Amoxicot

Amoxicillin is a prescription medication used to treat certain bacterial infections such as pneumonia, bronchitis, gonorrhea, and certain types of ulcers.  It can also treat bacterial infections of the ears, nose, throat, urinary tract, and skin.  This medication belongs to a group of drugs called penicillin antibiotics,  which work by blocking the growth of bacteria.

Amoxicillin comes as a capsule, tablet, and oral suspension forms. This medication is taken up to 3 times daily, with or without food.

Common side of amoxicillin effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and headache.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

Amoxicillin falls into category B. There are no well-done studies that have been done in humans with amoxicillin. But in animal studies, pregnant animals were given this medication, and the babies did not show any medical issues related to this medication.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

Amoxicillin has been detected in human breast milk. Because of the possibility for adverse reactions in nursing infants from amoxicillin, a choice should be made whether to stop nursing or to stop use of this medication. The importance of the drug to the mother should be considered.

Take Amoxicillin exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully.

The Amoxicillin dose your doctor recommends will be based on the following:

• the condition being treated

• other medical conditions you have
• other medications you are taking
• how you respond to this medication
• your weight
• your height
• your age
• your gender

Neonates and Infants aged 12 weeks or younger (≤ 3 months): the recommended upper dose of amoxicillin is 30 mg/kg/day divided and given twice daily.

Adult Dosing (or children 40kg/88 lbs or greater):

• Ear/Nose/Throat infection, mild or moderate: 500 mg twice daily or 250 mg three times daily
• Ear/Nose/Throat, severe infection: 875 mg twice daily or 500 mg three times daily
• Lower respiratory tract (airway) infection, mild or moderate or severe: 875 mg twice daily or 500 mg three times daily
• Skin/Skin Structure infection, mild or moderate: 500 mg twice daily or 250 mg three times
• Skin/Skin Structure infection, severe: 875 mg twice daily or 500 mg three times daily
• Genitourinary tract infection, mild or moderate: 500 mg twice daily or 250 mg three times daily
• Genitourinary tract infection, severe: 875 mg twice daily or 500 mg three times daily
• Gonorrhea Acute, uncomplicated ano-genital and urethral infections in males and females: 3 grams as single oral dose

Dosing in Children (greater than 3 months old or less than 40 kg/88 lbs):

• Ear/Nose/Throat infection, mild or moderate: hours 25 mg/kg/day in divided doses every 12 hours or 20 mg/kg/day in divided doses every 8 hours
• Ear/Nose/Throat, severe infection: 45 mg/kg/day in divided doses every 12 hours or 40 mg/kg/day in divided doses every 8 hours
• Lower respiratory tract (airway) infection, mild or moderate or severe: 45 mg/kg/day in divided doses every 12 hours or 40 mg/kg/day in divided doses every 8 hours
• Skin/Skin Structure infection, mild or moderate: 25 mg/kg/day in divided doses every 12 hours or 20 mg/kg/day in divided doses every 8 hours
• Skin/Skin Structure infection, severe: 45 mg/kg/day in divided doses every 12 hours or 40 mg/kg/day in divided doses every 8 hours
• Genitourinary tract infection, mild or moderate: 25 mg/kg/day in divided doses every 12 hours or 20 mg/kg/day in divided doses every 8 hours
• Genitourinary tract infection, severe: 45 mg/kg/day in divided doses every 12 hours or 40 mg/kg/day in divided doses every 8 hours
• Gonorrhea Acute, uncomplicated ano-genital and urethral infections in males and females:
  • Prepubertal children: 50 mg/kg amoxicillin, combined with 25 mg/kg probenecid as a single dose. SINCE PROBENECID IS CONTRAINDICATED IN CHILDREN UNDER 2 YEARS, DO NOT USE THIS REGIMEN IN THESE CASES.

If you take too much amoxicillin, call your healthcare provider or local Poison Control Center, or seek emergency medical attention right away.

• Keep this and all medications out of the reach of children.
• Store amoxicillin capsules, tablets, and chewable tablets in the original container, tightly closed, away from excess heat (at room temperature) and moisture.
• The liquid suspension and pediatric drops are best kept in the refrigerator, but may be stored at room temperature. Do not freeze. Throw away any unused liquid amoxicillin after 14 days.

Amoxicillin is used to treat bacterial infections in many different parts of the body. It is also used with other medicines (e.g., clarithromycin, lansoprazole) to treat H. pylori infection and duodenal ulcers.

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.

Applies to amoxicillin: oral capsule, oral powder for suspension, oral tablet, oral tablet for suspension, oral tablet chewable, oral tablet extended release

Along with its needed effects, amoxicillin (the active ingredient contained in Amoxicot) 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 while taking amoxicillin:

• Abdominal or stomach cramps or tenderness
• back, leg, or stomach pains
• black, tarry stools
• bleeding gums
• blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin
• bloating
• blood in the urine
• bloody nose
• chest pain
• chills
• clay-colored stools
• cough
• dark urine
• diarrhea
• diarrhea, watery and severe, which may also be bloody
• difficulty with breathing
• difficulty with swallowing
• dizziness
• fast heartbeat
• feeling of discomfort
• fever
• general body swelling
• headache
• heavier menstrual periods
• hives or welts
• increased thirst
• inflammation of the joints
• itching
• joint or muscle pain
• loss of appetite
• muscle aches
• nausea or vomiting
• nosebleeds
• pain
• pain in the lower back
• pain or burning while urinating
• painful or difficult urination
• pale skin
• pinpoint red spots on the skin
• puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
• rash
• red, irritated eyes
• redness, soreness, or itching skin
• shortness of breath
• sore throat
• sores, ulcers, or white spots in the mouth or on the lips
• sores, welting, or blisters
• sudden decrease in the amount of urine
• swollen, lymph glands
• tenderness
• tightness in the chest
• unpleasant breath odor
• unusual bleeding or bruising
• unusual tiredness or weakness
• unusual weight loss
• vomiting of blood
• watery or bloody diarrhea
• wheezing
• yellow eyes or skin

Some side effects of amoxicillin 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:

• Bad, unusual, or unpleasant (after) taste
• change in taste

• Agitation
• black, hairy tongue
• changes in behavior
• confusion
• convulsions
• discoloration of the tooth (brown, yellow, or gray staining)
• dizziness
• sleeplessness
• trouble with sleeping
• unable to sleep
• white patches in the mouth or throat or on the tongue
• white patches with diaper rash

Applies to amoxicillin: oral capsule, oral powder for reconstitution, oral tablet, oral tablet chewable, oral tablet dispersible, oral tablet extended release

General

The most frequently reported side effects were diarrhea, nausea, and skin rash.[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

Common (1% to 10%): Diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Vomiting
Frequency not reported: Hemorrhagic/pseudomembranous colitis, tooth discolored, black hairy tongue, glossitis, stomatitis
Postmarketing reports: Sore mouth/tongue[Ref]

Dermatologic

Common (1% to 10%): Erythema, exanthema, rash
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Urticaria, pruritus
Very rare (less than 0.01%): Angioedema, hypersensitivity vasculitis
Frequency not reported: Erythematous maculopapular rashes, erythema multiforme, Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, bullous dermatitis, exfoliative dermatitis, toxic epidermal necrolysis/Lyell's syndrome, acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis, maculopapular rash, erythema nodosum, pemphigoid reactions[Ref]

Genitourinary

Common (1% to 10%): Vulvovaginal mycotic infection[Ref]

Nervous system

Common (1% to 10%): Headache, taste perversion
Very rare (less than 0.01%): Convulsion, dizziness, hyperkinesia
Frequency not reported: Reversible hyperactivity, central nervous system toxicity, encephalopathy[Ref]

Immunologic

Very rare (less than 0.01%): Anaphylaxis, serum sickness-like reaction
Frequency not reported: Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction[Ref]

Renal

Very rare (less than 0.01%): Crystalluria, interstitial nephritis
Frequency not reported: Nephropathy[Ref]

Hematologic

Very rare (less than 0.01%): Leucopenia, severe neutropenia, agranulocytosis, hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, bleeding time prolonged, prothrombin time prolonged
Frequency not reported: Anemia, thrombocytopenic purpura, eosinophilia, platelet function defective, lymphadenopathy[Ref]

Other

Common (1% to 10%): Candidiasis, fungal/mycotic infection
Very rare (less than 0.01%): Mucocutaneous candidiasis
Frequency not reported: Intestinal candidiasis, oral moniliasis, vaginal moniliasis, fever, chills[Ref]

Hepatic

Very rare (less than 0.01%): Hepatitis, cholestatic jaundice, AST increased, ALT increased
Frequency not reported: Hepatic dysfunction, hepatic cholestasis, acute cytolytic hepatitis[Ref]

Respiratory

Frequency not reported: Bronchospasm, acute severe dyspnea, pneumonitis allergic[Ref]

Local

Frequency not reported: Phlebitis, injection site pain[Ref]

Metabolic

Frequency not reported: Electrolyte disturbance, hypokalemia[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

Frequency not reported: Joint pain, arthralgia[Ref]

Psychiatric

Frequency not reported: Agitation, anxiety, insomnia, confusion, behavior changed, hallucination[Ref]

Some side effects of Amoxicot may not be reported. Always consult your doctor or healthcare specialist for medical advice. You may also report side effects to the FDA.