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GENERIC NAME: amoxicillin
BRAND NAME: Amoxil,
Dispermox, Trimox
DRUG CLASS
AND MECHANISM: Amoxicillin is an antibiotic
that belongs to a class of antibiotics called
penicillins. Other members of this class include
ampicillin (Unasyn),
piperacillin (Pipracil), ticarcillin (Ticar) and
a several others. These antibiotics all have a
similar mechanism of action. They do not kill
bacteria, but they stop bacteria from
multiplying by preventing bacteria from forming
the walls that surround them. The walls are
necessary to protect bacteria from their
environment and to keep the contents of the
bacterial cell together. Bacteria cannot survive
without a cell wall. Amoxicillin is effective
against many different bacteria including H.
influenzae, N. gonorrhoea, E. coli, Pneumococci,
Streptococci, and certain strains of
Staphylococci.
PRESCRIPTION: Yes.
GENERIC
AVAILABLE: Yes.
PREPARATIONS: Capsules: 250 and
500 mg. Tablets: 500 and 875 mg. Chewable
tablets: 125, 200, 250, and 400 mg. Powder for
suspension: 50 mg/ml ; 125 , 200, 250, and 400
mg/5 ml. Tablets for suspension: 200 and 400 mg
STORAGE: Store Amoxil capsules as
well as 125 and 250 mg dry powder at or below
20°C (68°F); tablets, chewable tablets, as well
as 200 and 400 mg dry powder at or below
25°C(77°F). Store Trimox capsules and
unreconstituted powder at or below 20°C (68°F)
and chewable tablets at room temperature
15°-30°C (59°-86°F). Powder that has been mixed
with water should be discarded after 14 days.
Refrigeration is preferred but not required for
powder mixed with water.
PRESCRIBED
FOR: Amoxicillin is used to treat infections
due to organisms that are susceptible to the
effects of amoxicillin. Common infections that
amoxicillin is used for include infections of
the middle ear, tonsils, throat, larynx
(laryngitis), bronchi (bronchitis), lungs (pneumonia), urinary tract,
and skin. It also is used to treat gonorrhea.
DOSING: For most infections in
adults the dosing regimens for amoxicillin are
250 mg every 8 hours, 500 mg every 8 hours, 500
mg every 12 hours or 875 mg every 12 hours,
depending on the type and severity of infection.
For the treatment of adults with gonorrhea the
dose is 3 g given as one dose. For most
infections, children older than 3 months but
less than 40 kg are treated with 25 mg/kg/day in
divided doses every 12 hours, 20 mg/kg/day in
divided doses every 8 hours, 40 mg/kg/day in
divided doses every 8 hours or 45 mg/kg/day in
divided doses every 12 hours depending on type
and severity of the infection.
Amoxicillin can be
taken with or without food. DRUG INTERACTIONS:
Amoxicillin is rarely associated with important
drug interactions.
PREGNANCY: There are no
adequate studies of amoxicillin in pregnant
women.
NURSING
MOTHERS: Small amounts of amoxicillin may be
excreted in breast
milk and may cause diarrhea
or allergic responses in nursing infants.
SIDE
EFFECTS: Side effects due to amoxicillin
include diarrhea, dizziness, heartburn, insomnia, nausea, itching,
vomiting, confusion, abdominal pain, easy
bruising, bleeding, rash
and allergic reactions.
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