Amoxicillin is a medication commonly prescribed to treat bacterial infections. In this video Dr Hart-Pinto answers the most common questions on including:
Amoxicillin is a medication commonly prescribed to treat bacterial infections if you’re taking this medication you’ll need to know how to take your medication how long until you start feeling better and what are the common side effects today we’ll be answering the most frequent questions about your medication my name is dr hart pinto and at jhp medical we
Make weekly information videos if you like what you see here why not subscribe and share this channel with your friends and family what is amoxicillin amoxicillin is a penicillin-based antibiotic commonly prescribed to treat bacterial infections amoxicillin prescriptions are issued to treat chest infections dental abscesses sinusitis ear infections and urinary
Infections amoxicillin works by stopping the growth of bacteria ultimately killing them antibiotics work alongside your immune system to help clear your infection unfortunately like all antibiotics some bacteria demonstrate resistance to amoxicillin amoxicillin will not treat all bacterial infections and only take this medication when instructed to do so by a
Healthcare professional additionally antibiotics will not work on viral infections for example the common cold amoxicillin is prescribed for adults and children and it’s available as tablets liquids and injections but only in the hospital is there anyone who should not take amoxicillin it’s best to speak with your doctor before taking this medication if you have
Any of the following conditions you’ve had a previous alleged reaction to antibiotics particularly those which are penicillin based you have a kidney or liver condition which means you may need a lower dose is amoxicillin safe in pregnancy and breastfeeding amoxicillin is generally considered safe to use during pregnancy in breastfeeding a very small amount of
Amoxicillin is present in your breast milk but is considered to be safe and unlikely to cause any issues for your baby is it safe to take amoxicillin with my current medications amoxicillin can interact with several medications and your prescribing doctor will need to be aware if you’re taking any of the following allopurinol in combination this may increase your
Risk of developing skin rashes methotrexate amoxicillin may interact with your methotrexate in some circumstances your doctor on the advice of a rheumatologist may ask you to stop your methotrexate during your current infection warfarin amoxicillin can affect the anticoagulant effect of warfarin meaning you may need closer monitoring and dose adjustments whilst
Taking this antibiotic this list is not exhaustive so for more information see the drug information leaflet that comes with your medications what is the correct dose of amoxicillin amoxicillin comes in a wide variety of strengths and preparations a typical adult dose is somewhere between 250 and 500 milligrams which is normally taken three times a day smaller doses
Are of course available for children how long will i need to take my medication this will vary depending on the infection your doctor wishes to treat however typical course lengths are between five and seven days how long does it take for amoxicillin to work amoxicillin gets to work treating your infection soon after you start taking your medication however it may
Take two to three days before you notice an improvement in your symptoms it’s important that if you are feeling better you complete the full course of antibiotics as prescribed by your doctor should you not experience any improvement in your symptoms within three days it’s a good idea to reconsult with your doctor if at any time your symptoms worsen please seek
Urgent medical reassessment how should i take amoxicillin it’s advisable to take your amoxicillin at regular intervals three times a day ideally this medication should be taken every eight hours taking it at evenly spaced intervals will ensure maximum benefit as it will help maintain a good amount of antibiotic in your body at all times amoxicillin be taken with or
Without food but ensure you take this medication with a large glass of water are there any foods i should avoid there’s no restriction on foods that you can eat whilst taking amoxicillin however some individuals may feel nauseous whilst taking this medication if this is the case it’s best to avoid spicy foods taking your medication after meals can also help with
These side effects can i drink alcohol with this medication it’s safe to take alcohol with amoxicillin however alcohol in excessive amounts is not good for your health so please drink responsibly i’ve missed my dose what should i do if you forget to take your amoxicillin don’t worry take it as soon as you remember however if it’s almost time for your next dose
Skip the mistos remember to take your next dose at the regular time do not double dose to make up for a missed one i have accidentally taken too much medication taking one extra dose of amoxicillin is unlikely to cause you any serious harm however in larger amounts you may experience symptoms of stomach pain vomiting or persisting diarrhea loss of consciousness
Or seizures have trouble going for a weight or notice blood in your urine if you’ve overdosed on amoxicillin it’s best to consult with a doctor if you have any serious symptoms please contact your local emergency services are there any side effects many people taking amoxicillin will not experience any side effects however as with all medications side effects
Can occur most commonly patients will complain of nausea vomiting or even diarrhea if you are taking amoxicillin for a prolonged or repeated course some individuals may experience yeast infections most commonly these will affect the mouth presenting as white patches or in the vagina of women who may experience a change in their normal vaginal discharge if you’re
Experiencing signs of yeast infections reconsult with your doctor as you may require an antifungal treatment less commonly people can experience more concerning side effects if you experience any of these please consult with your doctor urgently a change in the color of your skin yellowing of your eyes lightening of your poo or darkening of your wii may be a sign
That this medication is having a detrimental effect on your liver you may also experience persisting nausea and vomiting diarrhea with the presence of blood or mucus abdominal pain that’s in your tummy and development of bruising allergic reactions are concerning as they may be life-threatening fortunately life-threatening allergic reactions are rare and many
With allergies to amoxicillin only experience mild symptoms such as a skin rash occasionally this skin rash may be an early sign of a more severe allergic reaction if you notice this take some antihistamines and seek urgent medical advice those with serious allergic reactions should call emergency services for assistance symptoms of a severe allergic reaction
Include swelling of the face lips mouth and throat difficulty breathing wheeze or chest tightness or an allergic skin rash of course this list is not exhaustive for a full list of side effects refer to the drug information leaflet that comes with your medications i hope this video has supplied the answers you were looking for of course this video does not provide
Individual medical advice and is intended for information purposes only do not consider this as a substitute for professional medical advice diagnosis or treatment please do not ignore professional medical advice in seeking treatment because of something you’ve heard here if you believe you may have a medical emergency immediately call your doctor or ambulance
Service thank you for watching see you next time
Transcribed from video
How to take Amoxicillin (AMOXIL/TRIMOX) | What All Patients Need to Know | Dose, Side Effects & More By JHP Medical UK
