What Is Amoxicillin? What Does Amoxicillin Treat?

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Main Category: Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses
Also Included In: Pharmacy / Pharmacist
Article Date: 22 Jul 2009 - 13:00 PDT

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Amoxicillin - better known by brand names such as Amoxil, Dispermox, Trimox, and Alphamox - is an antibiotic drug in the penicillin group that fights bacteria and bacterial infections.

Like other antibiotics in the penicillin category, amoxiciillin does not kill bacteria but rather prevents bacteria from forming walls that surround them, which are necessary for bacteria to multiply and survive.

Amoxicillin is only intended to treat bacterial infections and is not known to be effective against viral infections.

Since the patent for amoxicillin has expired, the drug is available as a generic in the form of several brand names.

What conditions are treated with amoxicillin?

Amoxicillin is prescribed to treat infections due to specific strains of common bacteria such as Streptococci, E. coli, Staphylococcus, H. pylori, P. mirabilis, H. influenzae, N. gonorrhoeae, and S. pneumoniae. These bacteria cause the following diseases:

• Infections of the middle ear, nose and throat
• Infections of the tonsils, throat, and larynx (laryngitis)
• Infections of the bronchi (bronchitis) and lungs (pneumonia)
• Urinary tract infections
• Infections of the skin
• Gonorrhea

Amoxicillin may also be prescribed to reduce the risk of duodenal ulcer recurrence in the gastrointestinal tract or to prevent an infection after surgery.

How is amoxicillin taken?

Amoxicillin is available in capsules, tablets, chewable tablets, powder for oral suspension, drops for oral suspension, and intravenous use. It can be taken with or without food. It is important to take amoxicillin for the entire length of time prescribed by your doctor even if symptoms get better before the prescription is finished. This will increase the effectiveness of immediate treatment and will decrease the likelihood that the bacteria will develop a resistance to the medicine.

Patients who miss a dose of amoxicillin should take the missed dose as soon as he or she remembers. If the time for the next dose is approaching, skip the missed dose and take the next dose at the scheduled time. Taking extra medicine to make up for the missed dose is dangerous. It is possible to overdose on amoxicillin, and emergency medical attention may be required.

Often, amoxicillin is combined with lansoprazole or with lansoprazole and clarithromycin to treat certain infections.

What are the side effects of amoxicillin?

Do not take amoxicillin if you are allergic to it or related drugs in the penicillin family such as ampicillin, carbenicillin, dicloxacillin, and oxacillin. In addition, amoxicillin use can result in dangerous complications if you have an allergy to drugs called cephalosporins, asthma, liver or kidney disease, a blood clotting disorder, mononeucleosis, or any other type of allergy.

Severe allergic reactions to amoxicillin will present hives, difficulty breathing, and swelling in the face, lips, tongue, or throat. Other side effects associated with amoxicillin include:

• Diarrhea
• Fever
• Chills
• Dizziness
• Heartburn
• Insomnia
• Nausea and vomiting
• Itching
• Confusion
• Abdominal pain
• Easy bruising
• Bleeding
• Rash
• Allergic reactions
• Urinating less than usual or not at all
• Seizure
• Vaginal itching or discharge
• Thrush (white patches in the mouth)

What drugs should not be taken with amoxicillin?

Amoxicillin is rarely associated with important drug interactions. However, women on birth control pills who use amoxicillin may become pregnant due to a reduction in effectiveness of the birth control. Drugs such as methotrexate, probenecid, sulfa drugs, other antibiotics, and tetracycline antibiotics also may interact with amoxicillin. In addition, antibiotics such as amoxicillin may cause diarrhea. Do not use any medicines to stop the diarrhea unless directed by your doctor. If the diarrhea is watery or bloody, contact your physician.

Disclaimer: This is a brief overview of a very complicated drug that has several indications, directions, warnings, and side effects. This document in no way reflects all of the benefits or dangers of amoxicillin. Always discuss treatments with a physician and follow your doctor's orders.

Sources: National Health Service (NHS), UK, The Mayo Clinic, Wikipedia, HHS (Department of Health and Human Services USA), NIH (National Institutes of Health, USA).

Written by Peter Crosta M.A.


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