Amoxil is known to be a powerful tool in combatting infectious diseases. The active ingredient of the drug is amoxicillin, a semi-synthetic aminopenicillin, which has a bactericidal effect with an optimal spectrum of antimicrobial activity. It inhibits the reproduction of bacteria, but it is not effective against viral infections and cannot be used to cure such diseases as common cold or flu. Amoxil is quite actively distributed in the skin, adipose, muscle tissue, abdominal cavity, hepatobiliary system and is completely eliminated from the body through the kidneys with urine in the first six hours after the administration.

Indications for Use

The medication is prescribed for the treatment of the following infections:

• Upper respiratory tract diseases (tonsillitis, sinusitis);
• Diseases of the lower respiratory tract (acute bronchitis, pneumonia);
• Infections of the genitourinary tract (cystitis, urethritis, kidney and bladder infection, acute gonorrhea);
• Infections of the digestive system;
• Infections of the skin, soft tissues, bones, and joints (osteomyelitis);
• In a combination with metronidazole or clarithromycin, Amoxil can be administered to treat diseases caused by Helicobacter pylori.

Important Information before Using Amoxil

If you have a history of allergic reactions to antibiotics of the penicillin group, avoid using this drug. If you are asthmatic, have chronic liver and kidney disease, poor blood clotting or suffer from mononucleosis, be sure to let your doctor know about it.

Since Amoxil can impair the effectiveness of birth control pills, discuss other means of contraception with your doctor while taking the drug. In case you are planning to have a baby or are already pregnant, it would be wiser to discuss possible consequences of using the drug with your doctor. Although this medication has not been reported as harmful for an unborn baby, the need to use it during pregnancy is to be clearly defined. Also discuss the risks of breastfeeding, keeping in mind the fact that the medicine easily passes into breast milk.

Although modern antibiotics are a gentle and the least intrusive means of treating infections, the body is subjected to a certain stress, and your liver and kidneys are the first to bear the load. So, while using Amoxil, apart from having frequent blood tests, you should check the function of your kidneys and liver. Always inform the doctors you attend that you are currently taking Amoxil, keeping in mind that this medicine can distort the results of medical tests. For the same reason, before having surgery, tell the surgeon or dentist know about all the medicines you are currently using.

Using Amoxil Effectively and Safely

The primary step in Amoxil therapy is to study and follow all the directions on the prescription label and be attentive to the recommendations of your doctor. The usual procedure is to take the medicine every 8 hours or every 12 hours, depending on the dose of the drug. It should be taken at evenly spaced intervals, as any other antibiotic. Amoxil works better if the amount of the medication in the body is maintained at a constant level.

Generally, Amoxil may be taken with and without meals, but if you feel discomfort or heaviness after taking the drug on an empty stomach, try to take it while eating. If you are prescribed Amoxil in a tablet form, do not grind or chew the tablet. Swallow it whole and drink a plenty of fluids while using the medicine. Never reduce or increase your dose at your wish. The doctor has prescribed it regarding your health condition and response to the treatment. Do not stop taking the medicine until the end of the prescribed course, even if it may seem to you that your condition has improved, and you are healthy already. Subjectively, painful symptoms can disappear, but this does not mean the infection is irretrievably gone.

Side Effects

As with any other penicillin medicine, Amoxil may cause certain side effects. Therefore, during the therapy with this medicine, it would be advisable to keep an eye on new or unusual symptoms. Call your doctor or try to get prompt medical help in case you have the following signs or symptoms:

• Skin rashes, itching, swelling of the face, mouth, lips, tongue or nose;
• Heavy breathing;
• Unusual vaginal discharge, oral thrush;
• Dark urine, persistent nausea or vomiting, feeling tired;
• Diarrhea, which is a common issue caused by antibiotics, usually ends when the treatment is over. If you happen to have pain or cramps in your abdomen, loose or watery stools, do not take anti-diarrhea drugs or pain medications. Call your doctor without delay instead;
• If you do not feel any better while taking the medicine but, on the contrary, you develop new symptoms and your health deteriorates, seek medical advice immediately.

Related Details for Successful Therapy

If you have missed to take the medicine on time, swallow the pill as soon as you remember. But if it is almost the time to take the next pill, do not take the double dose to avoid overdosing. Nevertheless, if that happens and such symptoms as behavior changes, confusion, severe skin rash, impaired urination, blackout or convulsions develop, try to get emergency medical care.

If you suffer from severe digestive disorders, resulting in vomiting or diarrhea, which can lead to insufficient absorption of the medicine, do not take Amoxil in oral form.

During Amoxil therapy, you should remember that antibiotics and alcohol are non-friendly products. If you take alcohol along with Amoxil, it displaces the medicine from the tissues, while the therapeutic effect of the drug is impaired and can be reduced to zero. In addition, the combination of alcohol and antibiotics may cause severe side effects and their joint effect on the body can significantly worsen your health.