What is amoxicillin?
Amoxicillin is a penicillin antibiotic that fights bacteria. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria.
Amoxicillin is used to treat many different types of infection caused by bacteria. It will not work for viral infections (such as common cold, flu). Unnecessary use or misuse of any antibiotic can lead to its decreased effectiveness.
Amoxicillin is also used with other medications to treat stomach/intestinal ulcers caused by the bacteria H. pylori and to prevent the ulcers from returning.
Side Effects
Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea may occur. If any of these effects persist / worsen or in addition to its needed effects, some unwanted effects may be caused by amoxicillin they may require medical attention.
Precautions
- Do not use Amoxicillin if you are allergic to amoxicillin or to any other penicillin antibiotic.
- Before using amoxicillin, tell your doctor if you have asthma, liver or kidney disease, a bleeding or blood clotting disorder, mononucleosis or any type of allergy.
- Amoxicillin can make birth control pills less effective. Ask your doctor about using a non-hormone method of birth control (such as a condom, diaphragm, spermicide) to prevent pregnancy while taking this medicine.
- Take this medication for the full prescribed length of time. Your symptoms may improve before the infection is completely cleared.
- Antibiotic medicines can cause diarrhea, which may be a sign of a new infection. If you have diarrhea that is watery or bloody, stop taking amoxicillin and call your doctor.
- Amoxicillin is not expected to harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
- Amoxicillin can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
- The amoxicillin chewable tablet may contain phenylalanine. Talk to your doctor before using the chewable tablets if you have phenylketonuria
Interactions
More than total of 50 drugs (300 brand and generic names) are known to interact with amoxicillin.
Severe Interactions of amoxicillin: These medications are not usually taken together. Consult your healthcare professional (e.g., doctor or pharmacist) for more in formation.
Serious Interactions of amoxicillin: These medications may interact and cause very harmful effects. Consult your healthcare professional (e.g., doctor or pharmacist) for more in formation.
Moderate Interactions of amoxicillin: These medications may cause some risk when taken together. Consult your healthcare professional (e.g., doctor or pharmacist) for more in formation.
Taking Amoxicillin
- Take amoxicillin exactly as prescribed by your doctor and follow all directions on your prescription label.
- Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.
- Take Amoxicillin at the same time each day.
- Some forms of amoxicillin may be taken with or without food. Check your medicine label to see if you should take your medicine with food or not.
- You may need to shake the liquid medicine well just before you measure a dose. Follow the directions on your medicine label.
- You may store liquid amoxicillin in a refrigerator but do not allow it to freeze. Throw away any liquid medicine that is not used within 14 days after it was mixed at the pharmacy.
- The chewable tablet should be chewed before you swallow it.
- Do not crush, chew, or break an extended-release tablet. Swallow it whole.
- Use Amoxicillin for the full prescribed length of time. Your symptoms may improve before the infection is completely cleared.
- Skipping doses may also increase your risk of further infection that is resistant to antibiotics.
Overdose
If someone has overdosed Seek emergency medical attention.
Symptoms of overdose may include
- Severe vomiting
- Persistent diarrhea,
- Severe decrease in the amount of urine, or seizures
- Confusion, behavior changes
- A severe skin rash
