Drug Name

Amoxil (Amoxicillin)

Drug Uses

Amoxil is used to treat infections due to organisms that are susceptible to the effects of amoxicillin. Common infections that amoxicillin is used for include infections of the middle ear, tonsils, throat, larynx (laryngitis), bronchi (bronchitis), lungs (pneumonia), urinary tract, and skin. It also is used to treat gonorrhea.

How Taken

For most infections in adults the dosing regimens for amoxil are 250 mg every 8 hours, 500 mg every 8 hours, 500 mg every 12 hours or 875 mg every 12 hours, depending on the type and severity of infection.

For the treatment of adults with gonorrhea the dose is 3 g given as one dose.

For most infections, children older than 3 months but less than 40 kg are treated with 25 mg/kg/day in divided doses every 12 hours, 20 mg/kg/day in divided doses every 8 hours, 40 mg/kg/day in divided doses every 8 hours or 45 mg/kg/day in divided doses every 12 hours depending on type and severity of the infection.

Drug Class and Mechanism

Amoxil is an antibiotic that belongs to a class of antibiotics called penicillins.

These antibiotics all have a similar mechanism of action. They do not kill bacteria, but they stop bacteria from multiplying by preventing bacteria from forming the walls that surround them. The walls are necessary to protect bacteria from their environment and to keep the contents of the bacterial cell together. Bacteria cannot survive without a cell wall.

Amoxil is effective against many different bacteria including H. influenzae, N. gonorrhoea, E. coli, Pneumococci, Streptococci, and certain strains of Staphylococci.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.

Storage

Store Amoxil capsules as well as 125 and 250 mg dry powder at or below 20 degrees C (68 degrees F); tablets, chewable tablets, as well as 200 and 400 mg dry powder at or below 25 degrees C(77 degrees F).

Warnings/Precautions

Before taking Amoxil, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to penicillin or cephalosporin antibiotics; or if you have any other allergies.

Before using this medication, tell the doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: kidney disease, other infections (e.g., mononucleosis). This medicine may contain aspartame.

If you have phenylketonuria (PKU) or any other condition where you must restrict your intake of aspartame (or phenylalanine), consult the doctor or pharmacist regarding the safe use of this medicine.

This medication should be used only when clearly needed during pregnancy.Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor. Amoxil passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Possible Side Effects

Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify the doctor or pharmacist promptly.

This medicine may cause temporary staining of the teeth. Proper brushing will usually remove any staining and may prevent it from occurring.

Tell the doctor immediately if any of these highly unlikely but very serious side effects occur:

• dark urine, persistent nausea or vomiting, stomach/abdominal pain, yellowing eyes or skin, easy bruising or bleeding, persistent sore throat or fever.

This medication may rarely cause a severe intestinal condition (pseudomembranous colitis) due to a resistant bacteria. This condition may occur weeks after treatment has stopped.

Do not use anti-diarrhea products or narcotic pain medications if you have the following symptoms because these products may make them worse.

Tell the doctor immediately if you develop: persistent diarrhea, abdominal or stomach pain/cramping, or blood/mucus in your stool.

Use of this medication for prolonged or repeated periods may result in oral thrush or a new vaginal yeast infection (oral or vaginal fungal infection).

Contact the doctor if you notice white patches in your mouth, a change in vaginal discharge or other new symptoms.

More Information

Do not share this medication with others.

Do not use it later for another infection unless told to do so by the doctor. A different medication may be necessary in those cases.

With prolonged treatment, laboratory and/or medical tests (e.g., kidney and liver function, complete blood counts) should be performed periodically to monitor your progress or check for side effects. Consult the doctor for more details.