Clavamox

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 about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

• birth control pills
• probenecid (Benemid)
• warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven)
• other antibiotics such as chloramphenicol, erythromycin, clarithromycin, azithromycin, doxycylcine, minocycline, tetracycline, or "sulfa drugs"

This is not a complete list of amoxicillin drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Medicines can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of amoxicillin there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving amoxicillin.

Before taking amoxicillin, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions. Especially tell your doctor if you:

• are allergic to penicillin or any other medications
• develop watery and bloody stools (with or without stomach cramps and fever) 2 or more months after having taken the last dose of the antibiotic. This is not typical, and your doctor should be notified.
• have a history of diarrhea caused by taking antibiotics
• have phenylketonuria
• have kidney disease
• have asthma
• have hay fever
• are pregnant or breastfeeding

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

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.