AMOXICILLIN is a penicillin antibiotic. It fights bacteria in your body.

AMOXICILLIN is used to treat many different types of infections caused by bacteria, such as ear infections, bladder infections, pneumonia, gonorrhea, and E. coli or salmonella infection. AMOXICILLIN is also sometimes used together with another antibiotic called clarithromycin (Biaxin) to treat stomach ulcers caused by Helicobacter pylori infection. This combination is sometimes used with a stomach acid reducer called lansoprazole (Prevacid).

Do not use this medication if you are allergic to amoxicillin or to any other penicillin antibiotic, such as:

 

- ampicillin (Omnipen, Principen);

- dicloxacillin (Dycill, Dynapen);

- oxacillin (Bactocill); or

- penicillin (Bicillin C-R, PC Pen VK, Pen-V, Pfizerpen, and others).

To make sure you can safely take AMOXICILLIN, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs (especially cephalosporins such as Omnicef, Cefzil, Ceftin, Keflex, and others), or if you have any of these other conditions:

 

- asthma;

- liver disease;

- kidney disease;

- mononucleosis (also called "mono");

- a history of diarrhea caused by taking antibiotics; or

- a history of any type of allergy.

 

FDA pregnancy category B. AMOXICILLIN is not expected to harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. AMOXICILLIN can make birth control pills less effective. Ask your doctor about using a non-hormone method of birth control (such as a condom, diaphragm, spermicide) to prevent pregnancy while taking AMOXICILLIN. AMOXICILLIN can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

 

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

 

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction to AMOXICILLIN: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

 

- white patches or sores inside your mouth or on your lips;

- fever, swollen glands, rash or itching, joint pain, or general ill feeling;

- severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash;

- pale or yellowed skin, yellowing of the eyes, dark colored urine, fever, confusion or weakness;

- severe tingling, numbness, pain, muscle weakness; or

- easy bruising, unusual bleeding (nose, mouth, vagina, or rectum), purple or red pinpoint spots under your skin.

 

Less serious AMOXICILLIN side effects may include:

 

- stomach pain, nausea, vomiting;

- vaginal itching or discharge;

- headache; or

- swollen, black, or "hairy" tongue.

 

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

 

Take AMOXICILLIN exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

 

Follow the directions on your prescription label.

 

You may take AMOXICILLIN with or without food.

 

To be sure this medicine is helping your condition and is not causing harmful effects, your blood will need to be tested often. Your liver and kidney function may also need to be tested. Visit your doctor regularly.

 

If you are being treated for gonorrhea, your doctor may also have you tested for syphilis, another sexually transmitted disease.

If you are taking amoxicillin with clarithromycin and/or lansoprazole to treat stomach ulcer, use all of your medications as directed.

 

Read the medication guide or patient instructions provided with each medication. Do not change your doses or medication schedule without your doctor's advice.

 

Take AMOXICILLIN for the full prescribed length of time. Your symptoms may improve before the infection is completely cleared.

 

AMOXICILLIN will not treat a viral infection such as the common cold or flu. Do not share this medication with another person, even if they have the same symptoms you have.

 

AMOXICILLIN can cause unusual results with certain medical tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using this medication.

 

 

Keep AMOXICILLIN in the original container and keep the container closed. Store it in a dry place at room temperature.

 

Keep AMOXICILLIN and all medications out of the reach of children.