Amoxil

Amoxil is an antibiotic in the class of drugs called penicillin. It works by killing sensitive bacteria. It fights bacteria in the body. Amoxil is used to treat many different types of infections, such as tonsillitis, pneumonia, ear infections, bronchitis, urinary tract infections, gonorrhea, and infections of the skin. Amoxil may also be used for other purposes.

Precautions

If you have ever had an allergic reaction to another penicillin or to a cephalosporin, do not take Amoxil without first talking to your doctor. Before taking Amoxil, tell your doctor if you have kidney disease, or stomach or intestinal disease. Amoxil is in the FDA pregnancy category B. This means that it is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Amoxil is generally considered to be safe for use during pregnancy. Do not, however, take Amoxil without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment. Amoxil passes into breast milk. Although serious problems have not been reported, rarely, Amoxil may cause a yeast infection, diarrhea, or an allergic reaction in a nursing infant, although no serious harm is expected. Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Do no use Amoxil

• If you are allergic to any ingredient in Amoxil or other penicillin antibiotics (like, ampicillin)
• If you have recently received or will be receiving live oral typhoid vaccine

How Taken

Amoxil comes as a capsule, chewable tablet, liquid, and pediatric drop to take by mouth. It is usually taken every 8 hours (three times a day). Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take Amoxil exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor. Shake the liquid and pediatric drops well before each use to mix the medication evenly. Use the bottle dropper to measure the dose of pediatric drops. The pediatric drops and liquid may be placed on a child's tongue or added to formula, milk, fruit juice, water, ginger ale, or other cold liquid and taken immediately. The tablets should be crushed or chewed thoroughly before they are swallowed. The capsules should be swallowed whole and taken with a full glass of water. Continue to take Amoxil even if you feel well. Do not stop taking Amoxil without talking to your doctor.

Missed Dose

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember, and take the rest of the day's doses at evenly spaced intervals. However, if it is almost time for the next regularly scheduled dose, skip the dose you missed and take the rest of the doses for the day as directed. Do not take a double dose of this medication unless otherwise directed by your doctor.

Amoxil Side Effects

Contact your doctor immediately if you experience severe or bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps during treatment with Amoxil. If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking Amoxil and seek emergency medical attention or contact your doctor immediately: an allergic reaction (shortness of breath; closing of the throat; hives; swelling of the lips, face, or tongue; rash; or fainting); seizures; or unusual bleeding or bruising. Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take Amoxil and talk to your doctor if you experience mild nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or abdominal pain, white patches on the tongue (thrush/ yeast infection); itching or discharge of the vagina (vaginal yeast infection); black, "hairy" tongue or sore mouth or tongue. Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

Storage

Keep out of the reach of children. Store away from heat and direct light. Do not store the capsule or tablet form of Amoxil in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down. Store the oral liquid form of Amoxil in the refrigerator because heat will cause this medicine to break down. However, keep the medicine from freezing. Follow the directions on the label. Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.

Amoxil Overdose

Symptoms of an Amoxil overdose may include muscle spasms or weakness, pain or twitching, pain in the fingers or toes, loss of feeling in the fingers or toes, seizures, confusion, coma, or agitation. Seek emergency medical attention if an overdose is suspected.

More Information about Amoxil

Contact your doctor immediately if you experience severe or bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps during treatment with Amoxil. Take all of the Amoxil that has been prescribed for you even if you begin to feel better. Your symptoms may begin to improve before the infection is completely treated. Amoxil may decrease the effectiveness of birth control pills. If you are taking birth control pills, use a second method of birth control while taking Amoxil to ensure protection from unintended pregnancy.

Amoxil may cause dizziness. This effect may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Amoxil with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.

Amoxil only works against bacteria; it does not treat viral infections (eg, the common cold).

Be sure to use Amoxil for the full course of treatment. If you do not, the medicine may not clear up your infection completely. The bacteria could also become less sensitive to this or other medicines. This could make the infection harder to treat in the future.

Long-term or repeated use of Amoxil may cause a second infection. Tell your doctor if signs of a second infection occur. Your medicine may need to be changed to treat this. Contact your doctor right away if stomach pain or cramps, severe diarrhea, or bloody stools occur. Do not treat diarrhea without first checking with your doctor.

Hormonal birth control (eg, birth control pills) may not work as well while you are using Amoxil. To prevent pregnancy, use an extra form of birth control (eg, condoms).

Brown, yellow, or gray tooth discoloration has occurred rarely in some patients taking Amoxil. It occurred most often in children. The discoloration was reduced or removed by brushing or dental cleaning in most cases. Contact your doctor if you experience this effect.

Diabetes patients - Amoxil may cause the results of some tests for urine glucose to be wrong. Ask your doctor before you change your diet or the dose of your diabetes medicine.

Lab tests, including liver function, kidney function, and complete blood cell counts, may be performed if you use Amoxil for a long period of time. These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.

Use Amoxil with caution in the ELDERLY; they may be more sensitive to its effects, especially patients with kidney problems.

Use Amoxil with extreme caution in CHILDREN younger than 10 years old who have diarrhea or an infection of the stomach or bowel.

Caution is advised when using Amoxil in CHILDREN younger than 3 months old; they may be more sensitive to its effects.

PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Amoxil while you are pregnant. Amoxil is found in breast milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you use Amoxil, check with your doctor. Discuss any possible risks to your baby.

Disclaimer

This drug information is for your information purposes only, it is not intended that this information covers all uses, directions, drug interactions, precautions, or adverse effects of your medication. This is only general information, and should not be relied on for any purpose. It should not be construed as containing specific instructions for any particular patient. We disclaim all responsibility for the accuracy and reliability of this information, and/or any consequences arising from the use of this information, including damage or adverse consequences to persons or property, however such damages or consequences arise. No warranty, either expressed or implied, is made in regards to this information.