Amoxicillin MedFacts

Amoxicillin

Amoxicillin is used for:

Treating infections caused by certain bacteria. It is also used with other medicines to treat H. pylori infection and ulcers of the small intestines.

Amoxicillin is a penicillin antibiotic. It works by killing sensitive bacteria.

Do NOT use Amoxicillin if:

• you are allergic to any of the ingredients contained in Amoxicillin or other penicillin antibiotics (eg, ampicillin)
• you have recently received or will be receiving live oral typhoid vaccine

Contact your health care provider as soon as possible if any of the above applies to you.

Consider before using Amoxicillin

Medical Conditions

There are medical conditions that can influence usage of Amoxicillin . Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are either pregnant or planning to become pregnant
• if you are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any medicine (either prescription or nonprescription), herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you are allergic to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have a history of allergies, asthma, hay fever, or hives
• if you have ever had a severe allergic reaction (eg, severe rash, hives, breathing difficulties, dizziness) to a cephalosporin (eg, cephalexin) or other beta-lactam antibiotic (eg, imipenem)
• if you have kidney problems, phenylketonuria, gonorrhea, or infectious mononucleosis (mono)

Drugs Interaction

There are medicines that may interact with Amoxicillin . Inform your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, in particular any from the list below:

• Anticoagulants (eg, warfarin) because the risk of bleeding may be increased
• Probenecid because it may increase the amount of Amoxicillin in your blood
• Chloramphenicol, macrolide antibiotics (eg, erythromycin), sulfonamides (eg, sulfamethoxazole), or tetracycline antibiotics (eg, doxycycline) because they may decrease Amoxicillin 's effectiveness
• Methotrexate because the risk of its side effects may be increased by Amoxicillin
• Live oral typhoid vaccine or hormonal birth control (eg, birth control pills) because their effectiveness may be decreased by Amoxicillin

This is not a full list of all interactions that may occur. Clarify with your health care provider whether Amoxicillin may interact with other medicines you take. Also, consult your health care provider in advance if you are going to start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

Amoxicillin Usage Guidelines

You should use Amoxicillin as recommended by your doctor. Read the medicine's label for precise dosing instructions.

• An extra patient leaflet is available with Amoxicillin . Talk to your pharmacist if you have questions about this information.
• Take Amoxicillin by mouth with or without food. If stomach upset occurs, take with food to reduce stomach irritation.
• Do NOT chew or swallow Amoxicillin whole.
• Place Amoxicillin in a small amount of water (about 2 teaspoons/10 mL). Do NOT use any other liquid. Swirl or stir until the tablet is completely mixed in the water. Drink right after mixing. Be sure to drink the entire mixture. Rinse the container with an additional small amount of water and drink to be sure all the medicine is taken.
• To clear up your infection completely, take Amoxicillin for the full course of treatment. Keep taking it even if you feel better in a few days.
• If you miss a dose of Amoxicillin , take it as soon as you get it remembered. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at the same time.

Clarify with your health care provider any issues you may have about usage of Amoxicillin .

Important safety information on amoxicillin

• Amoxicillin may cause dizziness. This effect may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Amoxicillin with caution. Refrain from driving or performing other possibly dangerous activities until you know how you react to it.
• Amoxicillin only works against bacteria; it does not treat viral infections (eg, the common cold).
• Be sure to use Amoxicillin for the full course of treatment. If you do not, the medicine may not clear up your infection completely. The bacteria could also become less sensitive to this or other medicines. This could make the infection harder to treat in the future.
• Long-term or repeated use of Amoxicillin may cause a second infection. Tell your doctor if signs of a second infection occur. Your medicine may need to be changed to treat this.
• Contact your doctor right away if stomach pain or cramps, severe diarrhea, or bloody stools occur. Do not treat diarrhea without first checking with your doctor.
• Hormonal birth control (eg, birth control pills) may not work as well while you are using Amoxicillin . To prevent pregnancy, use an extra form of birth control (eg, condoms).
• Some of these products contain phenylalanine. If you must have a diet that is low in phenylalanine, ask your pharmacist if it is in your product.
• Brown, yellow, or gray tooth discoloration has occurred rarely in some patients taking Amoxicillin . It occurred most often in children. The discoloration was reduced or removed by brushing or dental cleaning in most cases. Contact your doctor if you experience this effect.
• Diabetes patients - Amoxicillin may cause the results of some tests for urine glucose to be wrong. Ask your doctor before you change your diet or the dose of your diabetes medicine.
• Lab tests, including liver function, kidney function, and complete blood cell counts, may be performed if you use Amoxicillin for a long period of time. These tests can be used to monitor your medical condition or to check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
• Use Amoxicillin with caution in OLDER PATIENTS, because they may be more sensitive to its effects, especially patients with kidney problems.
• Use Amoxicillin with extreme caution in CHILDREN younger than 10 years old who have diarrhea or an infection of the stomach or bowel.
• Caution is advised when using Amoxicillin in CHILDREN younger than 3 months old; they may be more sensitive to its effects.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Amoxicillin while you are pregnant. Amoxicillin is found in breast milk. If you are breast-feeding or going to breast-feed, discuss with your doctor any possible risks to your baby.

Side effects may be caused by Amoxicillin

Any medicine may cause side effects, but the majority of people have either slight side effects, or dont have it at all. Consult your doctor if any of the most COMMON side effects from the list below persist or start bothering you:

Diarrhea; nausea; vomiting.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); bloody stools; confusion; dark urine; fever, chills, or persistent sore throat; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin; seizures; severe diarrhea; stomach pain or cramps; unusual bruising or bleeding; vaginal discharge or irritation; yellowing of the skin or eyes.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions or need medical advice about side effects, contact your doctor or health care provider. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088) or at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center (http://www.aapcc.org/findyour.htm), or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include decreased urination.

Amoxicillin storage instructions:

Store Amoxicillin at room temperature, between 68 and 77 degrees F (20 and 25 degrees C). Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Amoxicillin out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

• If you have any questions on Amoxicillin , please consult your doctor, pharmacist, or health care provider.
• Amoxicillin is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
• If your symptoms do not improve or even become worse, inform your doctor.

This article is a summary only, and it does not provide all the information about Amoxicillin . If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.