Amoxil

Generic name: Amoxicillin
Drug class: Aminopenicillins

Usage of Amoxil

Amoxil is a penicillin antibiotic that fights bacteria.

Amoxil is used to treat many different types of infection caused by bacteria, such as tonsillitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and infections of the ear, nose, throat, skin, or urinary tract.

Amoxil is also sometimes used together with another antibiotic called clarithromycin (Biaxin) to treat stomach ulcers caused by Helicobacter pylori infection. This combination is sometimes used with a stomach acid reducer called lansoprazole (Prevacid).

Amoxil side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Amoxil (hives, difficult breathing, swelling in your face or throat) or a severe skin reaction (fever, sore throat, burning eyes, skin pain, red or purple skin rash with blistering and peeling).

Call your doctor at once if you have:

  • severe stomach pain; or
  • diarrhea that is watery or bloody (even if it occurs months after your last dose).

    • Common Amoxil side effects may include:

  • nausea, vomiting, diarrhea; or
  • rash.

    • This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

    Before taking Amoxil

    You should not use Amoxil if you are allergic to any penicillin antibiotic, such as ampicillin, dicloxacillin, oxacillin, penicillin, or ticarcillin.

    To make sure Amoxil is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

  • kidney disease;
  • mononucleosis (also called "mono");
  • diarrhea caused by taking antibiotics; or
  • food or drug allergies (especially to a cephalosporin antibiotic such as Omnicef, Cefzil, Ceftin, Keflex, and others).

    • It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

    Amoxicillin can make birth control pills less effective. Ask your doctor about using a non-hormonal birth control (condom, diaphragm, cervical cap, or contraceptive sponge) to prevent pregnancy.

    It may not be safe to breastfeed while using this medicine. Ask your doctor about any risk.

    Relate drugs

    How to use Amoxil

    Take Amoxil exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets.

    Take Amoxil at the same time each day.

    Shake the oral suspension (liquid) before you measure a dose.

    Measure liquid medicine with the dosing syringe provided, or use a medicine dose-measuring device (not a kitchen spoon). You may mix the liquid with water, milk, baby formula, fruit juice, or ginger ale. Drink all of the mixture right away. Do not save for later use.

    You may need frequent medical tests.

    If you are taking Amoxil with clarithromycin and/or lansoprazole to treat stomach ulcer, use all of your medications as directed. Read the medication guide or patient instructions provided with each medication. Do not change your doses or medication schedule without your doctor's advice.

    Use this medicine for the full prescribed length of time, even if your symptoms quickly improve. Skipping doses can increase your risk of infection that is resistant to medication. Amoxil will not treat a viral infection such as the flu or a common cold.

    Do not share this medicine with another person, even if they have the same symptoms you have.

    This medicine can affect the results of certain medical tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using amoxicillin.

    Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.

    You may store liquid Amoxil in a refrigerator but do not allow it to freeze. Throw away any liquid Amoxil that is not used within 14 days after it was mixed at the pharmacy.

    Warnings

    Do not use Amoxil if you are allergic to amoxicillin or to any other penicillin antibiotic, such as ampicillin (Omnipen, Principen), dicloxacillin (Dycill, Dynapen), oxacillin (Bactocill), penicillin (Beepen-VK, Ledercillin VK, Pen-V, Pen-Vee K, Pfizerpen, V-Cillin K, Veetids), and others.

    Before using Amoxil, tell your doctor if you are allergic to cephalosporins such as Omnicef, Cefzil, Ceftin, Keflex, and others. Also tell your doctor if you have asthma, liver or kidney disease, a bleeding or blood clotting disorder, mononucleosis (also called "mono"), or any type of allergy.

    Amoxicillin can make birth control pills less effective. Ask your doctor about using a non-hormone method of birth control (such as a condom, diaphragm, spermicide) to prevent pregnancy while taking this medicine. Take this medication for the full prescribed length of time. Your symptoms may improve before the infection is completely cleared. Amoxicillin will not treat a viral infection such as the common cold or flu. Do not share this medication with another person, even if they have the same symptoms you have.

    Antibiotic medicines can cause diarrhea. This may happen while you are taking Amoxil, or within a few months after you stop taking it. This may be a sign of a new infection. If you have diarrhea that is watery or bloody, stop taking Amoxil and call your doctor. Do not use anti-diarrhea medicine unless your doctor tells you to.

    What other drugs will affect Amoxil

    Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially:

  • any other antibiotics;
  • allopurinol;
  • probenecid; or
  • a blood thinner - warfarin, Coumadin, Jantoven.

    • This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with amoxicillin, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

    Popular FAQ

    There are several antibiotics that kill the common mouth bacteria that cause tooth infections. The best (first-line) antibiotics for tooth infection include: Amoxicillin, Penicillin, Cephalexin, Clindamycin, Azithromycin. Amoxicillin is often the first choice because it is widely effective and has the fewest gastrointestinal side effects. Continue reading

    Yes, you can drink alcohol while taking the antibiotic amoxicillin. The alcohol will not stop amoxicillin from working. However, many health professionals will recommend you avoid alcohol to give your body the best chance possible to fight the infection. Moderation is key. Continue reading

    Amoxicillin capsules and tablets have an expiry of around 2 years and, provided they are stored as recommended and in the original packaging, there will be a small lee way of safety if used beyond expiry. Amoxicillin suspension is different and has a very short shelf life of about 7-10 days once it is prepared. Continue reading

    From 5% to 10% of children will develop a rash from amoxicillin after taking it, which in most cases, is considered a side effect of amoxicillin and not an allergic rash. But in a small number of cases, the rash will be a sign of an allergic reaction which means the amoxicillin will need to be stopped right away. Continue reading

    Penicillin or amoxicillin are considered the best first-line treatments for Strep throat. According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) “ There has never been a report of a clinical isolate of group A strep that is resistant to penicillin”. For people with a penicillin allergy, treat Strep throat with either a narrow-spectrum cephalosporin (such as cephalexin or cefadroxil), clindamycin, azithromycin, or clarithromycin. Note that resistance to azithromycin and clarithromycin has been reported. Continue reading

    Yes, amoxicillin will help your tooth infection. Amoxicillin is one of the first antibiotics recommended for the treatment of a tooth infection. It has shown to be widely effective and have fewer gastrointestinal side effects compared to other options. Continue reading

    The main difference between amoxicillin and penicillin is that amoxicillin is effective against a wider spectrum of bacteria compared with penicillin. Both amoxicillin and penicillin belong to the class of antibiotics called penicillins. Continue reading

    Amoxicillin is a safe oral, broad-spectrum antibiotic prescribed by veterinarians for bacterial infections in dogs. Amoxicillin is well-tolerated by most dogs, but common side effects may occur, like diarrhea, nausea, stomach pain, skin rash or allergy. Contact your veterinarian right away if you have concerns about amoxicillin side effects in your dog. Continue reading

    No, you should not take amoxicillin if you are allergic to penicillin. Amoxicillin belongs to the Penicillin class of antibiotics and must be avoided. You need to see your dentist and/or doctor with an infected tooth. Continue reading

    There are several antibiotics that kill the common mouth bacteria that cause tooth infections. The best (first-line) antibiotics for tooth infection include: Amoxicillin, Penicillin, Cephalexin, Clindamycin, Azithromycin. Amoxicillin is often the first choice because it is widely effective and has the fewest gastrointestinal side effects. Continue reading

    Yes, you can drink alcohol while taking the antibiotic amoxicillin. The alcohol will not stop amoxicillin from working. However, many health professionals will recommend you avoid alcohol to give your body the best chance possible to fight the infection. Moderation is key. Continue reading

    Amoxicillin capsules and tablets have an expiry of around 2 years and, provided they are stored as recommended and in the original packaging, there will be a small lee way of safety if used beyond expiry. Amoxicillin suspension is different and has a very short shelf life of about 7-10 days once it is prepared. Continue reading

    From 5% to 10% of children will develop a rash from amoxicillin after taking it, which in most cases, is considered a side effect of amoxicillin and not an allergic rash. But in a small number of cases, the rash will be a sign of an allergic reaction which means the amoxicillin will need to be stopped right away. Continue reading

    Penicillin or amoxicillin are considered the best first-line treatments for Strep throat. According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) “ There has never been a report of a clinical isolate of group A strep that is resistant to penicillin”. For people with a penicillin allergy, treat Strep throat with either a narrow-spectrum cephalosporin (such as cephalexin or cefadroxil), clindamycin, azithromycin, or clarithromycin. Note that resistance to azithromycin and clarithromycin has been reported. Continue reading

    Yes, amoxicillin will help your tooth infection. Amoxicillin is one of the first antibiotics recommended for the treatment of a tooth infection. It has shown to be widely effective and have fewer gastrointestinal side effects compared to other options. Continue reading

    The main difference between amoxicillin and penicillin is that amoxicillin is effective against a wider spectrum of bacteria compared with penicillin. Both amoxicillin and penicillin belong to the class of antibiotics called penicillins. Continue reading

    Amoxicillin is a safe oral, broad-spectrum antibiotic prescribed by veterinarians for bacterial infections in dogs. Amoxicillin is well-tolerated by most dogs, but common side effects may occur, like diarrhea, nausea, stomach pain, skin rash or allergy. Contact your veterinarian right away if you have concerns about amoxicillin side effects in your dog. Continue reading

    No, you should not take amoxicillin if you are allergic to penicillin. Amoxicillin belongs to the Penicillin class of antibiotics and must be avoided. You need to see your dentist and/or doctor with an infected tooth. Continue reading

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