Amoxicillin is a penicillin antibiotic that treats various bacterial infections such as tonsillitis, pneumonia, bronchitis, and ear infections, nose, throat, urinary tract and so on. It works by inhibiting the growth of bacteria, but it is only effective for bacterial infections; it can’t treat viral infections.

Amoxicillin can be combined with other drugs to treat stomach/intestinal ulcers caused by H.pyylori and stop it from recurring. 

This medication should be taken every 8 to 12 hours or according to your doctor’s prescription; the dosage usually depends on the infection you are treating and how well you respond to treatment.

To get the best results, you should take amoxicillin at evenly spaced times and at the same time every day, and even if the symptoms disappear after a few days, it is essential to continue taking it until the prescribed amount is finished. Taking antibiotics when not needed and even when needed, stopping the treatment halfway can lead to antibiotic resistance. 

Amoxicillin is available in tablets, capsules, and powder, and they can be gotten over the counter in pharmacies and supermarkets. 

Precautions of Amoxicillin

Do not take amoxicillin if you are allergic to any penicillin antibiotic, including dicloxacillin, ampicillin, oxacillin, ticarcillin, or penicillin. Also, to ensure that this medication is safe for you, inform your doctor if you have any of the following conditions;

• Kidney disease.
• Diarrhea caused by antibiotics.
• Mononucleosis.
• Food or drug allergies. 

Amoxicillin may cause live bacteria vaccines not to be effective, so before taking any vaccinations or immunisations, let your doctor know you are using amoxicillin. The medication can also make birth control pills less effective.

In addition, it is unknown whether this medication is harmful to an unborn baby, so before taking it, tell your doctor if you are pregnant and during pregnancy; the drug should only be used when necessary. 

Side Effects of Amoxicillin

This medication’s most common side effects include nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting, vagina yeast infection, headache, stomach ache and rash. These mild side effects usually go away after a few days or weeks. However, consult your doctor or pharmacist if they become severe and persistent. 

The side effects of this medication are not always mild; some severe and life-threatening side effects can occur, such as liver damage, seizure, hives, swelling of the face, lips, throat and tongue, severe skin reaction and hypersensitivity.