{"id":635283,"date":"2026-02-17T09:30:23","date_gmt":"2026-02-17T14:30:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=635283"},"modified":"2026-02-10T16:09:07","modified_gmt":"2026-02-10T21:09:07","slug":"can-you-take-amoxicillin-while-pregnant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/can-you-take-amoxicillin-while-pregnant\/","title":{"rendered":"Can you take amoxicillin while pregnant?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0<\/span>Amoxicillin<\/span><\/a> is a penicillin antibiotic. It\u2019s used to treat bacterial infections of the ear, nose, sinuses, throat, and skin. It\u2019s also frequently used to treat urinary tract infections (UTIs). Amoxicillin is sold under brand names like Amoxil, Moxatag, and Trimox, and is often combined with <\/span>clavulanate<\/span> (<\/span>amoxicillin-clavulanate<\/span><\/a>) for more serious infections.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you are pregnant and need antibiotics for an infection, you might be wondering: Can you take amoxicillin while pregnant? It\u2019s understandable to want to be cautious with medications during pregnancy, but amoxicillin is widely considered safe when you\u2019re expecting, and providers frequently prescribe it to their pregnant patients.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t

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Can you take amoxicillin while pregnant?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Amoxicillin is considered a safe <\/span>antibiotic<\/span><\/a> to take during pregnancy. \u201cIt is safe as long as the patient is not allergic to the medication,\u201d says <\/span>Adi Davidov, MD<\/span><\/a>, associate chair of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwell’s Staten Island University Hospital.<\/span><\/p>\n

Amoxicillin is considered a <\/span>pregnancy category B medication<\/span><\/a>, under an older U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classification system. This meant that \u201cour current evidence shows that this medication is unlikely to cause harm to a developing baby,\u201d Dr. Davidov explains, adding that amoxicillin has been extensively used in pregnancy. \u201cWe have a large body of observation data that suggests that it is safe,\u201d he adds.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Research backs this up as well. For example,<\/span> a population-based study out of Denmark<\/span><\/a> found that pregnant women prescribed amoxicillin during pregnancy were not at increased risk for poor pregnancy outcomes, including preterm birth, congenital malformations, or miscarriage. Additionally,<\/span> a large study<\/span><\/a>, which included almost 7,000 women who took amoxicillin, found no associations between amoxicillin use and fetal congenital disorders.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Why medical professionals consider amoxicillin safe for pregnancy<\/span> \u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u201cAmoxicillin is considered safe during pregnancy and is one of the most commonly prescribed antibiotics for pregnant patients,\u201d says<\/span> Jennifer Lincoln<\/span><\/a>, MD, OB-GYN and author of <\/span>The Birth Book<\/span><\/i><\/a>. \u201cI prescribe it when it is indicated for infections such as UTIs, and I have no concerns about doing so.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

As Dr. Lincoln explains, not only do we have decades of safety data to show that amoxicillin poses no increased risk in terms of congenital conditions or adverse pregnancy outcomes, but there are real dangers to <\/span>not <\/span><\/i>treating infections in pregnancy with antibiotics. \u201cWe feel comfortable prescribing it because the alternative\u2014untreated infections\u2014is far riskier to pregnancy than the use of a safe antibiotic like amoxicillin,\u201d Dr. Lincoln notes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mohak Mhatre, MD<\/span><\/a>, maternal-fetal medicine provider and program director of the Maternal Fetal Medicine Fellowship at Tufts Medical Center, agrees. \u201cWhenever I am choosing to prescribe a medication during pregnancy, I try to determine whether any potential risks of medication exposure are outweighed by the risks of the medical problem being left untreated,\u201d she shares. \u201cAntibiotics are used to treat a number of different infections that can cause serious harm to the pregnant patient and can affect the pregnancy if left untreated.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Examples of<\/span> infections in pregnancy that can cause serious issues<\/span><\/a> if left untreated include staph and <\/span>syphilis<\/span><\/a>, which increase the likelihood of pregnancy-related problems as well as infections in a newborn baby. Both strep and syphilis can be successfully treated with penicillins like amoxicillin or amoxicillin\/clavulanate (<\/span>Augmentin<\/span><\/a>).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What are the risks of taking amoxicillin while pregnant?<\/span><\/h2>\n

There are no serious risks to taking amoxicillin while pregnant unless you are allergic to it. There are also no harmful side effects of amoxicillin when pregnant.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe risks for amoxicillin use would be if the patient has an allergy to either amoxicillin or penicillins, as it is in the penicillin family of antibiotics,\u201d says<\/span> Mitchell Kramer<\/span><\/a>, MD, OB-GYN, director of o<\/span>bstetrical and gynecologic strategy and clinical integration<\/span> at Huntington Hospital<\/span>. In this case, alternative antibiotics should be considered.<\/span><\/p>\n

Between<\/span> 8% and 13%<\/span><\/a> of pregnant individuals report penicillin allergies to their providers, though studies show that true penicillin allergies are rare, with close to<\/span> 95% of reported allergies disproven after a medical evaluation<\/span><\/a>. Still, true penicillin allergies can be life-threatening, so it\u2019s important that pregnant people not take penicillin when allergic to it.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While not a serious risk to pregnant women, according to Dr. Kramer, sometimes amoxicillin causes GI <\/span>side effects<\/span><\/a>, like diarrhea and nausea. \u201cAlso, as with any antibiotics, a patient can develop a vaginal yeast infection,\u201d he says. Although these are concerns to bring up with your health care provider, there are no reasons why amoxicillin would be off-limits during pregnancy.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>As for risks to fetuses, there aren\u2019t any known risks. \u201cAmoxicillin does cross the placenta, but extensive research hasn’t shown harm to the developing baby,\u201d Dr. Lincoln assures.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When to seek alternatives to amoxicillin<\/span><\/h2>\n

The main reason why you\u2019d need an amoxicillin alternative would be if you are allergic to amoxicillin. But that\u2019s not the only reason why you might need to try an alternative antibiotic. Alternatives to amoxicillin would need to be considered if \u201cthe particular infection being treated does not respond to amoxicillin routinely or is resistant to amoxicillin,\u201d Dr. Kramer says.<\/span><\/p>\n

There are several viable alternatives to amoxicillin that are safe during pregnancy. The type of antibiotic used depends in part on the type of infection you have.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to Dr. Kramer, some pregnancy-safe amoxicillin alternatives commonly used during pregnancy include:<\/span><\/p>\n