Amoxicillin : Drug Information
Table of Contents
What is Amoxicillin?
Amoxicillin is a penicillin antibiotic medication. Doctors prescribe this medication to treat several bacterial infections such as middle ear infection, strep throat, pneumonia, urinary tract infection, and other skin infection. It is also beneficial in treating salmonella infections, Lyme disease, chlamydia infections. It works by creating hindrance in the growth of bacteria in the body.
Sometimes doctors prescribe Amoxicillin together with other antibiotic medication such as clarithromycin to treat stomach ulcers caused due to helicobacter pylori infections. Amoxicillin is available in the form of oral tablets, capsules, suspension. One can avail of this medication only with a proper prescription from a doctor.
Important Information
- It is the first choice of treatment for any bacterial infection.
- You need to regularly visit your doctor and take frequent blood tests while on this medication.
- Amoxicillin may affect certain medical tests; tell your doctor that you are on this medication.
- Taking Amoxicillin can increase the risk of yeast infection.
- It is not useful in treating viral infection and symptoms of flu.
What to know before taking Amoxicillin?
You should avoid taking this medication if you are allergic to it or any of its components or any penicillin antibiotics. To ensure that Amoxicillin is safe for you, you should tell your doctor if you have or ever had the following medical issues:
- Kidney disease
- Asthma
- Mononucleosis
- Diarrhea caused due to antibiotic medications
- Allergic reaction to any food or drugs
Expecting women should consult their doctor before using Amoxicillin. Lactating women should not use Amoxicillin while they are on this medication; it may harm their child. Contraceptive pills make this medicine less effective.
How to take Amoxicillin?
Take Amoxicillin precisely as prescribed by the doctor. You must follow all the instructions given on the prescription label and medication guide carefully. Please don’t take it more than recommended and try to be consistent throughout the treatment. Consult your doctor if you are not feeling any improvement in your condition.
Keep the medication out of children’s reach and store it at room temperature away from heat and moisture. After completion of treatment, ask your pharmacist regarding the disposal of leftover medicines.
Amoxicillin dosage
The dosage of Amoxicillin prescribed by the doctor is dependent on several factors, such as :
- The age and weight of the patient
- Symptoms
- The seriousness of the condition
- Other medical issues that the patient is having
- Other medications that the patient is using
- How the patient reacted to the first dose of the medication
The doctor may prescribe the dosage of Amoxicillin according to the different medical conditions of the patient.
Dosage for middle ear, nose, and throat infection
Immediate-release or chewable tablets
- For older adults
The kidney of older adults may not function properly, resulting in a slow drug process in our body. As a result, a high amount of Amoxicillin stays in the body for an extended period, resulting in significant risk.
After the full checkup, the doctor should suggest a dosage for the patient above 65 years of age. They may increase or decrease the dose to get the desired result.
- For adults
500 mg after every 12 hours or 250 mg after every 8 hours
- For children (between 3 months to 17 years)
25 mg/kg per day after every 12 hours or 20 mg/kg per day after every 8 hours.
- For children (less than three months)
The maximum dose for children less than three months is 30 mg/kg per day.
Extended-release tablets
- For older adults
The kidney of older adults may not function properly, resulting in a slow drug process in our body. As a result, a high amount of Amoxicillin stays in the body for an extended period, resulting in significant risk.
After the full checkup, the doctor should suggest a dosage for the patient above 65 years of age. They may increase or decrease the dose to get the desired result.
- For adults
775 mg once a day for ten days
- For children (between 12 to 17 years)
775 mg once a day for ten days
- For children (less than 11 years)
Doctors should not recommend Amoxicillin for this age group.
Dosage for urinary tract infections
- For older adults
The kidney of older adults may not function properly, resulting in a slow drug process in our body. As a result, a high amount of Amoxicillin stays in the body for an extended period, resulting in significant risk.
After the full checkup, the doctor should suggest a dosage for the patient above 65 years of age. They may increase or decrease the dose to get the desired result.
- For adults
500 mg after every 12 hours or 250 mg after every 8 hours
- For children (between 3 months to 17 years)
25 mg/kg per day after every 12 hours or 20 mg/kg per day after every 8 hours.
- For children (less than three months)
The maximum dose for children less than three months is 30 mg/kg per day.
Dosage for skin infections
- For older adults
The kidney of older adults may not function properly, resulting in a slow drug process in our body. As a result, a high amount of Amoxicillin stays in the body for an extended period, resulting in significant risk.
After the full checkup, the doctor should suggest a dosage for the patient above 65 years of age. They may increase or decrease the dose to get the desired result.
- For adults
500 mg after every 12 hours or 250 mg after every 8 hours
- For children (between 3 months to 17 years)
25 mg/kg per day after every 12 hours or 20 mg/kg per day after every 8 hours.
- For children (less than three months)
The maximum dose for children less than three months is 30 mg/kg per day.
Dosage for lower respiratory tract infections
- For older adults
The kidney of older adults may not function properly, resulting in a slow drug process in our body. As a result, a high amount of Amoxicillin stays in the body for an extended period, resulting in significant risk.
After the full checkup, the doctor should suggest a dosage for the patient above 65 years of age. They may increase or decrease the dose to get the desired result.
- For adults
875 mg after every 12 hours or 500 mg after every 8 hours
- For children (between 3 months to 17 years)
45 mg/kg per day after every 12 hours or 40 mg/kg per day after every 8 hours.
- For children (less than three months)
The maximum dose for children less than three months is 30 mg/kg per day for children weighing less than 88 pounds. For the children weighing more than 88 pounds should; the Amoxicillin dose will be the same as an adult.
Dosage for gonorrhea
- For older adults
The kidney of older adults may not function properly, resulting in a slow drug process in our body. As a result, a high amount of Amoxicillin stays in the body for an extended period, resulting in significant risk.
After the full checkup, the doctor should suggest a dosage for the patient above 65 years of age. They may increase or decrease the dose to get the desired result.
- For adults
3 mg once a day
- For children (between 2 years to 17 years)
The maximum dose for this age group is 50 mg/kg of Amoxicillin together with 25 mg/kg probenecid once a day for children weighing less than 88 pounds. For the children weighing more than 88 pounds should; the Amoxicillin dose will be the same as an adult.
- For children (less than two years)
Doctors should not recommend Amoxicillin for this age group.
Dosage for stomach or intestine ulcers
- For older adults
The kidney of older adults may not function properly, resulting in a slow drug process in our body. As a result, a high amount of Amoxicillin stays in the body for an extended period, resulting in significant risk.
After the full checkup, the doctor should suggest a dosage for the patient above 65 years of age. They may increase or decrease the dose to get the desired result.
- For adults
Your doctor will prescribe you a combination of certain medicines as per your condition.
- For children (below 17 years)
Doctors should not recommend Amoxicillin for this age group.
Overdose
There are no specific Amoxicillin overdose symptoms, but if you ever feel uneasy while taking this medication, you can consult your doctor and seek a medical assistant. You can also call the poison helpline number at 1-800-222-1222.
What to avoid while using Amoxicillin?
Taking Amoxicillin may cause you diarrhea; do consult your doctor before taking anti-diarrhea medication.
Amoxicillin side effects
Some of the common side effects of using Amoxicillin are as follows:
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Rashes on the skin
It is obvious to experience mild side effect symptoms, but if these symptoms bother you so much and are unbearable, you should consult your doctor and ask for medical help. You can stop taking medication and tell your doctor if you face the following problems while taking Amoxicillin:
- Severe pain in the stomach
- Diarrhea (watery or bloody)
- Tooth discoloration
- Anxiety
- Dizziness
- Allergic reaction to the medication
You should also report to your doctor from time to time if you experience any new symptoms or your symptoms are getting even worse.
What drugs can interact with Amoxicillin?
If your doctor is treating you with Amoxicillin, he must be knowing all the possible interactions with other medications. It is your responsibility to tell the doctor about all the over-the-counter medicines you take or taken in the past few days. Some of the following medications which can interact with Amoxicillin are:
- Any other antibiotics
- Allopurinol
- Probenecid
- Cancer treatment such as methotrexate
- Oral contraceptive medications
- Typhoid vaccine
- Uricosuric medications
- Blood thinner medicines such as warfarin, coumadin, jantoven
- Other over the counter
- Herbal products
- Vitamins and other nutritional supplements
