What is Amoxicillin? Uses, warnings & side effects

Your doctor will tell you how much medicine to use. Do not use more than directed.

Doses should be taken every 8 to 12 hours. Do not miss a dose.

Take all the medicine in your prescription to clear up your infection, even if you feel better after the first few doses.

How to take amoxicillin tablets or capsules:

• Take amoxicillin tablets or capsules at the start of a meal to avoid stomach problems

• Store the tablets or capsules at room temperature in a tightly closed container. 

How to take amoxicillin chewable tablets:

• You must chew the tablet before you swallow it. 

• You may crush the tablet and mix the medicine with a small amount of food to make it easier to swallow.

• Store the tablets at room temperature in a tightly closed container.

How to administer the oral suspension:

• The oral suspension comes as a powder. The pharmacist will mix it with water when filling the prescription.

• The oral suspension is usually prescribed for children.

• Shake the bottle well before measuring the dose.

• Measure each dose using the oral syringe or other measurement device provided with the medicine. The pharmacist can supply one if it’s missing.

• The dose can be put directly on the child’s tongue.

• Alternatively, the dose can be mixed with formula, milk, water, juice, ginger ale, or cold drinks. Once mixed, the mixture should be immediately administered.

• Store the suspension in a tightly sealed container out of the reach of children.

• The suspension can be stored in the refrigerator, but it’s not necessary. Do not freeze.

• Discard the bottle and any unused medicine after 14 days.

Do not miss a dose. If missed doses are a problem, ask a pharmacist for solutions such as a reminder app or watch alarm.

Take a missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then and take a regular dose. 

Do not take extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.

This medicine is not right for everyone. 

You should not use amoxicillin if you have had an allergic reaction to amoxicillin, any type of penicillin, or a cephalosporin antibiotic.

Tell any doctor or other healthcare provider who treats you that you are using this medicine.

Your doctor or healthcare provider may need to check your progress and the effects of this medicine at follow-up visits. Keep all appointments.

Use this medicine to treat only the infection your doctor has prescribed it for. Do not use this medicine for any infection or condition that has not been checked by a doctor. This medicine will not treat the flu or the common cold.

Before taking this antibiotic, tell the prescribing healthcare provider if you have:

• Kidney disease

• Drug allergies

• Mononucleosis

Tell the prescribing healthcare provider if you’re pregnant or planning to get pregnant.

This medicine can cause diarrhea. Call your doctor if the diarrhea becomes severe, does not stop, or is bloody. Do not take any medicine to stop diarrhea until you have talked to your doctor. Diarrhea can occur 2 months or more after you stop taking this medicine.

Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve or if they get worse.

Because of possible drug interactions, tell the prescribing healthcare provider about all prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, and supplements you are using before taking this drug.

Tell other healthcare providers you are using this medicine before they prescribe new medications.

This medicine may affect certain medical test results.

People who need live BCG treatment for bladder cancer should not be taking amoxicillin because it will kill the bacteria in the dose.

Combining amoxicillin with some drugs may cause problems. These drugs include:

• Other types of antibiotics

• Birth control pills

• Blood thinners

• The gout drugs probenecid and allopurinol