Amoxicillin

About amoxicillin Key facts Who can and can't take amoxicillin How and when to take it Side effects How to cope with side effects Pregnancy and breastfeeding Cautions with other medicines Common questions. It's used in children, often to treat ear infections and chest infections. It comes as capsules or as a liquid that you drink.

It's also given by injection, but this is usually only done in hospital. For most infections, you'll start to feel better in a few days.

The most common side effects of amoxicillin are feeling sick (nausea) and diarrhoea.

Amoxicillin is also called by the brand name Amoxil.

Amoxicillin can be taken by adults, including pregnant and breastfeeding women. To make sure amoxicillin is safe for you, tell your doctor if you : have had an allergic reaction to amoxicillin or penicillin or any other medicines in the past have liver or kidney problems have recently had, or are about to have, any vaccinations. The usual dose of amoxicillin is 250mg to 500mg taken 3 times a day.

If you take it 3 times a day, this could be first thing in the morning, mid-afternoon and at bedtime. Carry on taking this medicine until you've completed the course, even if you feel better. If you stop your treatment early, the infection could come back. Swallow amoxicillin capsules whole with a drink of water.

Amoxicillin is available as a liquid for children and people who find it difficult to swallow

tablets

If you or your child are taking amoxicillin as a liquid, it will usually be made up for you by your pharmacist.

The medicine will come with a plastic syringe or spoon to help you measure out the right dose.

If you don't have one, ask your pharmacist for one. Do not use a kitchen teaspoon as it will not give the right amount. If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember, unless it's nearly time for your next dose.

In this case, just leave out the missed dose and take your next dose as normal. Never take an extra dose to make up for a forgotten one. If you forget doses often, it may help to set an alarm to remind you. You could also ask your pharmacist for advice on other ways to remember your medicines. Accidentally taking an extra dose of amoxicillin is unlikely to harm you or your child.

Speak to your pharmacist or doctor if you're worried or you take more than 1 extra dose. Like all medicines, amoxicillin can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them.

These common side effects happen in around 1 in 10 people. Keep taking the medicine, but talk to your doctor or pharmacist if these side effects bother you or don't go away: feeling sick (nausea) diarrhoea. Serious side effects are rare and happen in less than 1 in 1,000 people.

Call a doctor straight away if you get: diarrhoea (possibly with stomach cramps) that contains blood or mucus.

If you have severe

diarrhoea

problems

Some of these serious side effects can happen up to 2 months after finishing the amoxicillin.

Around 1 in 15 people have an allergic reaction to amoxicillin. In most cases, the allergic reaction is mild and can take the form of: a raised, itchy skin rash coughing wheezing. Mild allergic reactions can usually be successfully treated by taking antihistamines.

In rare cases, amoxicillin can cause a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis).

Immediate action required: Call 999 or go to A&E if: you get a skin rash that may include itchy, red, swollen, blistered or peeling skin you're wheezing you get tightness in the chest or throat you have trouble breathing or talking your mouth, face, lips, tongue or throat start swelling.

You could be having a serious allergic reaction and may need immediate treatment in hospital. For a full list see the leaflet inside your medicines packet. You can report any suspected side effect to the UK safety scheme.

What to do about: feeling sick (nausea) - stick to simple meals and do not eat rich or spicy food.

It might help to take your amoxicillin after a meal or snack. diarrhoea - drink plenty of fluids, such as water or squash to avoid dehydration.

Signs of dehydration include peeing less than usual or having strong-smelling pee.

Do not take any other medicines to treat diarrhoea without speaking to a pharmacist or doctor. It's usually safe to take amoxicillin during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. For more information about how amoxicillin can affect you and your baby during pregnancy, read this leaflet on the Best Use of Medicines in Pregnancy (BUMPS) website. For safety, tell your doctor if you're trying to get pregnant, are already pregnant or if you're breastfeeding. There are some medicines that don't mix well with amoxicillin.

Tell your doctor if you're taking these medicines before you start taking amoxicillin : methotrexate a blood thinner called warfarin gout medicines called probenecid and allopurinol other antibiotics. Mixing amoxicillin with herbal remedies and supplements. There are no known problems with taking herbal remedies and supplements alongside amoxicillin. For safety, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal remedies, vitamins or supplements. It works by killing the bacteria that cause the infection. For most infections, you should feel better within a few days.

It's very important that you keep taking amoxicillin until your course is finished. Tell your doctor if you don't start feeling better after taking amoxicillin for 3 days.

Also tell them if, at any time, you start to feel worse. Some people get a fungal infection called thrush after taking a course of antibiotics like amoxicillin.

It happens because antibiotics kill the normal harmless bacteria that help to protect you against thrush.

Ask your pharmacist or doctor for advice if this happens to you.

Amoxicillin doesn't stop contraceptive pills working, including the combined pill or emergency contraception. However, if amoxicillin makes you vomit or have severe diarrhoea (6 to 8 watery poos in 24 hours) for more than 24 hours, your contraceptive pills may not protect you from pregnancy.

There's no firm evidence to suggest that taking amoxicillin will reduce fertility in either men or women. However, speak to a pharmacist or your doctor before taking it if you're trying to get pregnant.

If you or your child take amoxicillin as a liquid medicine, it can stain your teeth.

This doesn't last and should go after brushing your teeth well. Yes, amoxicillin shouldn't affect you being able to drive or cycle. You can eat and drink normally while taking amoxicillin. It's possible that a straightforward urinary tract infection (UTI) may clear up on its own without any treatment.

However, it's usually best to treat a UTI with an antibiotic, or it could spread to the kidneys and lead to more serious problems.

Once treated,

there

The following information is NOT intended to endorse any particular medication. While these reviews might be helpful, they are not a substitute for the expertise, knowledge and judgement of healthcare practitioners.

Rating Reviews Compare Helicobacter Pylori Infection 10.0.

Reviews may be moderated or edited before publication to correct grammar and spelling or to remove inappropriate language and content.

Reviews that appear to be created by parties with a vested interest in the medication will not be published.

As reviews and ratings are subjective and self-reported, this information should not be used as the basis for any statistical analysis or scientific studies.

For Bacterial Infection: “Developed a pain in mouth last Tues Couldn’t sleep with pain so dibilitating Also had tenderness in lower gums Went to Dr and he put me on 875 ea of Amox 2 per day It’s now Saturday and pain almost minimal and no bump in gums Guess I gotta see dentist ASAP to hopefully make this thing go away completely” For Bacterial Infection: “Bad tooth infection and dentist gave Amoxicillin 3 x 500 mg a day. Day 3 no side effects and pain gone/swelling reducing.

I have had progressively bad back for 23 years due to epidural.

Led to me not able to walk more than 9 paces without serious pain where if I don't sit down my legs will go from under me. I went shopping with my husband today and for the first time in 3 years I walked around, not one, but two 2 supermarkets instead of sitting in the car as I have done for 3 years.

MRI scan INDICATED the only thing LEFT is an operation which could make better or worse. What is in this Amoxicillin that Has given me my body back? I have never felt so well - 20 years younger in fact. I hope when I finish course I don't get the pain back and can continue to walk. I think this needs investigating.” For Urinary Tract Infection: “I thought Amoxicillin was pretty mild.

I asked for it when my Urologist prescribed a Cipro-family antibiotic (I think those are REALLY dangerous!). I took the Amoxicillin 500mg 2X/day for 8 days and had to stop. It seemed to stop my UTI (first one ever and I have been on catheters for 2 years) but I didn't expect the side effects of rapid heart rate all the time, anxiety from low grade to intense most of the time, it made me feel weak and nauseous, guts in turmoil, eating anything made it worse, so I had to stop.

I had no idea this drug had those side effects for many!

AVOID!” Apo-Amoxi (amoxicillin) for Bladder Infection: “I had a very complicated and terrible UTI which was hard to get rid of.

Tried apo-amoxicillin in hope for it to clear all the bacteria and end these constant symptoms.

HOWEVER this drug did absolute nothing in helping me UTI, I noticed no improvement at all.

I got no major side affects except for a mild headache.

Now I have been switched to keflex which is way better.” For Bacterial Infection: “Had agonising pain from a suspected abscess from wisdom tooth.

Was prescribed amoxicillin to be takes 3 times a day. I am now on day 3 and the pain is even worse than it was yesterday.

By the looks of it I’m going to have to have the tooth extracted urgently.” For Bacterial Infection: “Had a nasty tooth infection from an untreated wisdom tooth and felt like it was going to be the end of me.

Didn’t handle the infection in time, had nausea, abdominal pain, the works.

Amazing stuff!” For Dental Abscess: “Terrible pain and huge abscess and the drug didn’t help even 1%, just no help at all.

I am in 4th day ( 3 X a day) and pain and abscess continue.

I am scheduled appointment with surgeon tomorrow, but amoxicillin didn’t help !” For Dental Abscess: “24 hours and the pain is gone.

Amoxicillin worked for me.” For Dental Abscess: “amoxicillin got rid of my molar root infection after day 3” For Dental Abscess: “Had an infection on a back molar and was prescribed amoxicillin because of the pandemic.

I was on other pain relievers alongside this and the infection was gone within 4 days and no pain at all. But I’m here now a few weeks later (maybe a month) and the toothache is back, will call dentist to see if I have to take another course of it but it worked for the time I took it.” For Tonsillitis/Pharyngitis: “Amoxicillin 500mg every 8 hours makes my strep throat gone. Today is the 3rd day of my medication and I feel so normal. I felt a little bit dizziness because of the side effect of the med but its normal.

” For Dental Abscess: “Took amoxicillin for a dental abscess.

Worked to lessen the infection but day 3 woke up COVERED in horrible, raised, angry, red welts/hives all over my arms. This is apparently a common side effect and not necessarily a true allergy, but there doesn't seem to be a way to differentiate outside a skin test.

Just in case my dentist switched me to clindamycin.

For my purposes, I'm calling it an allergy going forward because it's too scary to risk.” For Bacterial Infection: “I was given Amoxicillin 500mg 3x daily for 7 days due to an infection.

By the second, I started getting flu-like symptoms.

Finally, on the sixth/seventh, that's when I noticed it had gotten rid of those nasty bacteria, and was my normal self again.

Glad I was able to see it through, despite the side effects.” For Urinary Tract Infection: “I’ve taken Amoxicillin many times for a UTI.