Amoxicillin

Brand Names

Amoxil, Trimox, Moxatag, Dispermox, Amoxicot, Wymox, Moxilin, Biomox

What is Amoxicillin

Amoxicillin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that kills a wide variety of bacteria that cause a wide variety of commonly-occurring infections. Amoxicillin is used to treat infections of the upper or lower airways, skin or soft tissue or ears. It may also be used to treat urine infections, certain sexually-transmitted infections, dental infections, and infections affecting the blood or internal organs.

Side effects of Amoxicillin

If you have noticed any of these side effects, you should contact your doctor immediately:

• allergic reactions like skin rash, itching or hives, swelling of the face, lips, or tongue
• breathing problems
• dark urine
• redness, blistering, peeling or loosening of the skin, including inside the mouth
• seizures
• severe or watery diarrhea
• trouble passing urine or change in the amount of urine
• unusual bleeding or bruising
• unusually weak or tired
• yellowing of the eyes or skin

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention:

• dizziness
• headache
• stomach upset
• trouble sleeping

Indication

Amoxicillin is used for treatment of 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 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).

Precautions

Before taking amoxicillin you should consult your doctor if you are:

• allergic to amoxicillin, penicillin, cephalosporins, or any other medications.
• taking prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products .Be sure to mention any of the following: chloramphenicol (Chlormycetin), other antibiotics, and probenecid (Benemid). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
• pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking amoxicillin, tell your doctor.
• if you have or have ever had kidney disease, allergies, asthma, hay fever, hives, or phenylketonuria.

Dosage forms

Adult Dosing & Uses

Dosing Forms and Strengths

oral solution

• 125mg/5mL
• 250mg/5mL

tablet/capsule

• 125mg
• 250mg
• 400mg
• 500mg
• 775mg
• 875mg

General dosage range: 250-500 mg PO TID OR 500-875 mg PO BID

Strep Throat

Moxatag: 775 mg PO qDay

H. Pylori

1 g PO BID (with PPI & clarithromycin) x10-14 days 1 g PO TID (with lansoprazole, no clarithromycin) x14 days

Gonorrhea

Uncomplicated anogenital or urethral: 3 g PO x1

Anthrax

Post exposure prophylaxis: 500 mg PO TID x4 weeks (with concomitant vaccine) or x60 days (without vaccine)

Endocarditis, Prophylaxis

2 g PO 1 hour before procedure

Recent AHA Guidelines recommend only for high risk patients

Renal Impairment

CrCl 10-30 mL/min: 250 or 500 mg q12hr CrCl <10 mL/min: 250 or 500 mg qDay

Children Dosing & Uses

Amoxicillin is available in a pediatric drop form for infants. Each ml of this bubble-gum flavored liquid contains 50 mg of amoxicillin, states Rx List. Babies under the age of 3 months receive 30 mg of amoxicillin each day for every 2.2 lb. of body weight, according to Rx List. Pediatric drops can be placed directly in the mouth or mixed with baby formula, juice or water.