Amoxicillin with clavulanate

Trade Name: Augmentin

Type of Drug: Amoxicillin with clavulanate is an antibiotic that belongs to the class of drugs called penicillins. Amoxicillin with clavulanate is used to treat gram-negative and some gram-positive bacteria. It is used to treat infections in the lungs, throat, sinuses, kidneys, bladder, and skin.

How Drug Works: Amoxicillin stops bacteria from making their protein cell wall, so the bacteria die. Penicillins can do this because they contain a special beta-lactam ring. Some bacteria contain an enzyme that breaks down the beta-lactam ring so that it does not work anymore, and the antibiotic no longer kills the bacteria. Clavulanate stops this enzyme, so that the bacteria can still be killed by the amoxicillin.

How Drug Is Given: Amoxicillin is combined with clavulanate in a pill taken twice a day by mouth. Take it on an empty stomach, 1 hour before or 2 hours after eating. The dose and frequency depend on the infection being treated and kidney function. Keep the medicine in a tightly closed container and out of the reach of children and pets.

How Should I Take This Drug? Take this drug exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand the instructions, ask your doctor or nurse to explain them to you.

Read the following information. If you do not understand it or if any of it causes you special concern, check with your doctor.

Before taking this drug, tell your doctor if you are taking any other prescription or over-the-counter drugs, including vitamins and herbals.

Should I avoid any other medicines, foods, alcohol, and/or activities? Your prescription and nonprescription medicines may interact with other drugs, causing harm. Certain foods or alcohol can also interact with drug products. Never begin taking a new medicine—prescription or nonprescription—without asking your doctor or nurse if it will interact with alcohol, food, or other medicines. Some drug products can cause drowsiness and affect activities such as driving.

Precautions: Tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, especially to antibiotics.

All antibiotics can cause allergic reactions. Stop taking the drug and tell your doctor or nurse right away if you develop a rash, hives, fever and chills, red blotches on your skin, or difficulty breathing.

Amoxicillin with clavulanate can interact with other drugs. These include aminoglycosides, rifampin, probenecid, and allopurinol. Be sure to tell your doctor or nurse if you are taking these drugs.

Use of antibiotics can change the normal organisms in your body. Women are at risk for fungal infections. Tell your nurse or doctor if you have vaginal itching or discharge.

Tell all the doctors, dentists, and pharmacists you visit that you are taking this drug.

Most of the following side effects probably will not occur. Your doctor or nurse will want to discuss specific care instructions with you. They can help you understand these side effects and help you deal with them.

Side Effects:

More Common Side Effects Nausea Diarrhea

Less Common Side Effects Vomiting Vaginal itching Vaginal candidiasis (fungal infection)

Rare Side Effects Diarrhea related to infection of the intestinal lining (pseudomembranous colitis) Decreased white blood cell count with increased risk of infection Decreased clotting of the blood with risk of bleeding Allergic reaction with rash, hives, fever, chills, swelling of face or lips, and difficulty breathing

Side Effects / Symptoms of the Drug Stop the drug and tell your doctor or nurse if you develop a rash, fever, chills or swelling of your face or throat.

Other side effects not listed above can also occur in some patients. Tell your doctor or nurse if you develop any problems.

FDA Approval: Yes