Amoxicillin for cold

If you suspect that you or someone else might have taken an overdose of this medicine, go to the accident and emergency department of your local hospital at once. Never give it to other people even if their condition appears to be the same as yours. If you buy any medicines, check with a pharmacist that they are safe to take with your other medicines.

If you are having an operation or any dental treatment,

tell

Take them to your local pharmacy which will dispose of them for you. If you have any questions about this medicine ask your pharmacist.

Amoxicillin and penicillin are two of many antibiotics on the market today.

They’re actually in the same family of antibiotics, called the penicillin family.

This family contains antibiotics that come from a fungus called Penicillium. Other examples include the antibiotics ampicillin and nafcillin.

Drugs in this family work in similar ways to treat infections, but there are small differences in the kinds of bacteria each drug fights and the side effects each drug causes.

So while amoxicillin and penicillin are different, they’re similar in many ways. As antibiotics, both can be used to treat infections caused by bacteria.

They work by stopping the bacteria from multiplying.

Neither amoxicillin nor penicillin will work to treat infections caused by viruses such as colds or flu. Read on to learn more about how these drugs compare.

The following table lists their features side by side. Generic name Amoxicillin Penicillin What are the brand-name versions? Amoxil, Moxatag not available Is a generic version available? bacterial infections bacterial infections What forms does it come in?

oral capsule, oral tablet, oral extended-release tablet, chewable tablet, oral suspension* oral tablet, oral solution* What is the typical length of treatment?

varies based on condition varies based on condition.

*Suspensions and solutions should be stored in a refrigerator and disposed of after 14 days.

Amoxicillin and penicillin are both used to treat bacterial infections. However, the conditions they’re used to treat vary.

Your doctor may do a susceptibility test to find out which drug may be better for your type of infection.

For this test, your doctor collects a sample of your body fluid, such as saliva or

urine

lab

The chart below lists examples of the different types of infections that amoxicillin and penicillin can be used to treat. Possible uses Amoxicillin Penicillin mild to moderate upper respiratory tract infections* x x mild skin infections x x scarlet fever x tooth infections x x urinary tract infections x ulcers x.

* including pneumonia, sinus infections, ear infections, or throat infections.

Amoxicillin and penicillin are both available as generic drugs. Generic medications are copies of brand-name medications. They have the same features as brand-name versions, such as dosage, intended use, side effects, and route of administration. However, generic medications typically cost less than brand-name medications.

Therefore, penicillin and the generic versions of amoxicillin are likely cheaper than the brand-name versions of amoxicillin. Both amoxicillin and penicillin are typically covered by most health insurance plans without a prior authorization.

Brand-name medications, on the other hand, may require a prior authorization. A prior authorization is when your insurance provider requires extra steps before they will pay for your medication.

For example, they may ask you to try the generic version first before they will pay for the brand-name drug.

Both amoxicillin and penicillin can cause side effects. Call your doctor if you have any serious side effects when using these drugs. The charts below list examples of possible side effects from amoxicillin and penicillin. Common side effects Amoxicillin Penicillin mild skin rash x x stomach upset x x nausea x vomiting x x diarrhea x x black, hairy tongue x x. Serious side effects Amoxicillin Penicillin allergic reaction* x x bloody or watery diarrhea x x unusual bleeding or bruising x seizures x yellowing of the eyes or skin x. *This can include skin rash, hives, and swelling of the mouth or tongue. Amoxicillin and penicillin also interact with similar medications.

An interaction is when a substance changes the way a drug works.

This can be harmful or prevent the drug from working well. The table below lists examples of drugs that most often interact with amoxicillin and penicillin.

Drugs that may cause interactions Amoxicillin Penicillin methotrexate x x allopurinol x probenecid x x warfarin x x birth control pills x x mycophenolate x x other antibiotics x x. Before starting amoxicillin or penicillin, tell your doctor about all medications, vitamins, or herbs you’re taking.

This can help your doctor prevent possible interactions. Keep the following precautions in mind if your doctor prescribes amoxicillin or penicillin.

Certain medications can make certain health conditions or diseases worse.

For example, if you have severe kidney disease, you should talk with your doctor before taking amoxicillin or penicillin. Also ask your doctor if you can use amoxicillin and penicillin safely if you have severe allergies or asthma. You’re at higher risk of side effects from these medications.

If you know that you’re allergic to penicillin, you shouldn’t take penicillin or penicillin antibiotics such as amoxicillin. The reverse is also true: If you’re allergic to amoxicillin, you shouldn’t take penicillin or other penicillin antibiotics.

In addition, if you’re allergic to cephalosporin antibiotics, you’re at risk for an allergic reaction to penicillin antibiotics. Symptoms of an allergic reaction to amoxicillin or penicillin can include: trouble breathing hives rash swelling of your lips or tongue.

If you have any of these symptoms, stop taking the antibiotic and call your doctor right away.

If your symptoms are severe, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

Antibiotics such as amoxicillin or penicillin can cause severe diarrhea.

Sometimes the diarrhea is linked with an infection by a type of bacteria called Clostridium difficile ( C.

diff infection can include: watery diarrhea that is severe or lasts more than two days cramping in your abdomen dehydration (low fluid levels in your body), which typically doesn’t cause symptoms inflammation of the colon, which typically doesn’t cause symptoms weight loss.

If you have these symptoms, call your doctor right away. If your symptoms are severe, go to the nearest emergency room. You can drink alcohol while taking either amoxicillin or penicillin.

There are no special precautions against using these drugs with alcohol. Still, there are other things to consider about drinking while treating an infection. For more information, read about combining antibiotics and alcohol.

Side Effects What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Amoxicillin? Drug Interactions What Other Drugs Interact with Amoxicillin?

Warning and Precautions What Are Warnings and Precautions for Amoxicillin? Amoxicillin is a prescription antibiotic which is used to treat a wide variety of bacterial infections. It will not work for viral infections (such as common cold, flu). Unnecessary use or misuse of any antibiotic can lead to its decreased effectiveness.

Amoxicillin is also used with other medications to treat stomach/intestinal ulcers caused by the bacteria H.

Amoxicillin is available under the following different brand names: Amoxil, Moxatag, and Trimox. 50 mg/5mL 125 mg/5mL 200 mg/5mL 250 mg/5mL 400 mg/5mL.

Dosage Considerations – Should be Given as Follows: Adult Dosage Considerations.

500 mg orally every 12 hours or 250 mg orally every 8 hours for 10-14 days. 875 mg orally every 12 hours or 500 mg orally every 8 hours for 10-14 days. Moxatag: 775 mg orally

once

875 mg orally every 12 hours or 500 mg orally every 8 hours.

500 mg orally every 12 hours or 250 mg orally every 8 hours.

875 mg orally every 12 hours or 500 mg orally every 8 hours.

775 mg (ER tablets) orally once per day for 10 days. 875 mg orally every 12 hours or 500 mg orally every 8 hours for 10-14 days. H pylori infection and active or 1-year history of duodenal ulcer.

1 g orally every 12 hours for 14 days with lansoprazole (30 mg) and clarithromycin (500 mg) 1 g orally every 8 hours for 14 days with lansoprazole (30 mg) in patients intolerant of, or resistant to, clarithromycin. AHA guidelines recommend prophylaxis only in high-risk patients undergoing invasive procedures who have a history of cardiac conditions that predispose them to a risk of infection. Lyme Disease (Off-label) Chronic migrating rash and other symptoms of early dissemination.

500 mg orally every 8 hours (depending on size of patient) for 3-4 weeks.

50 mg/kg/day every 8 hours in divided doses; maximum 500 mg/dose.

Chlamydial Infection in Pregnant Women (Off-label) First trimester: 500 mg orally every 8 hours for 7 days.

First trimester: Test to document chlamydial eradication and retest for infection 3 months after treatment. Second or third trimester: Test to document chlamydial eradication. For use when susceptibility test results show susceptibility to amoxicillin, indicating no beta-lactamase production. Renal impairment: Patients with impaired renal function do not generally require dose reduction unless impairment is severe; do not administer extended-release product in patients with creatinine clearance under 30 mL/min. GFR under 30 mL/min: Should not receive 875 mg (immediate release) or 775 mg (extended release) GFR 10-30 mL/min: 250-500 mg every 12 hours, depending on severity of infection.

GFR under 10 mL/min: 250-500 mg every 24 hours depending on severity of infection. Hemodialysis patients: 250-500 mg every 24 hours, depending on severity of infection; patients should receive additional dose during and at completion of dialysis; do not administer extended-release product or 875 mg immediate release.

Pediatric Dosages Considerations: Ear, Nose, and Throat Infections.

Under 3 months: 30

mg/kg/day

Under 3 months: 30 mg/kg/day orally divided every 12 hours for 48-72 hours; for less than 10 days for S pyogenes infections.

Older than 3 months and less than 40 kg: 45 mg/kg/day orally divided every 12 hours or 40 mg/kg/day orally divided every 8 hours. Over 40 kg: 875 mg orally every12 hours or 500 mg orally every 8 hours for 10-14 days.

50 mg/kg orally every day for 10 days, not to exceed 1 g/day, orally 25 mg/kg orally twice daily for 10 days, not to exceed 500 mg/dose.

Older than 12 years: 775 mg (Moxatag) orally once per

day

Older than 3 months and under 40kg: 80-90 mg/kg/day orally divided every 8-12 hours. Over 40 kg: 500 mg orally every 12 hours or 250 mg orally every 8 hours for 10-14 days. Under 3 months: greater than or equal to 30 mg/kg/day orally divided every 12 hours for 48-72 hours; for less than 10 days for S pyogenes infections.

Older than 3 months and under 40 kg: 45 mg/kg/day orally divided every 12hr or 40 mg/kg/day orally divided every 8 hours. Over 40kg: 875 mg orally every 12 hours or 500 mg orally every 8 hours for 10-14 days.

pneumoniae is the primary pathogen that causes pneumonia in patients 5-15 years old, a macrolide antibiotic may be a first choice treatment. Under 3 months: Safety and efficacy not established.

Older than 3 months: Empiric treatment: 90 mg/kg/day orally divided every 12 hours for 10 days; not to exceed 4,000 mg/day. Group A Streptococcus: 50-75 mg/kg/day orally divided every 12 hours for 10 days; not to exceed 4,000 mg/day.

influenza: 75-100 mg/kg/day orally divided every 8 hours for 10 days; not to exceed 4,000 mg/day.

pneumoniae (mild infection or step-down therapy or when MICs to penicillin equal to or greater than 2.0 mcg/mL): 90 mg/kg/day orally divided every 12 hours or 45 mg/kg/day divided every 8 hours for 10 days; not to exceed 4,000 mg/day. Anthrax (Off-label) Post exposure inhalational prophylaxis. Under 40 kg: 15 mg/kg orally every 8 hours (minimum recommended dose; should not be greater than 45 mg/kg/day or given less than every 8

hours

80 mg/kg/day orally divided every 8 hours for 4 weeks (with simultaneous vaccine) or for 60 days (without vaccine) Infective Endocarditis (Off-label) 50 mg/kg orally 30-60 min before procedure.

AHA guidelines recommend prophylaxis only in high-risk patients undergoing invasive procedures with history of cardiac conditions that predispose them to infection.

Lyme Disease (Off-label) Chronic migrating

rash

dissemination

months

Over 3 months and 40 kg: 25-50 mg/kg/day divided every 8 hours; not to exceed 500 mg. Mixing oral suspension: Tap bottle until all powder flows freely; add approximately one third of the total amount of water for reconstitution and shake vigorously to wet powder; add remainder of water and shake vigorously again.

After reconstitution, place required amount of suspension directly on child's tongue for swallowing; if taste is unacceptable, required amount of suspension can be added to formula, milk, fruit juice, water, ginger ale, or other cold drinks; preparation must be taken immediately. Shake suspension well before using; any unused portion must be discarded after 14 days. What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Amoxicillin?

Common side effects of amoxicillin include: acuteallergic reaction anemia elevated liverenzymes persistent superficial infections of the skin diarrhea headache nausea vomiting rash antibiotic associated inflammation of the colon serum sickness-like reactions.

Post marketing side effects of Amoxicillin reported include: persistent superficial infections of the skin gastrointestinal black hairy tongue hemorrhagic/pseudomembranous colitis (may occur during or after treatment) Hypersensitivity reactions liver dysfunction cholestatic jaundice hepaticcholestasis acute cytolytic hepatitis Renal (crystalluria) Anemia hemolytic anemia Low platelet count (thrombocytopenia) thrombocytopenic purpura eosinophilia Low white blood cell count (leukopenia) agranulocytosis Central nervous system reactions reversible hyperactivity agitation anxiety insomnia confusion convulsions behavioral changes dizziness Tooth discoloration (brown, yellow or gray staining) This document does not contain all possible side effects and others may occur. Check with your physician for additional information about side effects.

If your doctor has directed you to use this medication for diabetes, your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them.