Amoxicillin (Flucloxin)

Amoxicillin Information

Amoxicillin is an antibiotic belonging to the class of drugs called penicillin. As what antibiotics are known for, amoxicillin fights bacteria in the body.

Amoxicillin Indications

Amoxicillin is an effective treatment for infections. It is prescribed to kill the bacteria that cause infection. Some of the diseases cured by Amoxicillin include tonsillitis, pneumonia, bronchitis, ear infections, gonorrhea, infections of the skin and urinary tract infections.

Amoxicillin may also be used for other purposes aside from the one listed.

Amoxicillin Warnings

Amoxicillin can cause stomach upsets, it is not advisable to take amoxicillin on an empty stomach. If you experience severe diarrhea or bloody stools while on amoxicillin medication, immediately cease usage and ask for your doctor’s advice.

Every single tablet or capsule of amoxicillin prescribed by your doctor should be taken even if the symptoms of your illness have abated or even if you begin to feel better.

Never Amoxicillin if you have known allergies to penicillin or to cephalosporin. Consult your doctor first before taking any amoxicillin.

Amoxicillin does not also work well in patients with kidney problems, as well as on patients with stomach and intestinal disorders.

Amoxicillin, even if it is a stomach irritant, it is not harmful to pregnant women. Amoxicillin belongs to drugs in the pregnancy category B. Therefore, they are not considered harmful to the mother or to the unborn fetus.

However, Amoxicillin passes into the breast milk of nursing mothers and the infant receiving the milk may be prone to yeast infection, diarrhea and other allergic reactions. If you are nursing or breastfeeding a baby, consult your doctor before proceeding on taking amoxicillin.

Amoxicillin Intake Guidelines

Amoxicillin should be taken exactly as your doctor prescribed the intake. Never deviate from your doctor’s instructions.

The intake of Amoxicillin must be at a regular time interval. This is to maintain the level of amoxicillin in the blood so that the infection could be treated faster and better.

A full glass of water should be used to down the amoxicillin tablet or capsule into your stomach. If the liquid form of amoxicillin is being prescribed, accurately measure each dose to avoid overdose or under dose of the medicine.

Amoxicillin Dosage

The dosage for amoxicillin can only be effectively determined by your doctor. Never attempt to prescribe a dose for yourself as the dosage recommended by your doctor may be based on other factors such as body weight and severity of infection.

Amoxicillin Overdose

Symptoms of Amoxicillin overdose include muscle pain, twitching of fingers and toes, confusion, coma, agitation, numbness of fingers and toes, seizures and agitation. If any of these symptoms is present consult your doctor immediately for the proper medical attention.

Amoxicillin Missed Dose

The general rule for any medicine is not to double dose even if a dose is missed. If you happen to miss a dose, you can take it as soon as you remember provided that it is not yet time for the next dose. You can proceed with your regularly spaced intake interval after that.

Amoxicillin Side Effects

The most common side effect while taking amoxicillin are severe diarrhea and bloody stools as well as abdominal cramps that accompany it. If you experience any of this, immediately seek medical attention.

Other expected side effects include allergic reactions characterized by hives, swelling of face, lips, and throat and also the closing of throat and difficulty in breathing, other side effects are seizures and unusual bleeding or bruising.

Less Serious side effects are also likely to occur such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pains, itching or discharge of the vagina, black hairy tongue or soreness of mouth.

Other side effects aside from the ones listed here may also occur and if they become bothersome and or intolerable, consult your physician immediately.

Amoxicillin Drug Reactions

Amoxicillin may not work well with other drugs and it is important that you tell your doctor if you are taking any of these medicines such as:

Other antibiotics
Methotrexate
Probenecid
Allopurinol
If you are taking any of the above listed, your doctor may want to adjust your dosage of amoxicillin or advise you to entirely skip or forego taking amoxicillin.

Amoxicillin also has a tendency to decrease the effect of birth control pills. This contraceptive may not be efficient in preventing pregnancy while on amoxicillin medication.

Other drugs may also interact unfavorable with Amoxicillin and inform your doctor if you are taking other drugs may they be prescription or over the counter drugs.