Amoxicillin Consumer Information

amoxicillin

Generic Name: amoxicillin (am OKS i sil in)
Brand Names: Amoxicot, Amoxil, Amoxil Pediatric Drops, Biomox, Dispermox, Trimox, Wymox

What is amoxicillin?

Amoxicillin is an antibiotic in the penicillin group of drugs. It fights bacteria in your body.

Amoxicillin is used to treat many different types of infections caused by bacteria, such as ear infections, bladder infections, pneumonia, gonorrhea, and E. coli or salmonella infection. Amoxicillin is also sometimes used together with another antibiotic called clarithromycin (Biaxin) to treat stomach ulcers caused by Helicobacter pylori infection. This combination is sometimes used with a stomach acid reducer called lansoprazole (Prevacid).

Amoxicillin may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What is the most important information I should know about amoxicillin?

Before using amoxicillin, tell your doctor if you are allergic to cephalosporins such as Ceclor, Ceftin, Duricef, Keflex, and others. Also tell your doctor if you have asthma, liver or kidney disease, a bleeding or blood clotting disorder, mononucleosis (also called "mono"), or any type of allergy.

Antibiotic medicines can cause diarrhea, which may be a sign of a new infection. If you have diarrhea that is watery or has blood in it, call your doctor. Do not use any medicine to stop the diarrhea unless your doctor has told you to.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking amoxicillin?

• ampicillin (Omnipen, Principen);

• carbenicillin (Geocillin);

• dicloxacillin (Dycill, Dynapen);

• oxacillin (Bactocill); or

• penicillin (Beepen-VK, Ledercillin VK, Pen-V, Pen-Vee K, Pfizerpen, V-Cillin K, Veetids, and others).

Before using amoxicillin, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs (especially cephalosporins such as Ceclor, Ceftin, Duricef, Keflex, and others), or if you have:

• asthma;

• liver disease;

• kidney disease;

• a bleeding or blood clotting disorder;

• mononucleosis (also called "mono");

• a history of diarrhea caused by taking antibiotics; or

• a history of any type of allergy.

If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take amoxicillin.

The amoxicillin chewable tablet may contain phenylalanine. Talk to your doctor before using this form of amoxicillin if you have phenylketonuria (PKU).

How should I take amoxicillin?

Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

If you are taking amoxicillin with clarithromycin and/or lansoprazole to treat stomach ulcer, use all of your medications as directed. Be sure to read the medication guide or patient instructions provided with each of your medications. Do not change your doses or medication schedule without advice from your doctor.

You may take amoxicillin with or without food.

You may place the liquid directly on the tongue, or you may mix it with water, milk, baby formula, fruit juice, or ginger ale. Drink all of the mixture right away. Do not save any for later use.

The chewable tablet should be chewed before you swallow it.

The dispersible tablet will not dissolve in your mouth. Place the tablet in at least 2 teaspoons of water (do not use any other type of liquid). After the tablet has completely broken apart, swirl the mixture and drink all of it right away.

To be sure this medication is helping your condition, your blood may need to be tested. Your kidney or liver function may also need to be tested. Do not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.

If you are being treated for gonorrhea, your doctor may also have you tested for syphilis, another sexually transmitted disease.

This medication can cause you to have unusual results with certain medical tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using amoxicillin.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at your next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Overdose symptoms may include confusion, behavior changes, a severe skin rash, urinating less than usual, or seizure (black-out or convulsions).

What should I avoid while taking amoxicillin?

Antibiotic medicines can cause diarrhea, which may be a sign of a new infection. If you have diarrhea that is watery or has blood in it, call your doctor. Do not use any medicine to stop the diarrhea unless your doctor has told you to.

Amoxicillin side effects

• fever, sore throat, and headache with a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash;

• nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);

• diarrhea that is watery or bloody;

• fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms;

• easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness;

• urinating less than usual or not at all;

• agitation, confusion, unusual thoughts or behavior; or

• seizure (black-out or convulsions).

Less serious side effects are more likely to occur, such as:

• nausea, vomiting, stomach pain;

• vaginal itching or discharge;

• headache;

• swollen, black, or "hairy" tongue; or

• thrush (white patches or inside your mouth or throat).

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.

What other drugs will affect amoxicillin?

Before taking amoxicillin, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:

• methotrexate (Rheumatrex, Trexall);

• probenecid (Benemid);

• a sulfa drug (such as Bactrim or Septra);

• an antibiotic such as azithromycin (Zithromax), clarithromycin (Biaxin), erythromycin (E.E.S., E-Mycin, Ery-Tab, Erythrocin), telithromycin (Ketek), or troleandomycin (Tao); or

• a tetracycline antibiotic such as demeclocycline (Declomycin), doxycycline (Adoxa, Doryx, Oracea, Vibramycin), minocycline (Dynacin, Minocin, Solodyn, Vectrin), or tetracycline (Brodspec, Panmycin, Sumycin, Tetracap).

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with amoxicillin. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.