Pharmaceutical Name

Trade (marketing or proprietary) name: Amoxil^®, Larotid^® Suspension, Moxtag^®, Talicia (as a combination product containing Amoxicillin, Omeprazole, Rifabutin), p-Hydroxyampicillin

Generic (nonproprietary or active ingredient) name: Amoxicillin

Indication and Usage

Reason the product has been approved for sale on the market.

FDA has approved this prescription medication to treat certain infections caused by bacteria, such as pneumonia; bronchitis (infection of the airway tubes leading to the lungs); and infections of the ears, nose, throat, urinary tract, and skin. It is also used in combination with other medications to eliminate H. pylori, a bacteria that causes ulcers. Antibiotics such as amoxicillin will not work for colds, flu, and other viral infections. Taking antibiotics when they are not needed increases your risk of getting an infection later that resists antibiotic treatment. [source]

Manufacturer Insert

Ingredients

Also known as “excipients” for vaccines.

Each 250 mg capsule contains the following inactive ingredients: magnesium stearate, sodium lauryl sulfate, D&C Yellow No. 10, FD&C Yellow No. 6, FD&C Blue No. 1, FD&C Red No. 3, titanium dioxide and gelatin. Each 500 mg capsule contains the following inactive ingredients: magnesium stearate, sodium lauryl sulfate, D&C Yellow No. 10, FD&C Yellow No. 6, titanium dioxide and gelatin.

Contraindications

Per the FDA, contraindications are conditions in a recipient that increases the risk for a serious adverse reaction. Product should not be administered when a patient has a listed contraindication.

A history of allergic reaction to any of the penicillins is a contraindication.

Warnings and Precautions

Per the FDA, warnings are clinically significant adverse reactions or risks. According to the CDC, a precaution is a condition in a recipient that might increase the risk for a serious adverse reaction, might cause diagnostic confusion, or might compromise the effectiveness of the product. In general, a product should be deferred when a precaution is present.

Clostridium difficile associated diarrhea (CDAD) has been reported with use of nearly all antibacterial agents, including amoxicillin, and may range in severity from mild diarrhea to fatal colitis. Treatment with antibacterial agents alters the normal flora of the colon leading to overgrowth of C. difficile.

C. difficile produces toxins A and B which contribute to the development of CDAD. Hypertoxin producing strains of C. difficile cause increased morbidity and mortality, as these infections can be refractory to antimicrobial therapy and may require colectomy. CDAD must be considered in all patients who present with diarrhea following antibiotic use. Careful medical history is necessary since CDAD has been reported to occur over two months after the administration of antibacterial agents.

If CDAD is suspected or confirmed, ongoing antibiotic use not directed against C. difficile may need to be discontinued. Appropriate fluid and electrolyte management, protein supplementation, antibiotic treatment of C. difficile, and surgical evaluation should be instituted as clinically indicated.

The possibility of superinfections with mycotic or bacterial pathogens should be kept in mind during therapy. If superinfections occur, amoxicillin should be discontinued and appropriate therapy instituted.

A high percentage of patients with mononucleosis who receive ampicillin develop an erythematous skin rash. Thus, ampicillin-class antibiotics should not be administered to patients with mononucleosis.

Prescribing amoxicillin in the absence of a proven or strongly suspected bacterial infection or a prophylactic indication is unlikely to provide benefit to the patient and increases the risk of the development of drug-resistant bacteria.

Manufacturer-Listed Adverse Reactions

Per the CDC, adverse reactions are an undesirable medical condition that has been demonstrated to be caused by a vaccine. Evidence for the causal relation is usually obtained through randomized clinical trials, controlled epidemiologic studies, isolation of the vaccine strain from the pathogenic site, or recurrence of the condition with repeated vaccination (i.e., rechallenge); synonyms include side effect and adverse effect.

Clostridium difficile associated diarrhea (CDAD), Mucocutaneous candidiasis, Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhea, Thrombocytopenic purpura, Black hairy tongue, Patients with mononucleosis who receive ampicillin develop an erythematous skin rash, Hemorrhagic/pseudomembranous colitis, Crystalluria (crystals in urine), Tooth discoloration (brown, yellow, or gray staining) mostly in pediatric patients. Serum sickness-like reactions, erythematous maculopapular rashes, erythema multiforme, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, exfoliative dermatitis, toxic epidermal necrolysis, acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis, hypersensitivity vasculitis and urticaria. Reversible hyperactivity, Agitation, Anxiety, Insomnia, Confusion, Convulsions, Behavioral changes, Dizziness, Thrombocytopenia, Eosinophilia, Leukopenia, Agranulocytosis. A moderate rise in AST (SGOT) and/or ALT (SGPT) has been noted, but the significance of this finding is unknown. Hepatic dysfunction including cholestatic jaundice, hepatic cholestasis and acute cytolytic hepatitis. Anemia (including hemolytic anemia), Drug-Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome (DIES), Drug-induced aseptic meningitis (DIAM), and Anaphylaxis.

Specific Populations

Pregnancy

Pregnancy Category B.

Reproduction studies have been performed in mice and rats at doses up to 10 times the human dose and have revealed no evidence of impaired fertility or harm to the fetus due to amoxicillin. There are, however, no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Because animal reproduction studies are not always predictive of human response, this drug should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed.

Labor and Delivery

Oral ampicillin-class antibiotics are poorly absorbed during labor. Studies in guinea pigs showed that intravenous administration of ampicillin slightly decreased the uterine tone and frequency of contractions but moderately increased the height and duration of contractions. However, it is not known whether use of amoxicillin in humans during labor or delivery has immediate or delayed adverse effects on the fetus, prolongs the duration of labor, or increases the likelihood that forceps delivery or other obstetrical intervention or resuscitation of the newborn will be necessary.

Breastfeeding

Penicillins have been shown to be excreted in human milk. Amoxicillin use by nursing mothers may lead to sensitization of infants. Caution should be exercised when amoxicillin is administered to a nursing woman.

Pediatric

Because of incompletely developed renal function in neonates and young infants, the elimination of amoxicillin may be delayed. Dosing of amoxicillin should be modified in pediatric patients 12 weeks or younger (≤ 3 months).

Mechanism of Action

This is the specific biochemical interaction through which a drug or vaccine substance produces its pharmacological effect. This section also includes the minimum protective level designated for a certain disease.

Amoxicillin is similar to ampicillin in its bactericidal action against susceptible organisms during the stage of active multiplication. It acts through the inhibition of biosynthesis of cell wall mucopeptide. Amoxicillin has been shown to be active against most strains of the following microorganisms, both in vitro and in clinical infections as described in the INDICATIONS AND USAGE section.

Aerobic Gram-Positive Microorganisms

Enterococcus faecalis

Staphylococcus spp.* (β-lactamase-negative strains only)

Streptococcus pneumoniae

Streptococcus spp. (α- and β-hemolytic strains only)

*Staphylococci which are susceptible to amoxicillin but resistant to methicillin/oxacillin should be considered as resistant to amoxicillin.

Aerobic Gram-Negative Microorganisms

Escherichia coli (β-lactamase-negative strains only)

Haemophilus influenzae (β-lactamase-negative strains only)

Neisseria gonorrhoeae (β-lactamase-negative strains only)

Proteus mirabilis (β-lactamase-negative strains only)

Helicobacter

Helicobacter pylori

Analytical Deep Dive

What is informed consent?

Alternatives

If you accept Amoxicillin, here are some tips to minimize the risk of side effects from antibiotics.

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