies should avoid amoxicillin, but they might still tolerate cefprozil.
Both antibiotics can interact with other meds. For example, taking cefprozil with an oral contraceptive might reduce the pill’s effectiveness, so extra birth‑control measures are a good idea. Amoxicillin can reduce the effectiveness of certain blood thinners, so keep your doctor in the loop if you’re on those.
In a nutshell, choose cefprozil if you’re allergic to penicillins or if lab results point to a bug that respects cephalosporins. Pick amoxicillin if the infection is known to respond well to penicillins and you don’t have an allergy. Always follow the prescription exactly and finish the full course.
Still unsure which antibiotic is right for you? Talk to your pharmacist or doctor. They can look at the infection type, your medical history, and any allergy concerns to pick the safest, most effective option.
Clear, evidence-backed comparison of cefprozil and amoxicillin: which infections each treats best, dosing, side effects, costs, and when to choose one over the other.