Learn more about usage, cautions, and possible side effects .
Chemical Name: AMOXICILLIN (a-MOX-i-SIL-in) and CLAVULANATE (KLAV-ue-la-nate)
This medicine is a penicillin antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections.
Some medicines or medical conditions may interact with this medicine. INFORM YOUR DOCTOR OR PHARMACIST of all prescription and over-the-counter medicine that you are taking. DO NOT TAKE THIS MEDICINE if you are taking a tetracycline antibiotic (eg, doxycycline) or you have recently received or will be receiving live oral typhoid vaccine. ADDITIONAL MONITORING OF YOUR DOSE OR CONDITION may be needed if you are taking anticoagulants (eg, warfarin), probenecid, chloramphenicol, macrolide antibiotics (eg, erythromycin), sulfonamides (eg, sulfamethoxazole), methotrexate, or hormonal birth control (eg, birth control pills). DO NOT START OR STOP any medicine without doctor or pharmacist approval. Inform your doctor of any other medical conditions, including kidney problems, gonorrhea, allergies, pregnancy, or breast-feeding. Tell your doctor if you have a history of asthma; hay fever; hives; liver problems; or yellowing of the eyes or skin. USE OF THIS MEDICINE IS NOT RECOMMENDED if you have infectious mononucleosis (mono) or a history of liver problems or yellowing of the eyes or skin caused by this medicine. This medicine should not be used in CHILDREN who weigh less than 88 lbs (40 kg); safety and effectiveness in these children have not been confirmed. Contact your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions or concerns about using this medicine.
Follow the directions for taking this medicine provided by your doctor. Take this medicine by mouth with or without food. If stomach upset occurs, take with food to reduce stomach irritation. STORE THIS MEDICINE at or below 77 degrees F (25 degrees C). Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. TO CLEAR UP YOUR INFECTION COMPLETELY, take this medicine for the full course of treatment. Keep taking it even if you feel better in a few days. IF YOU MISS A DOSE OF THIS MEDICINE, take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.
DO NOT USE THIS MEDICINE IF you are allergic to any ingredient in this medicine or another penicillin antibiotic (eg, ampicillin). Tell your doctor if you have had a severe allergic reaction to a cephalosporin (eg, cephalexin) or another beta-lactam antibiotic (eg, imipenem). If you have a question about whether you are allergic to this medicine or if a certain medicine is a cephalosporin or beta-lactam antibiotic, contact your doctor or pharmacist. LAB TESTS, including liver function, kidney function, and complete blood cell counts, may be performed if you use this medicine for a long period of time. These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments. THIS MEDICINE MAY CAUSE DIZZINESS. This effect may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use this medicine with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it. THIS MEDICINE ONLY WORKS AGAINST BACTERIA; it does not treat viral infections (eg, the common cold). LONG-TERM OR REPEATED USE OF THIS MEDICINE MAY CAUSE A SECOND INFECTION. Tell your doctor if signs of a second infection occur. Your medicine may need to be changed to treat this. MILD DIARRHEA IS COMMON WITH ANTIBIOTIC USE. However, a more serious form of diarrhea (pseudomembranous colitis) may rarely occur. This may develop while you use the antibiotic or within several months after you stop using it. Contact your doctor right away if stomach pain or cramps, severe diarrhea, or bloody stools occur. Do not treat diarrhea without first checking with your doctor. HORMONAL BIRTH CONTROL (eg, birth control pills) may not work as well while you are using this medicine. To prevent pregnancy, use an extra form of birth control (eg, condoms). BROWN, YELLOW, OR GRAY TOOTH DISCOLORATION HAS OCCURRED RARELY in some patients taking this medicine. It occurred most often in children. The discoloration was reduced or removed by brushing or dental cleaning in most cases. Contact your doctor if you experience this effect. BEFORE YOU BEGIN TAKING ANY NEW MEDICINES, either prescription or over-the-counter, check with your doctor or pharmacist. Use this medicine with caution in the ELDERLY; they may be more sensitive to its effects, especially patients with kidney problems. Use this medicine with extreme caution in CHILDREN younger than 10 years old who have diarrhea or an infection in the stomach or bowel. FOR WOMEN: If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using this medicine while you are pregnant. This medicine is found in breast milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you use this medicine, check with your doctor. Discuss any possible risks to your baby. DIABETES PATIENTS- This medicine may cause the results of some tests for urine glucose to be wrong. Ask your doctor before you change your diet or the dose of your diabetes medicine.
SIDE EFFECTS that may occur while taking this medicine include diarrhea; nausea; or vomiting. If they continue or are bothersome, check with your doctor. CONTACT YOUR DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY if you experience bloody stools; confusion; dark urine; fever, chills, or persistent sore throat; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin; seizures; severe diarrhea; stomach pain or cramps; unusual bruising or bleeding; vaginal discharge or irritation; or yellowing of the skin or eyes. AN ALLERGIC REACTION to this medicine is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist. This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your healthcare provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Drug interactions can result in unwanted side effects or prevent a medicine from doing its job. Use our drug interaction checker to find out if your medicines interact with each other. Check drug interactions
IF OVERDOSE IS SUSPECTED, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include decreased urination; severe nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea; stomach pain; or unusual drowsiness.
If your symptoms do not improve within a few days or if they become worse, check with your doctor. DO NOT SHARE THIS MEDICINE with others for whom it was not prescribed. DO NOT USE THIS MEDICINE for other health conditions. KEEP THIS MEDICINE out of the reach of children and pets.