Penicillin brand and generic names
Penicillin pairs to learn
| Brand name | Generic name | Class or type | Route / form |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amoxil | amoxicillin | Penicillins | Oral |
| Augmentin | amoxicillin, clavulanate | Penicillins | Oral |
| Pen-Vee K | penicillin V potassium | Penicillins | Oral |
| Dynapen | dicloxacillin | Penicillins | Oral; brand discontinued; generic available |
Dynapen brand discontinued; generic dicloxacillin available.
Understanding penicillins
Aminopenicillins include amoxicillin; penicillinase-resistant penicillins include dicloxacillin. Augmentin adds clavulanate, a beta-lactamase inhibitor.
Naming patterns and memory tips
The -cillin ending marks the penicillin family. Amoxil and Augmentin both relate to amoxicillin—practice Augmentin with both ingredients.
Commonly confused penicillin names
Amoxicillin and ampicillin
Both are aminopenicillins; Amoxil pairs with amoxicillin. Ampicillin has its own brand associations (not repeated here).
Penicillins and cephalosporins
Cephalexin is a cephalosporin despite also treating similar infections—see the cephalosporin generation guide.