Amoxicillin; Clavulanic Acid oral suspension
What is amoxicillin/clavulanic acid oral suspension?
AMOXICILLIN/CLAVULANIC ACID (Augmentin®, Augmentin ES-600™) is a penicillin antibiotic. Amoxicillin kills or stops the growth of bacteria that cause infection. Clavulanic acid is added to help the amoxicillin to work better. This medicine treats many different kinds of infections, including those of the ears, kidney, respiratory tract, sinuses, and skin. Generic amoxicillin/clavulanic acid oral suspension is available.
What should my health care professional know before I take amoxicillin/clavulanic acid?
They need to know if you have any of these conditions:
-
asthma
-
eczema
-
kidney disease
-
leukemia
-
mononucleosis
-
intestinal problems (especially colitis)
-
other chronic illness
-
phenylketonuria
-
viral infection
-
an unusual or allergic reaction to amoxicillin, other penicillins, imipenem, cephalosporin antibiotics, foods, dyes, or preservatives
-
breast-feeding
How should I take this medicine?
Take amoxicillin/clavulanic oral suspension by mouth. Follow the directions on the prescription label. Shake well before using. Use a specially marked spoon, or container to measure your medicine. Ask your pharmacist if you do not have one; household spoons are not always accurate. Take amoxicillin/clavulanic acid with food or at the start of a meal. Take your doses at regular intervals. Do not take your medicine more often than directed. Finish the full course prescribed by your prescriber or health care professional even if you think your condition is better. Do not stop taking except on your prescriber's advice.
What if I miss a dose?
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, take only that dose. Do not take double or extra doses. There should be an interval of at least 6 to 8 hours between doses.
What drug(s) may interact with amoxicillin/clavulanic acid?
-
allopurinol
-
birth control pills
-
methotrexate
-
neomycin
-
probenecid
Tell your prescriber or health care professional about all other medicines you are taking, including non-prescription medicines, nutritional supplements, or herbal products. Also tell your prescriber or health care professional if you are a frequent user of drinks with caffeine or alcohol, if you smoke, or if you use illegal drugs. These may affect the way your medicine works. Check with your health care professional before stopping or starting any of your medicines.
What should I watch for while taking amoxicillin/clavulanic acid?
Tell your prescriber or health care professional if your symptoms do not improve in 2 or 3 days.
If you are diabetic and taking large doses of amoxicillin, you may get a false-positive result for sugar in your urine. Check with your prescriber or health care professional before you change your diet or the dose of your diabetic medicine.
If you get severe or watery diarrhea, do not treat yourself. Call your prescriber or health care professional for advice.
If you get a skin rash, do not treat yourself. Call your prescriber or health care professional for advice.
What side effects may I notice from taking amoxicillin/clavulanic acid?
Side effects that you should report to your prescriber or health care professional as soon as possible:
-
difficulty breathing, wheezing
-
dark yellow or brown urine
-
dizziness
-
fever or chills, sore throat
-
headache
-
increased thirst
-
pain or difficulty passing urine
-
redness, blistering, peeling or loosening of the skin, including inside the mouth
-
seizures (convulsions)
-
skin rash, itching
-
stomach pain or cramps
-
swollen joints
-
severe or watery diarrhea
-
unusual bleeding or bruising
-
unusual weakness or tiredness
-
yellowing of the eyes or skin
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your prescriber or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):
-
diarrhea
-
loss of appetite
-
nausea, vomiting
-
stomach gas or heartburn
Where can I keep my medicine?
Keep out of the reach of children in a container that small children cannot open.
After amoxicillin/clavulanic acid suspension is mixed by your pharmacist, store it in a refrigerator between doses; do not freeze. Throw away any unused suspension after 10 days.
Amoxicillin; Clavulanic Acid tablets, chewable tablets and extended-release tablets
What are amoxicillin/clavulanic acid tablets, chewable tablets and extended-release tablets?
AMOXICILLIN/CLAVULANIC ACID (Augmentin®, Augmentin XR™) is a penicillin antibiotic. Amoxicillin kills or stops the growth of bacteria that cause infection. Clavulanic acid is added to help the amoxicillin to work better. This medicine treats many different kinds of infections, including those of the ears, kidney, respiratory tract, sinuses, and skin. Generic amoxicillin/clavulanic acid tablets and chewable tablets are available. Generic extended-release tablets are not yet available.
What should my health care professional know before I take amoxicillin/clavulanic acid?
They need to know if you have any of these conditions:
-
asthma
-
eczema
-
kidney disease
-
leukemia
-
liver disease
-
mononucleosis
-
intestinal problems (especially colitis)
-
other chronic illness
-
phenylketonuria
-
viral infection
-
an unusual or allergic reaction to amoxicillin, other penicillins, imipenem, cephalosporin antibiotics, foods, dyes, or preservatives
-
breast-feeding
How should I take this medicine?
Take amoxicillin/clavulanic regular tablets, chewable tablets, or extended-release tablets by mouth. Swallow the regular tablets and the extended-release tablets whole, do not crush or chew. If you are prescribed chewable tablets, crush or chew them before swallowing; do not swallow them whole. Take amoxicillin/clavulanic acid at the start of a meal. Follow the directions on the prescription label. Take your doses at regular intervals. Do not take your medicine more often than directed. Finish the full course prescribed by your prescriber or health care professional even if you think your condition is better. Do not stop taking except on your prescriber's advice.
What if I miss a dose?
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, take only that dose. Do not take double or extra doses. There should be an interval of at least 6 to 8 hours between doses.
What drug(s) may interact with amoxicillin/clavulanic acid?
-
allopurinol
-
birth control pills
-
methotrexate
-
neomycin
-
probenecid
Tell your prescriber or health care professional about all other medicines you are taking, including non-prescription medicines, nutritional supplements, or herbal products. Also tell your prescriber or health care professional if you are a frequent user of drinks with caffeine or alcohol, if you smoke, or if you use illegal drugs. These may affect the way your medicine works. Check with your health care professional before stopping or starting any of your medicines.
What should I watch for while taking amoxicillin/clavulanic acid?
Tell your prescriber or health care professional if your symptoms do not improve in 2 or 3 days.
If you are diabetic and taking large doses of amoxicillin, you may get a false-positive result for sugar in your urine. Check with your prescriber or health care professional before you change your diet or the dose of your diabetic medicine.
If you get severe or watery diarrhea, do not treat yourself. Call your prescriber or health care professional for advice.
If you get a skin rash, do not treat yourself. Call your prescriber or health care professional for advice.
What side effects may I notice from taking amoxicillin/clavulanic acid?
Side effects that you should report to your prescriber or health care professional as soon as possible:
-
difficulty breathing, wheezing
-
dark yellow or brown urine
-
dizziness
-
fever or chills, sore throat
-
headache
-
increased thirst
-
pain or difficulty passing urine
-
redness, blistering, peeling or loosening of the skin, including inside the mouth
-
seizures (convulsions)
-
skin rash, itching
-
stomach pain or cramps
-
swollen joints
-
severe or watery diarrhea
-
unusual bleeding or bruising
-
unusual weakness or tiredness
-
yellowing of the eyes or skin
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your prescriber or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):
-
diarrhea
-
loss of appetite
-
nausea, vomiting
-
stomach gas or heartburn
Where can I keep my medicine?
Keep out of the reach of children in a container that small children cannot open.
Store at room temperature between 15 and 30 degrees C (59 and 86 degrees F). Keep container tightly closed. Throw away any unused medicine after the expiration date.