Amoxil (Amoxicillin)

Description

One of the common penicillin antibiotics, Amoxil helps in treatment of various kinds of infections. It is very useful against bacterial infection such as bronchitis, urinary tract infections, tonsillitis and gonorrhea.

Use of this antibiotic should be made with care. If you are allergic to any other common penicillin drugs like amoxicillin or dicloxacillin you should get advice from your doctor before using Amoxil. It is important to know that use of Amoxil can impact effectiveness of birth control pills, thus making them less effective. There is another benefit of using antibiotic for viral infections, therefore avoid prescribing it to anyone who is facing same symptoms as yours.

Diarrhoea is a known common side effect from use of antibiotic medicines. Stop the intake of Amoxil immediately if you have diarrhoea and consult your doctor.

What to know before taking Amoxil

If you are allergic to penicillin antibiotics like ampicillin, penicillin, dicloxacillin or oxacillin, it is best to avoid using Amoxil. Inform your doctor beforehand if you have any of the following conditions:

 Kidney or liver disease
 Diarrhea episode due to other antibiotics
 Asthma
 Mononucleosis
 Any kind of drug allergy

There are no evidences that this antibiotic harms the fetus. Still it is necessary that you inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to get. However Amoxicillin can transfer through breast milk to your baby hence take precautions. Also Amoxil is known to make birth control pills less effective so it is advisable that you use other non hormonal birth controls like condoms or diaphragm.

How to take Amoxil?

Follow the exact dosage as prescribed by your doctor. Also strictly follow all the directions mentioned on the prescription label. Do not take this medicine longer than prescribed by your doctor. It is also advised to take Amoxil at same time each day.

During the use of Amoxil you may need to take frequent blood tests.

Your symptoms may improve before the complete treatment of the infection. Do not stop taking Amoxil as symptoms are known to improve before complete treatment. Take this medicine for the entire prescribed period. Skipping dosage can make symptoms more severe.

What to do if you miss a dose or overdose?

As soon as you remember you missed a dose take it. However if it is time for the next dose do not try to double the dosage in order to make up for missed one.

In case of overdose seek immediate medical attention. If you witness symptoms like severe skin rash, confusion or behavior changes it indicates serious overdose.

What to avoid while on Amoxil medication?

Antibiotics are known to cause diarrhoea. If you witness diarrhoea with watery or bloody stools stop intake of Amoxil and consult your doctor. Do not try to treat diarrhoea by taking any anti-diarrhoea medicine on your own.

Side Effects

You should seek emergency medical help if you witness the following signs:

 Face swelling
 Swelling of lips, throat or tongue
 Hives
 Difficulty breathing

Some common side effects include stomach pain, vomiting, vaginal itching and headache.

This is not complete list of side effects and other symptoms can also occur.