How amoxicillin works
Amoxicillin is an antibiotic from the class of aminopenicillins and has a bactericidal effect:
Amoxicillin is well absorbed when taken orally and is gastric acid stable.
When is amoxicillin used?
Amoxicillin is used for infections with bacteria that are sensitive to the antibiotic. Among others, it is used for:
- Urinary tract infections
- Upper respiratory tract infections (e.g., sinusitis, otitis media, bronchitis)
- @ biliary tract infections
- @ skin infections
How Amoxicillin is used
Amoxicillin is usually taken three times a day (i.e. in an eight-hour rhythm), but sometimes only twice a day. The intake rhythm should be strictly adhered to in order to optimally hinder the bacteria in their growth.
If possible, the antibiotic should be taken at the beginning of a meal, because it is then better tolerated. The exact dosage depends on the type and severity of the infection.
To prevent the bacteria from becoming resistant to the antibiotic, patients should always adhere exactly to the amount, dose and duration of use prescribed by their doctor. Above all, the therapy should not be prematurely discontinued without authorization, even if the symptoms have already improved.
What are the side effects of amoxicillin?
As a typical and frequently occurring undesirable side effect, the antibiotic can lead to digestive problems (such as abdominal pain, flatulence, diarrhea, loss of appetite), as it upsets the normal intestinal flora. As a result, fungi can also increasingly spread in the intestine, as they are no longer kept in check by the now disturbed intestinal flora.
Toxic side effects in the event of accidental overdosage are not to be expected with amoxicillin, as it has a wide therapeutic range, i.e. it only becomes dangerous at extremely high doses.
In some cases of illness, the antibiotic is injected into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) space (cavity system in the brain and around the spinal cord, which is filled with cerebrospinal fluid = CSF). This so-called intrathecal application can cause neurological problems.
Contraindications
Amixicillin must not be used in case of hypersensitivity to the active substance or known allergy to penicillin.
Interactions
Milk consumption is possible without problems when taking amoxicillin unlike other antibiotics (tetracyclines and fluoroquinolones).
Simultaneous intake of allopurinol (gout medication) may increase the risk of skin side effects.
Age restriction
In severe infections, amoxicillin can be administered regardless of age. The dosage is then selected individually depending on body weight and age.
Pregnancy and lactation
There is no evidence of an increased risk of malformation due to amoxicillin. It is therefore one of the antibiotics of choice in pregnancy.
How to obtain medication with amoxicillin
The antibiotic amoxicillin requires a prescription in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. You can get it on prescription in pharmacies.
Since when is amoxicillin known?
Fleming henceforth named this defense agent penicillin and the fungus Penicillium notatum. Amoxicillin is a penicillin derivative. It came onto the market in 1972, was approved in Switzerland in 1977 and in Germany in 1981.
