{"id":635624,"date":"2026-03-13T15:59:49","date_gmt":"2026-03-13T19:59:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=635624"},"modified":"2026-03-13T15:59:49","modified_gmt":"2026-03-13T19:59:49","slug":"does-amoxicillin-make-you-tired","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/does-amoxicillin-make-you-tired\/","title":{"rendered":"Does amoxicillin make you tired?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Amoxicillin<\/span><\/a> 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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While antibiotics like amoxicillin can cause side effects, fatigue isn\u2019t typically one of them. Here\u2019s why you might <\/span>actually<\/span><\/i> be feeling tired while taking amoxicillin, and what you can do to combat it.<\/span><\/p>\n

Does amoxicillin make you tired?<\/span><\/h2>\n

No, amoxicillin itself won\u2019t make you tired. It\u2019s not listed under adverse reactions for any of the current prescribing information. That doesn\u2019t mean you won\u2019t feel tired while taking amoxicillin. It\u2019s just that you shouldn\u2019t blame the antibiotic.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen 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,\u201d says <\/span>Sarah Bonza<\/span><\/a>, MD, primary care and family medicine physician.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Does amoxicillin clavulanate make you tired?<\/span><\/h3>\n

Augmentin<\/span><\/a> (amoxicillin-clavulanate) contains amoxicillin, but it is a <\/span>different antibiotic<\/span><\/a> 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 <\/span>Dana Manning<\/span><\/a>, Pharm.D., RD, LDN, associate professor of pharmacy practice at Wilkes University in Pennsylvania.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Why might amoxicillin make you tired?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Amoxicillin itself won\u2019t make you tired, but you might still feel wiped out during the course of your treatment. Here\u2019s why.<\/span><\/p>\n

Your body is working extra hard<\/span><\/h3>\n

If you\u2019re taking amoxicillin, it\u2019s because your body is fighting an infection. This takes a lot of resources, which can make you feel tired.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBeing sick with an infection and healing from an infection can be hard work for the body, even with the assistance of an antibiotic,\u201d Dr. Manning says. \u201cIt\u2019s normal to feel more tired than usual while your body fights off [the bacteria] and recovers.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

You\u2019re having GI side effects<\/span><\/h3>\n

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

Having an upset stomach can contribute to feeling fatigued or generally unwell. \u201cGastrointestinal upset or discomfort like nausea, decreased appetite, and diarrhea\u2026can make you feel weak and uncomfortable [and may be compounded] by the fatigue already caused by the infection,\u201d Dr. Bonza says.<\/span><\/p>\n

Antibiotics affect your gut bacteria<\/span><\/h3>\n

Antibiotics work by destroying the bacteria causing your infection, but they can\u2019t 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).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Although it seems like what\u2019s going on in your gut shouldn\u2019t affect your energy levels, that\u2019s not true. <\/span>Studies suggest<\/span><\/a> 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 <\/span>directly affect your mental and physical energy levels<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

How to combat fatigue from antibiotics<\/span><\/h2>\n

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\u2019re still taking antibiotics. Dr. Bonza recommends the following:<\/span><\/p>\n