Amoxicillin works by inhibiting bacterial cell wall formation, which kills the bacteria, and is widely tolerated; nevertheless, common side effects include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and rash.

Follow all directions given to you by your doctor and read all documents provided, including the full Prescribing Information, FDA-Approved Product Labeling, Instructions for Use, and Medication Guide before using Amoxicillin. However, the following is a synopsis of the general guidelines for the use of Amoxicillin:

• Take Amoxicillin exactly as prescribed and follow all instructions on your prescription label.
• Take it at the same time each day.
• Some forms can be taken with or without food; check the label for instructions.
• Shake liquid amoxicillin before measuring your dose. Use a dosing syringe or measuring device for liquid medicine, not a kitchen spoon. Mix with water, milk, baby formula, fruit juice, or ginger ale if needed, and drink immediately.
• You must chew the chewable tablets before swallowing.
• Swallow regular tablets whole without crushing, chewing, or breaking.
• If taking amoxicillin with clarithromycin or lansoprazole, follow all instructions carefully and do not change doses without your doctor’s advice.
• Complete the full course of medication, even if you feel better. Skipping doses can lead to antibiotic resistance.
• Amoxicillin does not treat viral infections like the flu or common cold.
• Do not share this medication with anyone else.
• Inform your doctor that you are taking amoxicillin, as it can affect medical test results.

The most common side effects of Amoxicillin seen in clinical trials include:

• Diarrhea.
• Nausea or vomiting.
• Skin rash.
• Headaches.
• Taste changes.

Some individuals may experience serious side effects while using Amoxicillin. These side effects may require immediate medical attention. If you experience any of the following, contact your healthcare provider or seek emergency medical help:

• Severe skin reactions or allergic reactions: rash, hives, skin reddening, blisters, swelling of the lips, tongue, or face, or difficulty breathing.
• Infectious (C. difficile related) Diarrhoea symptoms include high heart rate, foul-smelling diarrhea, fever, nausea, and frequent bowel movements (up to 15 per day).

These are not all of the possible side effects of Amoxicillin. You should always seek medical advice from your healthcare provider for any questions or concerns about your medical condition or treatment. Read all patient information, medication guides, or drug information sheets that come with this medication. You can also report adverse effects to the Food and Drug Administration at www.fda.gov/medwatch or 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before starting Amoxicillin, it is crucial to discuss any existing health conditions with your healthcare provider. You should be sure that your healthcare provider is aware of all your medical conditions, including if you have:

• Allergies to amoxicillin or any other penicillin antibiotic, including ampicillin (Omnipen, Principen), dicloxacillin (Dycill, Dynapen), oxacillin (Bactocill), penicillin (Beepen-VK, Ledercillin VK, Pen-V, Pen-Vee K, Pfizerpen, V-Cillin K, Veetids), and others.
• If you are allergic to cephalosporin antibiotics like Omnicef, Cefzil, Ceftin, Keflex, or others, consult your doctor before taking amoxicillin.
• Notify your doctor if you have asthma, liver or renal disease, a bleeding or blood clotting condition, or mononucleosis (commonly known as "mono").
• Amoxicillin can reduce the effectiveness of birth control tablets. Consult your doctor about using a non-hormone method of birth control (such as a condom, diaphragm, or spermicide) to avoid pregnancy while taking this medication.
• Take this drug for the full prescribed duration. Your symptoms may improve before the virus is fully resolved.
• Amoxicillin does not treat viral infections like the common cold or flu.
• Do not share this drug with anyone, even if they have the same symptoms as you.
• Antibiotic medications may cause diarrhea. This could occur while you are using amoxicillin or a few months after you stop taking it. This could be an indication of a new infection. If your diarrhea is watery or bloody, stop taking this medication and consult your doctor. Anti-diarrhea medicines should not be used unless prescribed by a doctor.
• This medicine may cause a serious allergic reaction called anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention.

Contraindications are certain health problems or situations in which a person should avoid taking a drug for safety reasons. If you have any of the below conditions or if any of the following apply to you, please notify your healthcare professional since Amoxicillin (Amoxil) is not safe for you to consume.

• Severe allergy to other penicillins or beta-lactam antibiotics, such as cephalexin (Keflex), or any of the ingredients in amoxicillin capsules, tablets, chewable tablets, or oral suspension.

Amoxicillin begins to act rapidly, you should feel better within 2 to 3 days. And often remains in the body for up to 8 hours before the majority of the antibiotic exits following a single dose. However, it will depend on your dosage and if you have kidney disease. This is because the kidneys help the body eliminate the medicine. So, when the kidneys aren't performing as well as they should (as in those with kidney problems), the body may take longer to remove the medication.

When Amoxicillin is taken with other prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and supplements, it may change how they work or increase the frequency or severity of side effects. Make sure that you tell your healthcare professional about anything that you are taking to avoid any negative drug interactions, including:

• Any other antibiotics, including tetracyclines.
• Allopurinol.
• Probenecid.
• A blood thinner - warfarin, Coumadin, Jantoven.
• Birth control pills/contraceptives.
• Methotrexate.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with amoxicillin, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here; to check for interactions, click on the link below.

The dosage forms and duration of treatment are determined by the kind of infection, severity, weight, and presence of kidney issues. Your provider will establish the appropriate dosage and duration of treatment for you.

Mild or Moderate Infections

For upper respiratory tract infections, skin infections, and UTIs:

• Adults and children (≥3 months, ≥88 lbs/40 kg): 500 mg every 12 hours or 250 mg every 8 hours.
• Children (≥3 months, <88 lbs/40 kg): 12.5 mg/kg every 12 hours or 6.7 mg/kg every 8 hours.
• Children (<3 months): Up to 15 mg/kg every 12 hours.

Severe Infections

For lower respiratory tract infections and other severe infections:

• Adults and children (≥3 months, ≥88 lbs/40 kg): 500 mg every 8 hours or 875 mg every 12 hours.
• Children (≥3 months, <88 lbs/40 kg): 13.3 mg/kg every 8 hours or 22.5 mg/kg every 12 hours.
• Children (<3 months): Up to 15 mg/kg every 12 hours.

H. pylori Infection (Adults Only)

• Triple therapy: 1 gram every 12 hours for 14 days with clarithromycin and lansoprazole.
• Dual therapy: 1 gram every 8 hours for 14 days with lansoprazole.

If you miss a dose, skip the missed dose and use your next dose at the regular time. Do not use two doses at one time.

Store tablets and capsules at room temperature, away from moisture, heat, and light.

Store liquid amoxicillin as directed on the label, typically in the refrigerator or at room temperature. Discard unused liquid medicine after 14 days.

Many pharmaceutical companies manufacture generic amoxicillin.

There are many lower-cost generic versions of amoxicillin.

Even if you feel better, continue taking amoxicillin until your prescription is finished. If you stop taking amoxicillin too soon or skip doses, your illness may not be entirely treated, and the bacteria may develop antibiotic resistance.

Yes, penicillin medicines such as amoxicillin (Amoxil) are considered safe to take while pregnant. Studies have not found that it causes considerable harm to unborn fetuses. Talk to your doctor if you are already pregnant or if you have any plans to become pregnant. They will know or recommend what is best for you.

Amoxicillin is generally considered safe to take when nursing as only a small amount may pass into your breast milk. Talk to your doctor if you are already breastfeeding or if you have any plans to breastfeed. They will know or recommend what is best for you.