Amoxiclav 250 mg

126 were randomised to receive roxithromycin and 116 to amoxicillin/calvulanic acid.

Sample size was calculated assuming 80% power to demonstrate a 15% difference in clinical response with a 5% risk assuming a clinical response rate of 90% for roxithromycin.

The study was performed on a multicentre basis by 40 general practitioners. Randomization was centralised by telephone and in blocks of four.

The trial was observer (the panel of investigators) blinded.

Clinical response was assessed 7 days after the start of the medication and at the end of another 7 days in cases of extended treatment. Patients were examined no more than 4 days after completion of therapy.

The drop outs from final analysis were 9 for the intervention groupand 6 for the comparator group.

Effectiveness was based on treatment completers only. The outcome measures used in the study were treatment success rate, (i.e. complete resolution of all signs and symptoms of infection) and side-effects rates. There was no difference between the groups in terms of sociodemographic and clinical characteristics but more patients randomised to roxithromycin had a proven bacterial infection. Considering all evaluable patients, clinical response at study end was 91.5% for the roxithromycin group and 90.9% for the amoxicillin/clavulanicacid group.9.8% of patients on roxithromycin and 17.1% of patients on amoxicillin/clavulanic acid were observed to have effects possibly related to the antibiotic (p=0.12).

Clinical response at study end was high for both antibiotics. The measure of benefits was the number of clinical successes at treatment end.

The costs included were medicine costs, additional general practitioner consultations and additional diagnostic tests needed over and above those required as part of the study protocol.

Primary medicine costs were obtained by combining the average treatment duration, the average daily dose and the listed price per unit of the medicine.

The clinical successes at treatment end were 107 and 100 for roxithromycin and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid respectively. The total costs were $A 3,482 and $A 4,959 for the intervention and comparator respectively.

The total incremental net benefit per clinical success was $A 17.04.

The net cost per clinical success for roxithromycin was $A 32.55 and for amoxicillin/clavulanic acid was $A 49.59. The authors concluded that roxithromycin appeared to be a more appropriate choice than amoxicillin/clavulanic acid for the treatment of LRTI, given the more appropriate in vitro spectrum, the efficacy against all common pathogens, greater cost-effectiveness, the more convenient dosage regimen and better tolerance. The study had certain problems from the clinical aspect: (a) randomisation appeared to have failed, given that more proven bacterial infections were in the roxithromycin group they would have responded better to the antibiotics.

(Some of the infections would be viral and would not respond). (b) the analysis was based on "treatment completers", since the results did not relate to the original sample.

Analysis of treatment completers my have biased the results. Penicillin and amoxicillin are antibiotics, compounds that disrupt and destroy bacteria.

Penicillin is the precursor to amoxicillin, and both antibiotics are derived from a mold called Penicillium glaucum . The discovery of penicillin's effect on bacteria led to a revolution in medical treatment and the development of dozens of other antibiotics, including amoxicillin, which is a cheaper antibiotic that treats a wider range of gram-positive bacteria and is less likely to cause allergic reactions.

Amoxicillin was originally patented and sold under the trade name Amoxil . When the patent expired, many other patentable amoxicillin/clavulanic acid combinations of the drug were developed, including the well-known Augmentin , which is also no longer under patent. Derivatives of amoxicillin are extremely common and found under numerous names.

current rating is 4.1/5 1 2 3 4 5 (20 ratings) current rating is 3.76/5 1 2 3 4 5 (34 ratings) Contents: Amoxicillin vs Penicillin. 1 How Penicillin and Amoxicillin Work 1.1 Forms and Dosage 2 Uses 3 Efficacy 3.1 Antibiotic Resistance 4 Penicillin Side Effects 4.1 Common Side Effects 4.2 Serious Side Effects 4.3 Reduction of "Good" Bacteria 5 Drug Interactions 6 Cost 7 History of Penicillin 8 References.

The cell walls of bacteria are constantly broken down and rebuilt as part of their rapid growth cycle.

Penicillins disrupt this cycle by penetrating deep into a bacterium's developing cell wall to prevent the wall from solidifying and growing stronger.

Bacteria that lose their cell walls during mitosis (cell division) are called gram-positive; those that don't lose their cell walls completely are called gram-negative. Penicillins are much more effective against gram-positive bacteria.

Penicillin is used in three ways: in IV solution as Penicillin G, orally as Penicllin V, and in intramuscular (IM) injections, such as as procaine benzylpenicillin or benzathine benzylpenicillin. Amoxicillin is almost always used in oral form because it is best absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract.

It is usually prescribed to children more than traditional penicillin because amoxicillin is easier to take (no needles involved) and because children are more prone to ear and throat infections, conditions amoxicillin treats quite well. Dosages for both penicillin and amoxicillin vary according to a patient's weight, age, and condition, with lower doses prescribed to people who have not used a penicillin before (to determine allergy risk). In general, when the allergy risk is minimal or nonexistent, dosages begin towards the middle range of the appropriate age/weight/condition spectrum and are adjusted upward if no strong positive result (reduced level of infection) is noted within 8-10 hours in the case of a monitored hospital stay. Blood tests or bacterial swabs are taken to verify the level of bacteria present in an infection. If required, a course of penicillin, amoxicillin, and/or other antibiotics is prescribed for treatment, usually for a period of 5-10 days, with 3-4 pills taken a day (in the case of oral forms).

A round of antibiotics must be taken, as prescribed, and in its entirety, even if symptoms disappear after a few days of use. Penicillins are used to treat bacterial infections of all kinds. The first successful penicillin treatment was for eye infections, in adults and infants.

Skin infections were also responsive to the antibiotics, and by the time World War II broke out, penicillin became a common treatment for battlefield wounds and sexually-transmitted diseases, with varying results. It was during the 1940s and 1950s that researchers discovered penicillin is ineffective against viral infections. Viruses

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Amoxicillin is effective against most of the same strains as penicillin, but is more effective against otitis media (ear) infections, endocarditis (heart valve infections), and infections caused by enteroccocus strains.

Natural penicillins and synthesized versions, such as amoxicillin, are frequent weapons in the medical arsenal against disease due to their effectiveness.

Not only can they cure bacterial infections, they can also prevent subsequent bacterial infections from occurring. This has led many doctors, veterinarians, and the agricultural industry to overprescribe the use of antibiotics, which in turn has led to the evolution of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Amoxicillin and penicillin are often equally effective in treating a wide variety of infections, from medical to dental. As such, amoxicillin is often prescribed simply because it is cheaper.

However, one antibiotic may be prescribed for a certain type of infection more than another. For example, amoxicillin was found to decrease swelling caused by abscessed primary ("baby") teeth better than penicillin, making amoxicillin the preferred antibiotic for this type of infection. One of the most virulent antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains in humans is Methiciliin-Resistant Staphyloccus aurea , commonly referred to by its acronym, MRSA (often pronounced mur-suh ).

While Staphyloccus aurea was once a form of bacteria easily killed by penicillins, its multi-resistant form is now a "flesh-eating disease" that is capable of destroying tissue in hours and resisting a wide variety of heavy antibiotic treatments.

Despite resistant strains, antibiotics are still effective in controlling and defeating most bacterial infections. Awareness of overusing antibiotics has curtailed their use somewhat in favor of alternative treatments, or, as in the case of colds and flus, which are mostly caused by viruses, letting the illness proceed untreated unless a bacterial infection develops. There is some evidence that prescribed doses of penicillin can be lowered, yet remain highly

effective

Amoxicillin, more than penicillin, appears to remain effective at a lower dose.

If antibiotic doses can be lowered, the potential for the development of "superbugs" may decrease.

However, even with antibiotic-resistance being a concern, patients should defer to their doctors' recommendations, as dosing requirements are often closely related to the type of infection.

Penicillin can cause an allergic reaction in about 10% of the population. However, the allergic reaction can fade over time if the person is not exposed again, with only about 20% of the allergic remaining so some 10 years after their initial exposure.

An allergic reaction to any one of the penicillins is enough to presume one is allergic to all of them.

In some cases, the allergic reaction can be quite severe, resulting in shock that can be fatal. Those who have had any prior allergic reaction to penicillin, amoxicillin, or related antibiotic formulations, should tell their doctors before taking any similar type of medication.

People with asthma, bleeding, or clotting disorders, kidney diseases or a history of diarrhea should tell their doctors about the condition(s). Because penicillin and amoxicillin are primarily excreted renally (through urine), people with kidney ailments or renal conditions must be careful when taking these types of antibiotics. Common side effects of penicillin and amoxicillin include: Nausea, vomiting or stomach pain Headaches White patches inside the throat or mouth (thrush) Swollen, black, or "hairy" tongue Vaginal itching or discharge indicative of a yeast infection.

Amoxicillin shows a lower rate of side effects than penicillin, but dosages still must be followed with care as per medical instructions. Other side effects may occur with either medication and should be mentioned to a doctor.

The serious side effects of penicillin and amoxicillin often include: Watery or bloody diarrhea Easy bruising or bleeding Yellowing of the eyes or skin Coughing frequently or trouble breathing Severe skin rashes, including itching and peeling Flu-like symptoms, such as fever, chills, swollen glands, and body aches Confusion, agitation, changes in behavior Severe tingling, numbness or weakness Decrease in urination or no urination Seizures or convulsions that could lead to blacking out.

Amoxicillin has proven to elicit fewer serious side effects than penicillin, especially in children.

However, any of the serious side effects requires prompt medical attention.

Women who are pregnant can take penicillin or amoxicillin, under medical supervision. However, women who are breastfeeding should not use either medicine as it can pass through to the baby and cause serious side effects. As penicillins do not distinguish between "good" and "bad" bacteria, intestinal flora can be seriously affected during treatment and for weeks afterward.

This bacterial reduction is what leads to diarrhea, yeast infections, flu-like symptoms, and/or reduced water and nutrient absorption (decreased urination as the body tried to retain water). To offset these side effects, some doctors and pharmacists recommend taking a probiotic while on antibiotics.

Penicillin and amoxicillin interfere with oral contraceptives ("the pill" birth control), rendering them less effective. If using birth control pills and antibiotics, a woman can become pregnant, so other forms of birth control are needed. Anyone taking methotrexate (Rheumatrex, Trexall) or probenecid (Benemid), should tell his or her doctor about these and other medications.

Penicillin and amoxicillin can enhance or inhibit the effects of these and other medications, especially those related to gastrointestinal and kidney functions.

Patients should also tell their doctors about any vitamins, supplements, and/or herbal remedies they are currently using to avoid serious or even fatal drug interactions.

Amoxicillin is considerably cheaper than penicillin, but neither antibiotic is very expensive. According to GoodRx.com, Penicillin V Potassium pills (40 tablets of 500 mg each) range in price from $10.00 to $37.20. Amoxil, a brand name for amoxicillin (30 tablets of 500 mg each) ranges from $4.00 to $12.79. Ernest Duchesne, a French physician, first noticed the microbial-inhibiting effect of the Penicillium mold in 1897. Despite using the mold to cure typhoid in guinea pigs, Duchesne's paper on the experiment was ignored.

Penicillin, as such, was identified and isolated by Scottish physician Alexander Fleming, in 1928, using Penicillium rubens .

Fleming isolated the mold's substance and proved it was non-toxic in humans, but the development of penicillin as a medicine was completed by Howard Florey, Ernst Chain, and Norman Heatley, an Austrian-German-British collaboration

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Because penicillin was difficult to produce and badly needed during World War II, treatments were limited to severe cases of infection. Efforts to make the best use of penicillin often included collecting the urine of treated patients to "recycle" the medicine, as about 80% of penicillin is excreted within 3-5 hours.

This proved ineffective and efforts to increase the time penicillin remained in the body led to the discovery of pairing it with probenecid, which blocked the body's natural "flushing" of penicillin and allowed the medicine to work for a longer period of time.

Once biosynthesis of penicillin became common and large amounts of the medicine were readily available, probenecid was eliminated from most treatments, although it is still used for particularly aggressive bacterial infections and in cases where resistant bacterial strains, such as MRSA, are present, or for treating H. pylori , the bacteria that causes most stomach ulcers.

In 1961, ampicillin became the first penicillin-based antibiotic developed in a laboratory that used the penam structure. The semi-synthetic formulation quickly proved to be as effective as other penicillins against most bacterial infections, but with the added advantage of resulting in fewer side effects.

Within a year of its development, it was in widespread use and opened the door to new formulations of penicillins, including amoxicillin, which entered the market in 1972.

HPLC determination of amoxicillin comparative bioavailability in healthy volunteers after a single dose administration.

Luis Renato Pires de Abreu 1 , Rodrigo Agustin Mas Ortiz Department of Pharmacology, State University of Campinas-UNICAMP, Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Integrated Unit of Pharmacology and Gastroenterology-Sao Francisco University Medical School, Braganca Paulista, Sao Paulo, Brazil.