Uses
Amoxicillin is used to treat bacterial infections in many different parts of the body (eg, ear, lungs, sinus, skin, urinary tract).
Amoxicillin is an antibiotic that belongs to the group of medicines known as penicillin's and beta-lactamase inhibitors. It works by killing the bacteria and preventing their growth. However, this medicine will not work for colds, flu, or other virus infections.
Dosage
The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.
For oral dosage form (tablets):
Adults and children weighing 40 kilograms (kg) or more—250 milligrams (mg) amoxicillin every 8 hours or 500 mg of amoxicillin every 12 hours.
Children weighing less than 40 kg—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
For serious bacterial infections:
For oral dosage form (chewable tablet or suspension):
Adults and children weighing 40 kilograms (kg) or more—125 to 250 milligrams (mg) amoxicillin and 31.25 to 62.5 mg clavulanate per 5 milliliters (mL) every 8 hours, or 200 to 400 mg amoxicillin and 28.5 to 57 mg clavulanate per 5 mL every 12 hours.
Children 3 months of age and older and weighing less than 40 kg—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The dose is usually 40 mg per kg of body weight per day every 8 hours or 45 mg per kg of body weight per day every 12 hours.
Children younger than 3 months of age—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The dose is usually 30 mg per kg of body weight per day every 12 hours.
Warnings and Precautions
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:
Allergies
Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.
Pediatric
Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated pediatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of amoxicillin and clavulanate chewable tablets and oral suspension in children. However, newborns and infants 3 months of age and younger have incompletely developed kidney functions, which may need a lower dose of this medicine.
Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated pediatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of amoxicillin and clavulanate oral suspension in children 3 months of age and older. However, safety and efficacy have not been established in children younger than 3 months of age.
Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated pediatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of amoxicillin and clavulanate tablets and extended-release tablets in children weighing 40 kilograms (kg) or more. However, safety and efficacy have not been established in children weighing less than 40 kg.
Geriatric
Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of amoxicillin and clavulanate combination in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have age-related kidney problems, which may require an adjustment in the dose for patients receiving amoxicillin and clavulanate combination.
Breastfeeding
Studies in women suggest that this medication poses minimal risk to the infant when used during breastfeeding.
Your doctor will check your or your child's progress while using this medicine. This will allow your doctor to see if the medicine is working properly and to decide if you should continue to take it. Blood and urine tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.
If your or your child's symptoms do not improve within a few days, or if they become worse, check with your doctor.
This medicine may cause serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention. Call your doctor right away if you or your child have itching, hives, hoarseness, trouble breathing, trouble swallowing, or any swelling of your hands, face, or mouth after taking this medicine.
Serious skin reactions, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP), and drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) can occur with this medicine. Check with your doctor right away if you or your child have black, tarry stools, blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin, chest pain, chills, cough, diarrhea, fever, itching, joint or muscle pain, painful or difficult urination, red irritated eyes, red skin lesions, sore throat, sores, ulcers, or white spots in the mouth or on the lips, swollen glands, unusual bleeding or bruising, or unusual tiredness or weakness while you are receiving this medicine.
This medicine may cause stomach or bowel problems, including drug-induced enterocolitis syndrome (DIES). It may occur 1 to 4 hours after taking this medicine. Check with your doctor right away if you have blurred vision, cold clammy skin, confusion, dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position, fever, pale skin, stomach pain, cramps, or tenderness, sweating, unusual drowsiness, dullness, tiredness, weakness or feeling or sluggish, unusual tiredness or weakness, or watery or bloody diarrhea.
Check with your doctor right away if you have pain or tenderness in the upper stomach, pale stools, dark urine, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, or yellow eyes or skin. These could be symptoms of a serious liver problem.
Amoxicillin may cause diarrhea, and in some cases it can be severe. It may occur 2 months or more after you stop using this medicine. Do not take any medicine to treat diarrhea without first checking with your doctor. Diarrhea medicines may make the diarrhea worse or make it last longer. If you have any questions or if mild diarrhea continues or gets worse, check with your doctor.
In some young patients, tooth discoloration may occur while using this medicine. The teeth may appear to have brown, yellow, or gray stains. To help prevent this, brush and floss your teeth regularly. Visit your dentist regularly for teeth cleanings.
Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.
