Dr. Ogbru received his Doctorate in Pharmacy from the University of the Pacific School of Pharmacy in 1995. He completed a Pharmacy Practice Residency at the University of Arizona/University Medical Center in 1996. He was a Professor of Pharmacy Practice and a Regional Clerkship Coordinator for the University of the Pacific School of Pharmacy from 1996-99.
Jay W. Marks, MD, is a board-certified internist and gastroenterologist. He graduated from Yale University School of Medicine and trained in internal medicine and gastroenterology at UCLA/Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
DRUG CLASS AND MECHANISM: Amoxicillin belongs to a class of
antibiotics called penicillins. Other members of this class include ampicillin
(Unasyn), piperacillin (Pipracil), ticarcillin (Ticar) and several others. These
antibiotics all have a similar mechanism of action. They do not kill bacteria,
but they stop bacteria from multiplying by preventing bacteria from forming the
walls that surround them. The walls are necessary to protect bacteria from their
environment and to keep the contents of the bacterial cell together. Bacteria
cannot survive without a cell wall. Amoxicillin is effective against many
different bacteria including H. influenzae, N. gonorrhoea, E. coli, Pneumococci,
Streptococci, and certain strains of Staphylococci.
PRESCRIPTION: Yes.
GENERIC AVAILABLE: Yes.
PREPARATIONS: Capsules: 250 and 500 mg. Tablets: 500 and 875 mg.
Chewable tablets: 125, 200, 250, and 400 mg. Powder for suspension: 50 mg/ml ;
125, 200, 250, and 400 mg/5 ml. Tablets for suspension: 200 and 400 mg
STORAGE: Store Amoxil capsules as well as 125 and 250 mg dry powder at
or below 20°C (68°F); tablets, chewable tablets, as well as 200 and 400 mg dry
powder should be stored at or below 25°C(77°F). Store Trimox capsules and
unreconstituted powder at or below 20°C (68°F) and chewable tablets at room
temperature 15°-30°C (59°-86°F). Powder that has been mixed with water should be
discarded after 14 days. Refrigeration is preferred but not required for powder
mixed with water.
PRESCRIBED FOR: Amoxicillin is used to treat infections due to
organisms that are susceptible to the effects of amoxicillin. Common infections
that amoxicillin is used for include infections of the
middle ear,
tonsils,
throat, larynx (laryngitis), bronchi (bronchitis), lungs (pneumonia),
urinary
tract, and skin. It also is used to treat
gonorrhea.
DOSING: For most infections in adults the dosing regimens for
amoxicillin are 250 mg every 8 hours, 500 mg every 8 hours, 500 mg every 12
hours or 875 mg every 12 hours, depending on the type and severity of infection.
For the treatment of adults with gonorrhea, the dose is 3 g given as one dose.
For most infections, children older than 3 months but less than 40 kg are
treated with 25 mg/kg/day in divided doses every 12 hours, 20 mg/kg/day in
divided doses every 8 hours, 40 mg/kg/day in divided doses every 8 hours or 45
mg/kg/day in divided doses every 12 hours depending on type and severity of the
infection.
Amoxicillin can be taken with or without food.
DRUG INTERACTIONS: Amoxicillin is rarely associated with important
drug interactions.
PREGNANCY: Penicillins are generally considered safe for use by
pregnant women who are not allergic to penicillin.
NURSING MOTHERS: Small amounts of amoxicillin may be excreted in
breast milk and may cause diarrhea or allergic responses in nursing infants.
Amoxicillin is generally considered safe to use while
breastfeeding. Amoxicillin
is used to treat infections in the newborn.
SIDE EFFECTS: Side effects due to amoxicillin include diarrhea,
dizziness, heartburn, insomnia,
nausea,
itching,
vomiting, confusion,
abdominal
pain, easy bruising, bleeding, rash, and allergic reactions. Individuals who are
allergic to antibiotics in the class of cephalosporins may also be sensitive to
amoxicillin.
Additional resources from WebMD Boots UK on
Amoxicillin
Urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection of the kidney, ureter, bladder, and/or urethra. Not
everyone with a UTI has symptoms. Common symptoms include a frequent urge to
urinate and a painful, burning when urinating.
Pneumonia is inflammation of one or both lungs with consolidation. Pneumonia is frequently but not always due to infection. The infection may be bacterial, viral, fungal or parasitic. Symptoms may include fever, chills, cough with sputum production, chest pain, and shortness of breath.
Infectious mononucleosis is a virus infection in which there is an increase of white blood cells
that are mononuclear (with a single nucleus) "Mono" and "kissing
disease" are popular terms for this very common illness caused by the
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV).
Most sore throats are caused by viruses or mechanical causes (such as mouth breathing) and can be treated successfully at home. However, a person should be seen by a health care professional if they have a sore throat that has a rapid onset, and is associated with a fever or tenderness of the front of the neck; a sore throat that causes the person to have difficulty swallowing (not just pain swallowing) or breathing; or if a sore throat lasts for more than a week.
Staphylococcus or Staph is a group of bacteria that can cause a multitude of diseases. Staph infections can cause illness directly by infection or indirectly by the toxins they produce. Symptoms and signs of a Staph infection include redness, swelling, pain, and drainage of pus. Minor skin infections are treated with an antibiotic ointment, while more serious infections are treated with intravenous antibiotics.
Strep throat is a sore throat caused by a bacterium called streptococcus (strep) that can be treated through antibiotics. Common symptoms of strep throat include pinkeye, runny nose, skin rash, cough, hoarseness, diarrhea and more. Complications of untreated strep throat include middle ear infections, meningitis, pneumonia, rheumatic fever, and more.
Sinus infection (sinusitis) signs and symptoms include headache, fever, and facial tenderness, pressure, or pain. Treatments of sinus infections are generally with antibiotics and at times, home remedies.
Acne is a localized skin inflammation as a result of overactivity of oil glands at the
base of hair follicles. This inflammation, depending on its location, can take the form
of a superficial pustule (contains pus), a pimple, a deeper cyst, congested pores, whiteheads, or blackheads. Treatments vary depending on the severity of the acne.
Lyme disease is a bacterial illness, which is spread by ticks when they bite the skin. Initially the disease affects the skin causing a reddish rash associated with flu-like symptoms. It takes weeks to months after the initial redness of the skin for its effects to spread throughout the body. Lyme disease can be treated with antibiotics. Lyme disease can be prevented by using tick avoidance techniques.
Sexually transmitted diseases, or STDs,
are infections that are transmitted during any type of sexual exposure,
including intercourse (vaginal or anal), oral sex, and the sharing of sexual
devices, such as vibrators. Women can contract all of the STDs, but may have no symptoms, or have different symptoms than men do.
Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) is a bacterium, and is one of the most common causes of infection of the colon. C. difficile spores are found frequently in hospitals, nursing homes, extended care facilities, and nurseries for newborn infants. They can be found on bedpans, furniture, toilet seats, linens, telephones, stethoscopes, fingernails, rings, floors, infants' rooms, and diaper pails. They even can be carried by pets. Antibiotic-associated (C. difficile) colitis is an infection of the colon caused by C. difficile that occurs primarily among individuals who have been using antibiotics. Treatment for C. difficile colitis hydration, replenishment of electrolyte deficiencies, discontinuing the antibiotic that caused the colitis, and using antibiotics to eradicate the C. difficile bacterium.
Rosacea is a skin disease that causes redness of the forehead, chin, and lower half of the nose. In addition to inflammation of the facial skin, symptoms include dilation of the blood vessels and pimples (acne rosacea) in the middle third of the face. Oral and topical antibiotics are treatments for rosacea. If left untreated, rhinophyma (a disfiguring nose condition) may result.
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a bacterium that causes chronic inflammation (gastritis) of the inner lining of the stomach in humans. This bacteria also is the most common cause of ulcers worldwide.
Sexually transmitted diseases, or STDs, are infections that are transmitted during any
type of sexual exposure, including intercourse (vaginal or anal), oral sex, and
the sharing of sexual devices, such as vibrators. Although treatment exists for many STDs, others currently are
usually incurable, such as those caused by HIV, HPV, hepatitis B and C, and HHV-8.
Gonorrhea is a bacterial infection transmitted during sexual contact. In women, symptoms include a yellow vaginal discharge, burning or frequent urination, and redness, swelling, burning and itching of the vaginal area. Gonorrhea can be treated with injectable (penicillin) or oral medications.
Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) infection is the most common type of infection acquired by patients while hospitalized. Patients at risk for VRE are those who are already ill, and hospitalized, including individuals with diabetes, elderly, ICU patients, kidney failure patients, or patients requiring catheters. Enterococci can survive for months in the digestive tract and female genital tract. Other risk factors for acquiring VRE include those how have been previously treated with vancomycin and combinations of other antibiotics. Treatment of VRE is generally with other antibiotics other than vancomycin. Prevention of VRE can be achieved by proper hand hygiene.
Middle ear infection or inflammation (otitis media) is inflammation fo the middle ear. There are two types of otitis media, acute and chronic. Acute otitis media is generally short in duration, and chronic otitis media generally lasts several weeks. Seventy-five percent of children in the U.S. suffer from otitis media at some point. Treatment depends upon the type (chronic or acute).
Gastritis is an inflammation of the stomach lining. Causes of gastritis include drinking too much alcohol, medications such as NSAIDs, ibuprofen, aspirin, H. pylori infection, severe infections, burns, anemia, and autoimmune disorders. Gastritis is diagnosed with endoscopy, blood tests, or stool tests. Treatment depends upon the cause of gastritis.
Group A streptococcal infections are caused by group A streptococcus, a bacteria that causes a variety of health problems, including strep throat, impetigo, cellulitis, erysipelas, and scarlet fever. There are more than 10 million group A strep infections each year.
Scarlet fever is an infectious disease caused by the bacteria group A Streptococcus. Symptoms and signs include a rash, sore throat, and fever. Antibiotics are used in the treatment of scarlet fever.
Endocarditis, a serious infection of one of the four heart valves is caused by growth of bacteria on one of the heart valves; leading to an infected massed called a "vegetation." The infection can be caused by having bacteria in the bloodstream after dental work, colonoscopy, or other similar procedures. Endocarditis symptoms include fever, fatigue, weakness, chills, aching muscles and joints, night sweats, edema in the legs, feet, or abdomen, malaise, shortness of breath and small skin lesions. Treatment for endocarditis is generally aggressive antibiotic treatment.
Bug bites and stings have been known to transmit insect-borne illnesses such as West Nile virus, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and Lyme disease. Though most reactions to insect bites and stings are mild, some reactions may be life-threatening. Preventing bug bites and stings with insect repellant, wearing the proper protective attire, and not wearing heavily scented perfumes when in grassy, wooded, and brushy areas is key.
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is
a bacterium
that causes chronic inflammation of
the inner lining of the
stomach (gastritis) in humans. This bacterium also is the most
common cause of ulcers worldwide. H. pylori infection is most likely acquired by
ingesting contaminated food and water and through person to person contact. In
the United States, 30% of the adult population is infected. (50% of infected
persons are infected by the age of 60.) The infection is more common in crowded living conditions with poor
sanitation. In countries with poor sanitation, 90% of the adult population
can be infected. Infected individuals usually carry the infection
indefinitely unless they are treated with medications to eradicate the
bacterium. One out of every six patients with H. pylori infection will
develop ulcers of the duodenum or stomach. H. pylori also
is associated with stomach cancer and a rare type of lymphocytic tu...
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