Does amoxicillin make you tired?

In this article:

• Does amoxicillin make you tired?
• Does amoxicillin clavulanate make you tired?
• Why might amoxicillin make you tired?
• How to combat fatigue from antibiotics
• Other common amoxicillin side effects
• Amoxicillin alternatives

In this article

• Does amoxicillin make you tired?
• Does amoxicillin clavulanate make you tired?
• Why might amoxicillin make you tired?
• How to combat fatigue from antibiotics
• Other common amoxicillin side effects
• Amoxicillin alternatives

Amoxicillin is one of the most widely prescribed antibiotics in the U.S. In fact, the last time you had sinusitis, an ear infection, strep throat, or bronchitis, you were probably given a course of amoxicillin to help you clear the infection and feel better faster. However, you might have also felt pretty tired while taking it and wondered if the antibiotic was the cause. 

While antibiotics like amoxicillin can cause side effects, fatigue isn’t typically one of them. Here’s why you might actually be feeling tired while taking amoxicillin, and what you can do to combat it.

Does amoxicillin make you tired?

No, amoxicillin itself won’t make you tired. It’s not listed under adverse reactions for any of the current prescribing information. That doesn’t mean you won’t feel tired while taking amoxicillin. It’s just that you shouldn’t blame the antibiotic.

“When a person feels tired from taking amoxicillin, it’s mostly due to the body fighting off an infection rather than being caused by the medication itself,” says Sarah Bonza, MD, primary care and family medicine physician.

Does amoxicillin clavulanate make you tired?

Augmentin (amoxicillin-clavulanate) contains amoxicillin, but it is a different antibiotic because it also contains another drug, clavulanate, to work in combination with the amoxicillin to better fight bacteria. It works especially well for infections that could be resistant to amoxicillin alone, per Dana Manning, Pharm.D., RD, LDN, associate professor of pharmacy practice at Wilkes University in Pennsylvania. 

This combination medication increases the chance of antibiotic side effects like diarrhea, nausea, and yeast infection, per Dr. Manning. But Augmentin is no more likely to cause tiredness than amoxicillin alone.  

Why might amoxicillin make you tired?

Amoxicillin itself won’t make you tired, but you might still feel wiped out during the course of your treatment. Here’s why.

Your body is working extra hard

If you’re taking amoxicillin, it’s because your body is fighting an infection. This takes a lot of resources, which can make you feel tired.

“Being sick with an infection and healing from an infection can be hard work for the body, even with the assistance of an antibiotic,” Dr. Manning says. “It’s normal to feel more tired than usual while your body fights off [the bacteria] and recovers.”

You’re having GI side effects

The three most common side effects of taking amoxicillin involve your gastrointestinal system: nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. In one 2017 study, about 1 in every 24 people taking amoxicillin experienced diarrhea, nausea, or a rash by the end of the first week of treatment.

Having an upset stomach can contribute to feeling fatigued or generally unwell. “Gastrointestinal upset or discomfort like nausea, decreased appetite, and diarrhea…can make you feel weak and uncomfortable [and may be compounded] by the fatigue already caused by the infection,” Dr. Bonza says.

Antibiotics affect your gut bacteria

Antibiotics work by destroying the bacteria causing your infection, but they can’t discriminate between harmful bacteria and beneficial bacteria. That means they reduce the amount of good bacteria in your intestines (which is also why GI side effects are so common while taking them). 

Although it seems like what’s going on in your gut shouldn’t affect your energy levels, that’s not true. Studies suggest that disruptions to your gut microbiome (the balance of good and bad bacteria in your gut) can contribute to higher levels of fatigue. Other studies have found that how well your gut is functioning, such as how efficiently it digests food and how well it absorbs nutrients from your diet, can directly affect your mental and physical energy levels.

How to combat fatigue from antibiotics

Once your body is done fighting the infection, you should naturally begin to have less fatigue. But there are some ways to feel less tired while you’re still taking antibiotics. Dr. Bonza recommends the following:

• Hydrate: Intentional hydration is important while taking amoxicillin. Make sure your urine is pale yellow (this means you’re adequately hydrated) and, if you have diarrhea, replace some electrolytes with a sports drink or powdered mix.
• Eat balanced meals: You may not have much of an appetite, but you’ll have more energy if you eat nutritious meals while taking amoxicillin. Make sure your meals are high in protein, which takes longer to digest and keeps your energy levels up for longer.
• Rest: It may seem obvious, but resting when you’re sick will help fight fatigue. Your immune system does a lot of work while you sleep, so resting more often allows your body to divert its energy to your immune system and speed up healing.
• Take probiotics: Probiotics can help support your gut health while you’re taking amoxicillin. She suggests taking a probiotic at least three hours before or after taking your antibiotic dose, or consuming a fermented food like yogurt, kefir, or kimchi.

It’s also important to take the full course of your antibiotic, and not stop before the end of treatment. If you stop taking it early, your infection could come back, bacteria in your body can become resistant to the antibiotic, and you may feel tired again. 

Other common amoxicillin side effects 

Even though fatigue isn’t a side effect of amoxicillin, there are other side effects to be aware of. The most common ones include:

• Rash
• Diarrhea
• Headache
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Vaginal yeast infection 

Amoxicillin alternatives

In general, antibiotics don’t cause fatigue, so if your provider prescribes an alternative to amoxicillin, you shouldn’t expect it to make you feel tired. There are a few exceptions, though; azithromycin, for example, can cause drowsiness (but it’s not a common symptom as it affects less than 1% of azithromycin-users).

Possible alternatives to amoxicillin vary based on the infection you’re treating and any allergies or intolerances to medication, so your provider will help you decide which one is right for you. Options could include Augmentin, cephalexin, doxycycline, Bactrim, and cefdinir.

Bottom line

Amoxicillin itself shouldn’t make you feel tired, but you might experience fatigue from the infection your body is fighting. Taking care of yourself during your treatment will help combat tiredness, so stay hydrated, eat well, and get plenty of rest. If you’re feeling excessively tired during or after treatment with amoxicillin, contact your healthcare provider to evaluate for other causes.