AMOXICILLIN

Indications & Dose:

Infections of the ear, nose, throat, GI tract, skin and soft tissues, lower respiratory tract caused by susceptible organisms; gonococcal infections; prevention of bacterial endocarditis; Chlamydia trachomatis in pregnancy*

DOSE

Adults

• Systemic infections: PO 250-500 mg q8h or PO 875 mg q 12h

Gonorrhoea: Single dose of 3g. Enteric fever: 2-4g daily in divided doses for 14- 21 days. Severe or recurrent purulent respiratory infection, : 3g every 12 hours;

Endocarditis Short-course oral therapy.

Dental abscess, 3g repeated after 8 hours. Urinary tract infections, 3g repeated after 10-12 hours.

Children

20 to 40mg/kg body-wt/day in 3 div. doses Enteric fever: 50-100mg/kg/day in 3 div. doses for 14-21 days. Severe or recurrent purulent respiratory infection, 2-5 years 750mg every 12 hours; 5-10 years 1.5g every 12 hours. Otitis media, 3-10 years, 750mg twice daily for 2 days.

Adults

By intramuscular injection, 500mg every 8 hours;

Children

50-100mg/kg daily in divided doses.

Adults

By intravenous injection or infusion 500mg every 8 hours increased to 1g every 6 hours;

Children

50-100mg/kg daily in divided doses

Contraindications:

Side Effects:

Cautions:

Precautions:

Hypersensitivity to cephalosporins, renal insufficiency, prolonged or repeated therapy, mononucleosis 

Interaction:

Drugs

Atenolol: Reduced serum concentration of atenolo

Chloramphenicol: Inhibited antibacterial activity of amoxicillin; administer amoxicillin 3 hours before chloramphenicol

Macrolide antibiotics: Inhibited antibacterial activity of amoxicillin; administer amoxicillin 3 hours before macrolides

Methotrexate: Increased serum methotrexate concentrations

Oral contraceptives: Occasional impairment of oral contraceptive efficacy; consider use of supplementary contraception during cycles in which amoxicillin is used

Tetracyclines: Inhibited antibacterial activity of amoxicillin; administer amoxicillin 3 hours before tetracycline

Warnings:

Adverse Effects:

Lactations:

Excreted into breast milk in low concentrations; no adverse effects have been observed, but potential exists for modification of bowel flora and allergy/sensitization in nursing infant

Special Precautions:

Counselling:

Side Effects Or Adverse Reactions:

CNS: Fever, headache

GI: Abdominal pain, colitis,, diarrhea, glossitis, increased AST, ALT, nausea, pseudomembranous colitis, vomiting

HEME: Bone marrow depression, eosinophilia, increased bleeding time

RESP: Anaphylaxis, respiratory distress

MISC.: Hypersensitivity reactions (rashes, urticaria, erythema multiform, exfoliative dermatitis, anaphylaxis) 

Patient And Carer Advice: