Description
Amoxicillin
Amoxicillin is a semi-synthetic broad-spectrum antibiotic, designed to treat various infectious diseases. The antibiotic is active against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria-pathogens.
Prescribing Information
Indications for Amoxicillin use are infectionsof:
- oral cavity
- bones and joints
- pelvic organs
- skin and soft tissues
- urinary tract
- upper and lower respiratory tract
Amoxicillin tablets, capsules, oral suspension or solution or injections may be usedfor the antibacterial therapy.
Dosage
Amoxicillin dosage for antibacterial therapy is:
- Children under the age of 12 years: 25-50 mg per kilogram of body weight daily, divided into several doses;
- Children over 12 years and adults: 0.75-3 g per day, divided into several intakes.
Repeated dose of Amoxicillin should be taken no earlier than 6-8 hours after the previous administration of the antibiotic. The duration of the antibacterial therapy with Amoxicillin can be 3 days to 3 months.
For a complete eradication of bacterial pathogensfrom the body, patients are recommended to continue the use of the antibiotic for another 2-3 days after the disappearance of the main symptoms of the infectious disease.
Interactions
When choosing Amoxicillin for antibacterial therapy, its possible interactions with other medicinesshould be considered, as well. Combined use of the antibiotic with other drugs may reduce the effectiveness of the antimicrobial therapy, or vice versa, be toxic to the body.
Amoxicillin enters into pharmacodynamic interactions with estrogen and progesterone drugs, which leads to a decrease in the therapeutic effectiveness of oral contraceptives.
Simultaneous administration of Amoxicillin with Probenecid (a medicine to treat gout)promotes a potentiation of the therapeutic effect of both drugs and increases the risk of toxic bodypoisoning.
Interactionsthat are potentially hazardous to health, that is, that cause side effects:
- Amoxicillin + Allopurinol – increases the risk of allergic skin reactions;
- Amoxicillin + Methotrexate – increases the degree of Methotrexatetoxicity, causes side effects from the cardiovascular system.
Side effects
The main side effects of the antibacterial therapy with Amoxicillin arise from the gastrointestinal tract. Generally, these include abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, nausea, or vomiting. Yet all adverse reactions are easily tolerated and do not cause any inconvenience to patients in their daily life.
Other than gastrointestinal, Amoxicillin can rarely cause side effects from other organs and body systems. Possible adverse reactions of antimicrobial therapy may include: dizziness, allergic reactions, confusion, or a runny nose.
Tips
Patients should observe the following recommendations to minimize the side effects of Amoxicillin in the antibiotic therapy:
- The pharmaceutical form, dosage and duration of the antimicrobial therapy are selected individually for each patient;
- Evaluation of the antimicrobial therapy efficacy should be held in the first 2-3 days after the initiation of the antibiotic therapy;
- Patients should take this antibiotic until a stable positive dynamics of the patient’s condition is achieved and the main symptoms of the infection disappear.
One of the problems that can arise during antibacterial therapy with Amoxicillin is the resistance of microorganisms to the antibioticaction. Tips for overcoming resistance of bacteria to Amoxicillinaction are:
Change the dosage form or increase the dosage of the antibiotic;
Try to cure the infection with other antibacterial drugs;
Introduce into the antibacterial therapy a Clavulanate beta-lactamase inhibitor that significantly increases the therapeutic potential of the antibiotic.