Also known as: Amoxicillin
Amoxil is one of the best forms of antibiotic available today. It is used to treat infections caused by certain bacteria, including: infections of the ear, nose, and throat (pneumonia, bronchitis); infections of the genitourinary tract; infections of the skin and skin structure; infections of the lower respiratory tract; gonorrhea, acute uncomplicated (ano-genital and urethral infections) in male and females.
Amoxil is also used before some surgery or dental work to prevent infection. It is also used in combination with other medications to eliminate H. pylori, a bacteria that causes ulcers. Amoxil may also be used for other purposes not listed here.
Amoxil acts by inhibiting the synthesis of bacterial cell wall and stopping the growth of bacteria.
Amoxil is available in capsules.
Amoxil is usually taken every 8 hours (three times a day). It can be taken with or without food.
The chewable tablets should be crushed or chewed thoroughly before they are swallowed. The tablets and capsules should be swallowed whole and taken with a full glass of water.
Take Amoxil exactly as directed. Do not take more or less Amoxil or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor. Do not stop taking Amoxil without talking to your doctor. To clear up your infection completely, continue taking Amoxil for the full course of treatment even if you feel better in a few days. Stopping Amoxil too soon may cause bacteria to become resistant to antibiotics.
This section provides information on the proper use of a number of products that contain amoxicillin. It may not be specific to Amoxil. Please read with care.
Take this medicine only as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered.
You may take this medicine with or without food.
For patients using the oral liquid:
Shake the bottle well before each use. Measure the dose with a marked measuring spoon, oral syringe, or medicine cup. The average household teaspoon may not hold the right amount of liquid. You may mix the oral liquid with a baby formula, milk, fruit juice, water, ginger ale, or another cold drink. Be sure the child drinks all of the mixture immediately.
Keep using this medicine for the full treatment time, even if you feel better after the first few doses. Your infection may not clear up if you stop using the medicine too soon.
The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.
The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.
For oral dosage forms (capsules, powder for suspension, and tablets): For bacterial infections: Adults, teenagers, and children weighing 40 kilograms (kg) or more—250 to 500 milligrams (mg) every 8 hours, or 500 to 875 mg every 12 hours. Children and infants older than 3 months of age weighing less than 40 kg—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The usual dose is 20 to 40 milligrams (mg) per kilogram (kg) of body weight per day, divided and given every 8 hours, or 25 to 45 mg per kg of body weight per day, divided and given every 12 hours. Infants 3 months of age and younger—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The usual dose is 30 mg per kg of body weight per day, divided and given every 12 hours. For treatment of gonorrhea: Adults, teenagers, and children weighing 40 kilograms (kg) or more—3-grams (g) taken as a single dose. Children 2 years of age and older weighing less than 40 kg—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The usual dose is 50 milligrams (mg) per kilogram (kg) of body weight per day, combined with 25 mg per kg of probenecid, taken as a single dose. Children younger than 2 years of age—Use is not recommended. For treatment of H. pylori infection: Adults— Dual therapy: 1000 milligrams (mg) of amoxicillin and 30 mg of lansoprazole, each given three times a day (every 8 hours) for 14 days. Triple therapy: 1000 mg of amoxicillin, 500 mg of clarithromycin, and 30 mg of lansoprazole, all given two times a day (every 12 hours) for 14 days. Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
In case of overdosage, discontinue medication, treat symptomatically, and institute supportive measures as required. If the overdosage is very recent and there is no contraindication, an attempt at emesis or other means of removal of drug from the stomach may be performed. A prospective study of 51 pediatric patients at a poison-control center suggested that overdosages of less than 250 mg/kg of Amoxil are not associated with significant clinical symptoms and do not require gastric emptying.
Interstitial nephritis resulting in oliguric renal failure has been reported in a small number of patients after overdosage with Amoxil.
Crystalluria, in some cases leading to renal failure, has also been reported after Amoxil overdosage in adult and pediatric patients. In case of overdosage, adequate fluid intake and diuresis should be maintained to reduce the risk of Amoxil crystalluria.
Renal impairment appears to be reversible with cessation of drug administration. High blood levels may occur more readily in patients with impaired renal function because of decreased renal clearance of Amoxil. Amoxil may be removed from circulation by hemodialysis.
Store this medicine at room temperature, away from heat, light, and moisture.