The active substance of Amoxicillin irreversibly destroys the cellular structure of harmful bacteria. As a result, harmful bacteria formation decreases, resulting in pathogens dying quickly. The antibacterial agent was initially discovered in 1972 by British researchers at the Beecham. Over the 50 years of its existence, Amoxicillin has become one of the most used antibiotics because it has shown good efficacy and relative safety in treatment. According to WHO, this medication can be prescribed for approved health issues.
Form and composition
The antibiotic is sold in tablets with a dosage of 125 mg to 1 g. The active component of the tablets is the substance of the same name – Amoxicillin. In addition, potato starch, talc, magnesium stearate, and/or other substances are used to form the actual tablet.
If the drug is released in the form of capsules, the composition is supplemented with the components of the enteric shell. For children, Amoxicillin is made in the form of granules for the preparation of a suspension.
What does Amoxicillin help with?
The drug is effective against a large number of pathogenic microorganisms. The list of its use is wide:
- ear, nose, and throat diseases (pharyngitis, otitis, sinusitis, etc.);
- exacerbation of chronic bronchitis, pneumonia;
- diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (chronic bacterial gastritis, cholecystitis, stomach ulcer, etc.);
- issues of the genitourinary system (urethritis, gonorrhea, cystitis);
- infections of the blood, internal organs (endocarditis, meningitis, etc.).
The active component of the drug is also a lethal weapon against bacteria that are localized in the joint cavity. That is why Amoxicillin is often prescribed to individuals with reactive, infectious, post-traumatic, and purulent arthritis.
What are the restrictions?
The primary contraindication to taking the drug is the individual intolerance to its active component. The restrictions also include:
- intolerance of any other antibacterial agent of the penicillin group;
- genetic issues associated with a malfunction in the metabolism of amino acids in the body;
- acute diseases of the liver, kidneys;
- lymphoblastic leukemia;
- mononucleosis of an infectious nature.
In addition, medical specialists try not to prescribe Amoxicillin to newborns and elderly patients. Allergic reactions (including bronchial asthma) and diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (especially colitis during earlier use of antibiotics) should also raise a caution flag.
Attention! Part of the active ingredient leaves the body through breast milk, which should be taken into account when prescribing Amoxicillin to a nursing mother.
Usage and dosage
Amoxicillin is intended for oral administration. Eating does not affect the absorption of this medication. Therefore, the tablet can be taken regardless of the meal.
Treatment can be started with intravenous administration at the doses recommended for this route of administration and continued with oral Amoxicillin tablets.
When determining the dose of this medicine for a specific illness, the following should be kept in mind:
- the type of the suspected pathogen and the characteristic profile of sensitivity/resistance to antibacterial agents for this pathogen;
- severity and localization of the infectious process;
- age, body weight, and state of kidney function of the patient.
The treatment duration should be determined based on the type of infection and individual reactions of the individual to the drug. In general, it should be as short as possible. Some infections, though, require prolonged therapy with Amoxicillin.
Attention! It is strongly not recommended to increase or reduce the dose on your own – you should first consult with your doctor.
Side effects of Amoxicillin Generic
One of the likely adverse effects is allergic reactions that include urticaria, erythema, angioedema, rhinitis, and conjunctivitis. In rare cases, it can result in fever, joint pain, and eosinophilia, while in isolated cases the allergic reaction can go as far as anaphylactic shock.
Superinfections can arise as a result of chemotherapeutic activity, especially in individuals with chronic conditions or low body resistance.
With prolonged use in high doses, the individual might experience dizziness, confusion, depression, and convulsions.
Other side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, anorexia, diarrhea, constipation, stomatitis, and rarely hepatitis, colitis, allergic reactions, interstitial nephritis, and disorders of hematopoiesis, are typically seen when combined with other specific medications. Accordingly, you should let the medical specialist who prescribes the medication know about your current medications.
Overdose
Symptoms of an overdose are quite typical and include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and disturbance of water and electrolyte balance (as a result of vomiting and diarrhea).
Gastric lavage, absorbents, saline laxatives, hemodialysis, and drugs to maintain water and electrolyte balance are all possible options to deal with an overdose.
Amoxicillin FAQ
Is it possible to use Amoxicillin and drink alcohol?
Antibiotics and alcohol are incompatible things. Combining these substances can bring on severe toxic damage, up to death. Consequences of drinking alcohol during treatment include:
- allergies;
- intoxication of the body;
- malfunctions of the liver;
- disturbances in the work of the heart, failure of the heart rhythm;
- migraine, tinnitus.
Alcohol is a weak analgesic that dulls the pain for a while. Accordingly, the individual may find that the painful symptoms went away and reduce the recommended dose. In this case, the infection is able to penetrate even deeper. As a result, the disease will develop into a chronic form.
Attention! You can take alcoholic beverages in small quantities only 7 days after the end of antibacterial treatment.
Can pregnant women take it?
It is not recommended to be treated with Amoxicillin in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, since the baby is developing vital systems and organs at this time. Starting from the second trimester, the risk of complications in the fetus during antibiotic therapy decreases. The doctor would select the dose of the drug for the expectant mother based on her individual condition.
Does the drug influence the ability to drive vehicles and work with mechanisms?
Individuals should be extremely cautious when driving a car or engaging in other potentially hazardous endeavors during the treatment period. This is due to the likelihood of adverse nervous system responses such as dizziness, agitation, and changes in behavior.
When is the medication not effective?
There are some restrictions when using Amoxicillin, which is due to its bactericidal action. Since it destroys bacteria, it is undesirable to use it for infections, the pathological effect of which is associated with endotoxins.
For example, when an individual is sick with cholera, the pathogens produce a toxin. It is the toxin that causes severe dehydration in this infection. When the pathogen is destroyed, more cholera toxin is formed and intoxication grows. Therefore, in such infections, it is desirable to use bacteriostatic antibiotics, which do not destroy bacteria, but prevent their reproduction. This allows to prevent intoxication.
Of course, no antibiotic works against viruses. Treating the common cold with antibiotics is also the most popular medical misconception in recent years, which leads to antibiotic resistance. If a bacterial infection later joins the viral disease, the antibiotic will no longer be able to fight the bacteria.
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