Amoxicillin

Amoxicillin General Information

Generic Name:amoxicillin

Brand Name: Amoxil,Amoxil Pediatric drops, Trimox

Amoxicillin is an antibiotic. It is from the penicillin group of drugs. Amoxicillin is used to treat bacterial infection in the body. Amoxicillin treats different types of bacterial infections such as ear infection, pneumonia, bladder infections, gonorrhea, E-coli. Amoxicillin along with other antibiotic is used for the treatment of stomach ulcers. Amoxicillin may be used for other purpose but not listed here.

Amoxicillin Uses

Amoxicillin should not be used if the person is allergic to Amoxicillin or any other penicillin antibiotic. Before using Amoxicillin, Doctor should be told if the patient is suffering from diseases like asthma, liver disease, kidney disease, bleeding or blood clotting disorder, any type of allergy, diarrhea caused by taking antibiotics etc.So, the Doctor may think about dose adjustment or for some special tests so that Amoxicillin may be taken safely.

How Take Amoxicillin

Amoxicillin may be taken with or without food. Shake the oral suspension bottle before measuring a dose for the patient.The dose should be properly measured with marked measuring spoon or medicine cup. The liquid mixture may be directly taken in the mouth or mixed with water, milk, fruit juice etc. The chewable tablets may be chewed before swallowing. However, extended-release tablet should not be crushed, chewed or broken. The pill should be swallowed as a whole. Time to time testing of blood, kidney or liver function must be done duly and for that visit to the Doctor should be scheduled without fail. The medication must be taken for the entire period prescribed by the Doctor.The medication may cause unusual results with certain medical tests. So, the doctor should be told beforehand that the patient is taking Amoxicillin.

Amoxicillin Warnings

Amoxicillin may not be harmful to an unborn baby. But the lady undergoing the medication must tell that she is pregnant or plan to become pregnant during the treatment period. Amoxicillin may cause birth control pills less effective and that may cause pregnancy. So, before taking Amoxicillin, the doctor should be told that the lady patient is taking birth control pills. A nursing mother should tell the Doctor that she is breast feeding her baby so that the Doctor can decide whether she can undertake the medication. If the patient has phenylketonuria (PKU), he should tell that to the Doctor about it, since Amoxicillin contain phenylalanine that may aggravate PKU.

Amoxicillin Missed Dose

Missed dose should be taken as soon as remembered. It that clashes with the next dose, the missed dose should be skipped and the scheduled dose to be taken. And, for the missed dose, no compensatory dose to be taken.

Amoxicillin Side Effects

Emergency medical help must be asked for if these allergic reactions are experienced: breathing difficulty, swelling of face, lips, tongue or throat.

But, in case of serious side effects as mentioned in the following lines, the Doctor must be called for corrective measures:

• fever, sore throat, and headache with severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash
• stomach pain, nausea, low fever, dark urine, loss of appetite, jaundice
• less or no urination
• unusual weakness, bruising, bleeding
• agitation, confusion, unusual thoughts
• seizure

However, there may be less serious effects more likely to occur are -

• vomiting, nausea, stomach pain, headache, swollen or black tongue, thrush

Amoxicillin Storage Advice

Amoxicillin must be stored at room temperature and away from moisture, heat and light. Liquid Amoxicillin may be stored in a refrigerator but should not be freezed.Amoxicillin stored for more than 14 days(from the date of mixing at the pharmacy) should be thrown.

Amoxicillin Overdose

One should seek medical attention if too much medicine in overdose has been taken. Amoxicillin overdose symptoms include confusion, a severe skin rash, urinating less than usual or seizure.

Amoxicillin More Information

Pharmacist can give more information about amoxicillin. Always to be remembered that Amoxicillin must be kept in the home in such a way that children can never get hold of it. The medicine should never be shared with anybody. The medication should be used for the indication prescribed.