Amoxicillin for infections

About amoxicillin

Amoxicillin is a type of penicillin antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections including; sinus and bröstinfektioner, urine infections, öroninfektioner, and some dental infections.

You may also be prescribed amoxicillin to prevent an infection from occurring if you are at particular risk of getting an infection.

Amoxicillin is sometimes used to get rid of Helicobacter pylori. This is an infection often found in people with stomach ulcers. If you are prescribed amoxicillin for this reason, you will also be prescribed other medicines to take alongside it.

Amoxicillin works by killing the germs (bacteria) responsible for the infection.

The most common side effects of amoxicillin are:

• Känna sig illamående (illamående).

• Kräkningar.

• Diarré.

• Svampinfektion.

• Rash.

You will find a full list in the manufacturer's information leaflet supplied with your medicine.

The unwanted effects often improve as your body adjusts to the new medicine, but speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following continue or become troublesome.

If you experience any other symptoms which you think may be due to the antibiotic, call your doctor or pharmacist for further medical advice.

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine can only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start taking amoxicillin it is important that your doctor knows:

• If you suspect you may have glandular fever (the symptoms are high temperature (fever), sore throat, swollen glands).

• If you have an allergic condition, or if you have ever had an allergic reaction to a medicine. This is especially important if you have ever had a bad reaction to any penicillin antibiotic for example trouble breathing.

• If you have any problems with the way your kidneys work for example kidney disease.

• If you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Amoxicillin is not known to be harmful to babies; however, it is still important that you tell your doctor if you are expecting or breastfeeding a baby.

• Om du tar några andra läkemedel. Detta inkluderar alla läkemedel du tar som finns att köpa utan recept, samt växtbaserade och komplementära läkemedel.

• Before you start the amoxicillin treatment, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside the pack. It will give you more information about amoxicillin and will provide you with a full list of the side effects you may experience from taking amoxicillin.

• Take amoxicillin exactly as your doctor tells you to. It is usually taken three times daily, every eight hours. Your dose will be different to this if you are being treated with sachets of amoxicillin powder, or if you are taking amoxicillin to treat a stomach ulcer.

  • Your doctor or pharmacist will tell you how you should take the medication, and this information will be printed on the label of the pack to remind you.

  • It is important that you space out the amoxicillin doses evenly during the day.

• Om du har fått flytande medicin för ett barn, läs anvisningarna noggrant för att säkerställa att du mäter upp rätt mängd medicin.

• You can take amoxicillin either with or without food. The amoxicillin capsules should be swallowed whole with a drink of water.

• If you have been supplied amoxicillin oral powder sachets, stir the powder from the sachet into 10-20 ml of water. Drink the solution as soon as possible after mixing it.

• If you forget to take a dose of amoxicillin at the correct time, take one as soon as you remember. Try to take the correct number of doses each day, leaving at least four hours between doses. Do not take two doses of amoxicillin at the same time to make up for a missed dose.

• If you (or your child) have been prescribed the oral liquid amoxicillin medicine, you may find that it causes some staining of the teeth. Brushing the teeth regularly helps to prevent this. Any staining usually disappears soon after the course of antibiotics is finished.

• Even if you feel your infection has cleared up, keep taking the antibiotic until the course is finished (unless a doctor tells you to stop). This is to prevent the infection from coming back.

• Antibiotics are prescribed in short courses of treatment. Your doctor will tell you how long your course of treatment will last - this is not usually for longer than 14 days. If you still feel unwell after finishing the course, go back to see your doctor.

• Some people develop redness and itching in the mouth or vagina (thrush) after taking a course of antibiotics. If this happens to you, speak with your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

• If you are taking birth control like the contraceptive 'pill' at the same time as this antibiotic, the effectiveness of the 'pill' can be reduced if you have a bout of being sick (vomiting) or diarrhoea which lasts for more than 24 hours.

  • If this should happen, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice about what additional contraceptive precautions to use over the following few days.

  • There is no need to use additional precautions for any bouts of sickness or diarrhoea which last for less than 24 hours.

• Amoxicillin can stop the oral typhoid vaccine from working so if you are due to have any vaccinations, make sure the person treating you knows that you are taking this antibiotic.

• Förvara alla läkemedel utom räckhåll och synhåll för barn.

• Förvara på en sval, torr plats, borta från direkt värme och ljus.

• If you have been given liquid medicine, this will have been made up by the pharmacy and lasts for 14 days. Make sure you check the expiry date on the bottle and do not use it after this date.

Can you drink alcohol with amoxicillin?

You can usually drink alcohol in moderation while taking amoxicillin, as it does not interact directly with the medicine. However, alcohol can make side effects such as nausea, dizziness, and stomach upset more likely, and may slow your recovery. If you are feeling unwell, it is generally best to avoid alcohol until you are better.

Can you take paracetamol with amoxicillin?

Yes, you can take paracetamol with amoxicillin. The two medicines do not interact, and paracetamol can help relieve fever or pain while the antibiotic treats the infection. Always follow the dosing instructions on the label or from your doctor.

Can amoxicillin make you tired?

Amoxicillin itself does not usually cause tiredness, but some people do feel more fatigued while taking it. This is often due to the infection your body is fighting rather than the antibiotic.

Does amoxicillin treat UTIs?

Amoxicillin can be used to treat some urinary tract infections, but it is not always the first choice. Many UTIs are caused by bacteria that are resistant to amoxicillin, so doctors often prescribe other antibiotics instead. A urine test is usually needed to confirm the best treatment.