About Amoxicillin

As a penicillin antibiotic, Amoxicillin is used to eliminate bacteria and acts as PrecPac DisperMox, Amoxil and other similar drugs. Amoxicillin is a prescriptive medication and can be bought only after consulting with the doctor.

Uses or Indications

Amoxicillin is commonly applied to bacteria-born infections and is quite ineffective for treating viral infections, like the cold. Combined with other medications, Amoxicillin is used to treat infection of small intestines and H.-pylori ulcers.

How to use Amoxicillin

The drug should be taken according to the doctor`s prescription. Alternatively, the amount, frequency of use and other instructions are indicated at the label.
Amoxicillin can be taken by mouth, either with food or without it. Patients suffering from stomach irritation are usually prescribed to ingest the medication with food. Don`t chew or swallow the Amoxicillin tablet in whole. Dissolve it in water and stir the mixture instead. After the drug has been dissolved completely, drink it at once. Keep in mind that no other liquid except water can be used.
Amoxicillin should be taken for the entire course of treatment. Even if the patient feels better, Amoxicillin should be used for some time to kill harmful bacteria. Otherwise, the infection may develop and get more difficult to treat.

Side effects

In case you detect allergic reaction to the medication you should seek medical assistance as soon as possible. Allergic side effects include skin itching, swelling of the face, tongue, lips and mouth, breathing problems, hives, rashes, peeling or blistered skin, unusual yellowing, bruising or bleeding of the eyes, blood in stool and urine, vaginal discharge, diarrhea, muscle seizures, low alertness, stomach cramps. The most common side effects are vomiting, nausea and diarrhea. Moreover, if you are currently taking typhoid vaccine, consult with your doctor.

Drug Precautions

1. In case you are pregnant, you should check with your doctor before starting the course of treatment using Amoxicillin.
2. If you are breastfeeding, you shouldn`t take Amoxicillin, as it can negatively impact on breast milk. Consult with your doctor first.
3. Patients suffering from gonorrhea, kidney problems, phenylketonuria or infectious mononucleosis, take other prescriptive medication or have a history of allergies, asthma, hay fever and hives, should inform their doctor before using Amoxicillin.
4. As the drug can provoke dizziness, it should be used with caution. Other medications or alcohol can also aggravate the effect. During the course of treatment patients aren`t recommended to perform tasks which require full alertness, like driving.
5. Children below 3 years old who have problems with kidneys, or children who have less than 10 years old and suffer from infection of the stomach or bowel and diarrhea, show high sensitivity to Amoxicillin, that is why the medication should be taken with caution.
6. Once you noticed bloody stools, severe diarrhea or stomach cramps, you should see your doctor immediately.

Drug interactions

Before combining Amoxicillin with other drugs, consult with your doctor, as mixing may have a negative effect on your health:

• Anticoagulants (e.g. warfarin), as the risk of bleeding may increase
• Probenecid, as it may increase the level of Amoxicillin in your blood
• Macrolide antibiotics (such as erythromycin), chloramphenicol, tetracycline antibiotics (doxycycline etc) and sulfonamides (for example, sulfamethoxazole) as they may reduce Amoxicillin`s efficacy
• Methotrexate, as the its side effects may be aggravated by Amoxicillin
• Hormonal birth control (e.g. birth control pills) and oral typhoid vaccines, as their efficacies may be diminished by Amoxicillin

Missed Dose

In case you occasionally missed a dose, you should skip it and resume your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses to compensate the missed one.

Overdose

Overdose symptoms may include diarrhea, nausea, stomach cramps, vomiting. Seek immediate medical help when overdose is suspected.

Storage

You should store Amoxicillin at room temperature in a tight container away from heat, light and moisture. The medication shouldn`t be stored in the bathroom. Amoxicillin must be kept out of the reach of pets and small children.