Amoxicillin vs. Augmentin: Differences and Comparison between Side Effects, Dosage, and Uses

• Amoxicillin and Augmentin (amoxicillin/clavulanate, amox-clav) are antibiotics used to treat bacterial infections including sinusitis, pneumonia, ear infections, bronchitis, urinary tract infections, and infections of the skin.
• Amoxicillin and Augmentin both belong to the penicillin drug class.
• A difference is that Augmentin is a combination medication that also contains clavulanic acid in addition to amoxicillin.
• Both amoxicillin and Augmentin are available as generic drugs.
• Side effects of amoxicillin and Augmentin that are similar include:
  • Abdominal pain or discomfort
  • Diarrhea
  • Heartburn
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Easy bruising or bleeding
  • Rash
  • Allergic reactions
• Side effects of Augmentin that are different from amoxicillin include:
  • Bloating
  • Gas
  • Headache
  • Reversible hepatitis
• Serious but rare reactions of amoxicillin and Augmentin include seizures, severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis), and low platelet (thrombocytopenia) or red blood cell count.
• Amoxicillin rarely is associated with drug reactions or interactions. Augmentin may interact with probenecid, birth control pills, and allopurinol.
• Brand names amoxicillin include Amoxil, Moxatag, and Larotid.

Amoxicillin belongs to a class of antibiotics called penicillins. Other members of this class include ampicillin (Unasyn), piperacillin (Pipracil), ticarcillin (Ticar), and several others. Amoxicillin is used to treat infections due to bacteria that are susceptible to the effects of amoxicillin. Common bacterial infections that amoxicillin is used for include infections of the middle ear, tonsils, throat, larynx (laryngitis), bronchi (bronchitis), lungs (pneumonia), urinary tract, and skin. Amoxicillin also is used to treat gonorrhea.

Augmentin (amoxicillin/clavulanate) is a combination antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections including sinusitis, pneumonia, ear infections, bronchitis, urinary tract infections, and infections of the skin. Amoxicillin belongs to the penicillin drug class.

Amoxicillin uses

• Amoxicillin is used to treat infections due to bacteria that are susceptible to the effects of amoxicillin.
• Common bacterial infections that amoxicillin is used for include infections of the
  • middle ear (otitis media)
  • tonsils (tonsillitis),
  • throat (strep throat),
  • larynx (laryngitis),
  • bronchi (bronchitis),
  • Lungs (pneumonia),
  • urinary tract (UTI), and
  • skin.
• It also is used to treat gonorrhea.

Augmentin uses

• Augmentin is effective against susceptible bacteria causing infections of the:
  • middle ear (otitis media),
  • tonsillitis,
  • throat infections (pharyngitis),
  • laryngitis,
  • bronchitis,
  • sinusitis, and
  • pneumonia.
• It also is used in treating urinary tract infections, and skin infections.

Amoxicillin side effects

Common side effects of Amoxicillin include:

• abdominal discomfort,
• bloating,
• diarrhea,
• gas,
• headache,
• heartburn,
• nausea, and
• vomiting.

Other important side effects include:

• bloody or prolonged diarrhea,
• easy bruising or bleeding,
• reversible hepatitis,
• rash, and
• allergic reactions.

More serious side effects and adverse reactions include:

• seizures,
• severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis), and
• low platelet or red blood cell count.

Augmentin side effects

Common side effects of Augmentin are:

• abdominal discomfort,
• bloating,
• diarrhea,
• gas,
• headache,
• heartburn,
• nausea, and
• vomiting.
• Other important side effects include:
• bloody or prolonged diarrhea,
• easy bruising or bleeding,
• reversible hepatitis,
• rash, and
• allergic reactions.

Serious but rare reactions include seizures, severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis), and low platelet or red blood cell count.

Antibiotics like amoxicillin and Augmentin can alter the normal bacteria in the colon and encourage overgrowth of some bacteria such as Clostridium difficile which causes inflammation of the colon (pseudomembranous colitis). Patients who develop signs of pseudomembranous colitis after starting Augmentin (diarrhea, fever, abdominal pain, and possibly shock) should contact their physician immediately. Persons who are allergic to the cephalosporin class of antibiotics, which are related to the penicillins, for example, cefaclor (Ceclor), cephalexin (Keflex), and cefprozil (Cefzil), may or may not be allergic to penicillins.

Amoxicillin dosage instructions

• For most infections in adults the dose of amoxicillin is 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 or 45 mg/kg/day in divided doses every 12 hours or 20 or 40 mg/kg/day with one-third of the daily dose given every 8 hours depending on the type and severity of the infection.
• Amoxicillin can be taken with or without food.

Augmentin dosage instructions

• Augmentin should be taken on a full stomach to reduce stomach upset. No more than one tablet should be taken at a time since the extra clavulanic acid can cause stomach upset.
• Recommended adult doses are 500 mg every 8-12 hours, 250 mg every 8 hours, 875 mg every 12 hours, or 2000 mg every 12 hours.
• Dosing is based on the amoxicillin component.
• Pediatric patients weighing more than 40 kg should receive adult doses.
• Pediatric patients weighing less than 40 kg should receive 20 to 45 mg/kg every 8 or 12 hours.

Amoxicillin drug interactions

• Amoxicillin is rarely associated with important drug interactions.

Augmentin drug interactions

• Co-administration of probenecid, a drug used for treating gout, prevents the normal elimination of amoxicillin by the kidneys and can cause high, toxic blood levels of amoxicillin.
• Augmentin may decrease the effectiveness of birth control pills, increasing the risk of unexpected pregnancies.
• Combining Augmentin and allopurinol (Zyloprim, Aloprim) may increase the occurrence of skin rash.

Amoxicillin safety

• Penicillins are generally considered safe for use by pregnant women who are not allergic to penicillin.
• 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.

Augmentin safety

• Use of Augmentin in pregnant women has not been well studied. Penicillins are generally considered safe for use by pregnant women who are not allergic to penicillin.
• Augmentin is excreted in breast milk and may cause diarrhea in the infant.