Definition
Augmentan® is the trade name of an antibiotic that belongs to the penicillin family.
General information
The drug Augmentan® is an antibiotic that consists of two active ingredients: the aminopenicillin amoxicillin and the ? lactamase inhibitor clavulanic acid. This combination of active ingredients is used, among other things, to treat bacterial infections in which the bacteria normally react resistant.
The ?-lactamase in the bacterium is responsible for this. This is also the case with amoxicillin. This means that Amoxicillin cannot unfold its effect and thus cannot defeat the bacteria. It was therefore considered to combine Amoxicillin with an active substance that prevents the resistant properties in the bacteria, in this case clavulanic acid. This combination of the drug allows the antibiotic to unfold its effect.
When is Augmentan® used?
Augmentan® is a broad-spectrum antibiotic, which means that it has a broad, diverse range of applications and is less specific to a disease. Because of the antibiotic’s special composition, it is used primarily for bacterial infections that are resistant to the common penicillin and do not react to penicillin. Its spectrum of action is mainly focused on Gram-negative bacteria, some of which should be mentioned with their clinical pictures. Augmentan® can be used for:
- Pneumonia
- Bronchitis
- Meningitis
- Middle ear and sinusitis
- Soft Tissue Infections
- Urinary tract infections
- Gastrointestinal complaints
- Bile duct infections
- For endocarditis prevention.
When should it not be used?
An intolerance to ?-lactam antibiotics, including penicillins, is a clear argument against using Augmentan®, as in the worst case it can lead to severe allergic reactions, including anaphylactic shock. Patients with impaired liver function should avoid the drug. If kidney function is impaired, the dose must be reduced.
If the infection is accompanied by very severe gastrointestinal symptoms, with diarrhoea and vomiting, care should be taken not to take it orally, as it cannot have its effect. In this case, they must be adjusted to another, for example intravenous form. Augmentan® should only be taken during pregnancy and while breast-feeding after intensive consultation with a doctor. If you are taking other medications at the same time, this should also be discussed with your doctor. Depending on the medication, it can lead to interactions that may cause side effects.
What side effects can occur?
The side effects of Augmentan® are similar to those of other penicillins. By far the most common side effects of penicillins include allergic reaction, as described above. It occurs in about 3% of patients.
The allergic reaction can take forms ranging from mild redness to anaphylactic shock. Extremely high doses of penicillin can cause neurotoxic side effects, which include cramps or even motor disorders. In addition to the side effects that apply to all penicillins in general, there are also specific adverse effects that are particularly evident in the aminopenicillins, to which the amoxicillin in Augmentan® belongs.
Particularly when Augmentan® is taken, skin reactions in the form of exanthema, which correspond to an itchy skin rash, are more frequently noticeable. It should be emphasized here that the use of Augmentan® increases the incidence of exanthema, especially in the case of viral infections. This phenomenon has been particularly noticeable in patients with infectious mononucleosis (Pfeiffer glandular fever).
It then develops about 10 days after the start of application. It is not an allergic reaction, so that a general penicillin therapy need not necessarily be ruled out in the future. Because penicillin is an antibiotic and has an influence on the bacteria, it can also interfere with the natural bacterial colonisation and thus cause mild gastrointestinal complaints. However, gastrointestinal side effects are rather rare with Augmentan® compared to other penicillins.