Description and Brand Names

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

US Brand Name

1. Amoxicot
2. Amoxil
3. DisperMox
4. Moxatag
5. Moxilin
6. Trimox

Canadian Brand Name

1. Amoxil Pediatric
2. Apo-Amoxi
3. Apo-Amoxi Sugar-Free
4. Gen-Amoxicillin
5. Med Amoxicillin
6. Novamoxin
7. Novamoxin Reduced Sugar
8. Nu-Amoxi
9. Riva-Amoxicillin
10. Scheinpharm Amoxicillin
11. Zimamox

Descriptions

Amoxicillin is used to treat bacterial infections in many different parts of the body (ear, lungs, nose, sinus, skin, urinary tract). It is also used with other medicines (eg, clarithromycin, lansoprazole) to treat H. pylori infection and duodenal ulcers.

Amoxicillin is also used to treat tonsillitis and pharyngitis (sore throat).

Amoxicillin belongs to the group of medicines known as penicillin antibiotics. It works by killing the bacteria and preventing their growth. However, this medicine will not work for colds, flu, or other virus infections.

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

This product is available in the following dosage forms:

• Tablet
• Powder for Suspension
• Tablet, Chewable
• Tablet, Extended Release
• Capsule

Before Using

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated pediatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of amoxicillin in children for treatment of infection in many parts of the body, including the ears, lungs, nose, sinuses, skin, or urinary tract). However, newborns and infants 3 months of age and younger have incompletely developed kidney function, which may need a lower dose of this medicine. Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of amoxicillin in children for the treatment of H. pylori infection. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of amoxicillin extended-release tablets in children younger than 12 years of age. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of amoxicillin in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have age-related kidney problems, which may require caution and an adjustment in the dose for patients receiving amoxicillin.

Breastfeeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Drug Interactions

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Apixaban
• Chlortetracycline
• Cholera Vaccine, Live
• Dabigatran Etexilate
• Demeclocycline
• Desogestrel
• Dienogest
• Doxycycline
• Drospirenone
• Edoxaban
• Eravacycline
• Estradiol
• Ethinyl Estradiol
• Ethynodiol
• Gestodene
• Levonorgestrel
• Lymecycline
• Meclocycline
• Mestranol
• Methacycline
• Methotrexate
• Minocycline
• Mycophenolate Mofetil
• Nomegestrol
• Norethindrone
• Norgestimate
• Norgestrel
• Oxytetracycline
• Probenecid
• Rivaroxaban
• Rolitetracycline
• Sarecycline
• Sulfasalazine
• Tetracycline
• Tigecycline
• Venlafaxine
• Warfarin

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Acenocoumarol
• Khat

Other Interactions

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Allergy to penicillins or cephalosporin antibiotics (eg, cefaclor, cefadroxil, cephalexin, Ceftin®, Keflex®) or
• Mononucleosis ("mono")—Should not be used in patients with these conditions.

• Kidney disease, severe—The extended-release tablets should not be used in patients with this condition.

• Kidney disease, severe—Use with caution. The effects may be increased because of slower removal of the medicine from the body.

• Phenylketonuria (PKU)—The chewable tablet contains phenylalanine, which can make this condition worse.

Proper Use

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. However, it is best to take this medicine at the start of a meal or snack to avoid an upset stomach.

Swallow the extended-release tablet whole. Do not crush or chew it.

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.

Dosing

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 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 3 months of age and older and 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.
    • Children younger than 3 months of age—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 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.
• For oral dosage form (extended-release tablets):
  • For the treatment of pharyngitis and tonsillitis:
    • Adults—775 milligrams (mg) once a day, taken within 1 hour of finishing a meal for 10 days.
    • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

You may store the oral liquid in the refrigerator. Throw away any unused medicine after 14 days. Do not freeze.

Precautions

If your or your child's symptoms do not improve within a few days, or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

This medicine may cause a serious allergic reaction called anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention. Call your doctor right away if you or your child have itching, hives, hoarseness, trouble breathing, trouble swallowing, or any swelling of your hands, face, or mouth after taking this medicine.

Serious skin reactions, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP), or drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) can occur with this medicine. Check with your doctor right away if you or your child have black, tarry stools, blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin, chest pain, chills, cough, diarrhea, fever, itching, joint or muscle pain, painful or difficult urination, red irritated eyes, red skin lesions, sore throat, sores, ulcers, or white spots in the mouth or on the lips, swollen glands, unusual bleeding or bruising, or unusual tiredness or weakness while you are receiving this medicine.

This medicine may cause stomach or bowel problems, including drug-induced enterocolitis syndrome (DIES). It may occur 1 to 4 hours after taking this medicine. Check with your doctor right away if you have blurred vision, cold clammy skin, confusion, dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position, fever, pale skin, stomach pain, cramps, or tenderness, sweating, unusual drowsiness, dullness, tiredness, weakness or feeling of sluggish, unusual tiredness or weakness, or watery or bloody diarrhea.

Amoxicillin may cause diarrhea, and in some cases it can be severe. It may occur 2 months or more after you stop taking this medicine. Do not take any medicine or give medicine to your child to treat diarrhea without first checking with your doctor. Diarrhea medicines may make the diarrhea worse or make it last longer. If you have any questions about this, or if the diarrhea gets worse, check with your doctor.

Before you have any medical tests, tell the provider that you or your child are taking this medicine. The results of some tests may be affected by this medicine.

In some young patients, tooth discoloration may occur while using this medicine. The teeth may appear to have brown, yellow, or gray stains. To help prevent this, brush and floss your teeth regularly. Visit your dentist for regular teeth cleanings.

Birth control pills may not work while you are using this medicine. To keep from getting pregnant, use another form of birth control along with your birth control pills. Other forms include a condom, a diaphragm, or a contraceptive foam or jelly.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

Side Effects

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

Less common

1. Itching of the vagina or genitals
2. thick, white vaginal discharge with mild or no odor

Incidence not known

1. Back, leg, or stomach pains
2. black, tarry stools
3. bleeding gums
4. blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin
5. bloating
6. blood in the urine
7. bloody nose
8. blurred vision
9. chest pain or tightness
10. chills
11. clay-colored stools
12. cold clammy skin
13. confusion
14. cough
15. dark urine
16. diarrhea
17. diarrhea, watery and severe, which may also be bloody
18. difficulty with breathing
19. difficulty with swallowing
20. dizziness
21. dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
22. fast heartbeat
23. feeling of discomfort
24. fever
25. general body swelling
26. headache
27. heavier menstrual periods
28. hives or welts
29. increased thirst
30. inflammation of the joints
31. itching
32. joint or muscle pain
33. loss of appetite
34. lower back pain
35. muscle aches
36. nausea or vomiting
37. nosebleeds
38. pain
39. pain or burning while urinating
40. painful or difficult urination
41. pale skin
42. pinpoint red spots on the skin
43. puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
44. rash
45. red, irritated eyes
46. redness, soreness, or itching skin
47. red skin lesions, often with a purple center
48. sore throat
49. sores, ulcers, or white spots in the mouth or on the lips
50. sores, welting, or blisters
51. stomach cramps or tenderness
52. sudden decrease in the amount of urine
53. sweating
54. swollen, lymph glands
55. tenderness
56. unpleasant breath odor
57. unusual bleeding or bruising
58. unusual drowsiness, dullness, tiredness, weakness or feeling of sluggishness
59. unusual tiredness or weakness
60. unusual weight loss
61. vomiting of blood
62. watery or bloody diarrhea
63. yellow eyes or skin

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

Less common

1. Bad, unusual, or unpleasant (after) taste
2. change in taste

Incidence not known

1. Agitation
2. black, hairy tongue
3. changes in behavior
4. discoloration of the tooth (brown, yellow, or gray staining)
5. seizures
6. sleeplessness
7. trouble with sleeping
8. unable to sleep
9. white patches in the mouth or throat or on the tongue
10. white patches with diaper rash

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Portions of this document last updated: June 01, 2024

Original article: https://www.mayoclinic.org/es/drugs-supplements/amoxicillin-oral-route/before-using/drg-20075356