What is the most important information I should know about amoxicillin and clavulanate potassium?
You should not use this medicine if you have severe kidney disease, if you have had liver problems or jaundice while taking amoxicillin and clavulanate potassium, or if you are allergic to any penicillin or cephalosporin antibiotic, such as Amoxil, Ceftin, Cefzil, Moxatag, Omnicef, and others.
What is amoxicillin and clavulanate potassium?
Amoxicillin is a penicillin antibiotic that fights bacteria in the body.
Clavulanate potassium is a beta-lactamase inhibitor that helps prevent certain bacteria from becoming resistant to amoxicillin.
Amoxicillin and clavulanate potassium is a combination medicine used to treat many different infections caused by bacteria, such as sinusitis, pneumonia, ear infections, bronchitis, urinary tract infections, and infections of the skin.
Amoxicillin and clavulanate potassium may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking amoxicillin and clavulanate potassium?
You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to it, or if:
- you have severe kidney disease (or if you are on dialysis);
- you have had liver problems or jaundice while taking amoxicillin and clavulanate potassium; or
- you are allergic to any penicillin or cephalosporin antibiotic, such as Amoxil, Ceftin, Cefzil, Moxatag, Omnicef, and others.
To make sure amoxicillin and clavulanate potassium is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:
- liver disease (hepatitis or jaundice);
- kidney disease; or
- mononucleosis.
It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
Amoxicillin and clavulanate potassium can make birth control pills less effective. Ask your doctor about using a non-hormonal birth control (condom, diaphragm with spermicide) to prevent pregnancy.
Amoxicillin and clavulanate potassium can pass into breast milk and may affect the nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding.
Do not give this medicine to a child without medical advice.
The liquid or chewable tablet may contain phenylalanine. Talk to your doctor before using these forms of this medicine if you have phenylketonuria (PKU).
How should I take amoxicillin and clavulanate potassium?
Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.
Take the medicine every 12 hours, at the start of a meal to reduce stomach upset.
Do not crush or chew the extended-release tablet. Swallow the pill whole, or break the pill in half and take both halves one at a time. If you have trouble swallowing a whole or half pill, talk with your doctor about using another form of amoxicillin and clavulanate potassium.
The chewable tablet must be chewed before you swallow it.
Shake the liquid medicine well just before you measure a dose. Measure liquid medicine with the dosing syringe provided, or with a special dose-measuring spoon or medicine cup. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.
Use this medicine for the full prescribed length of time. Your symptoms may improve before the infection is completely cleared. Skipping doses may also increase your risk of further infection that is resistant to antibiotics. Amoxicillin and clavulanate potassium will not treat a viral infection such as the flu or a common cold.
This medicine can cause unusual results with certain lab tests for glucose (sugar) in the urine. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using amoxicillin and clavulanate potassium.
Store the tablets at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
Store the liquid in the refrigerator. Throw away any unused liquid after 10 days.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
Overdose can cause nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea, skin rash, drowsiness, hyperactivity, and decreased urination.
What should I avoid while taking amoxicillin and clavulanate potassium?
Avoid taking this medicine together with or just after eating a high-fat meal. This will make it harder for your body to absorb the medication.
Antibiotic medicines can cause diarrhea, which may be a sign of a new infection. If you have diarrhea that is watery or bloody, call your doctor. Do not use anti-diarrhea medicine unless your doctor tells you to.
What are the possible side effects of amoxicillin and clavulanate potassium?
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have:
- severe stomach pain, diarrhea that is watery or bloody;
- pale or yellowed skin, dark colored urine, fever, confusion or weakness;
- loss of appetite, upper stomach pain, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
- easy bruising or bleeding;
- little or no urination; or
-
severe skin reaction --fever, sore throat, swelling in your face or tongue, burning in your eyes, skin pain followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially in the face or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling.
Common side effects may include:
- nausea, diarrhea; or
- vaginal itching or discharge;
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What other drugs will affect amoxicillin and clavulanate potassium?
Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using, especially:
- allopurinol;
- probenecid; or
-
a blood thinner --warfarin, Coumadin, Jantoven.
This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with amoxicillin and clavulanate potassium, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide.
Where can I get more information?
Your pharmacist can provide more information about amoxicillin and clavulanate potassium.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Copyright 1996-2018 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 11.02. Revision date: 1/2/2018.
