Amoxicillin and Clavulanate Patient Education (PDF)

Amoxicillin and Clavulanate (Patient Education - Adult Medication) Monograph Amoxicillin and Clavulanate Printed on 2024-08-09 You must carefully read the "Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer" below in order to understand and correctly use...

Amoxicillin and Clavulanate (Patient Education - Adult Medication) Monograph Amoxicillin and Clavulanate Printed on 2024-08-09 You must carefully read the "Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer" below in order to understand and correctly use this information Pronunciation (a moks i SIL in & klav yoo LAN ate) Brand Names: US Augmentin; Augmentin ES-600 Brand Names: Canada AG-Amoxi Clav; Amoxicillin/Clav; APO-Amoxi Clav; AURO-Amoxiclav; Clavulin; Clavulin-125F; Clavulin-250F; Clavulin-500F [DSC]; JAMP-Amoxi Clav; M-Amoxi Clav; PRO-Amoxi Clav; SANDOZ Amoxi-Clav What is this drug used for? It is used to treat bacterial infections. What do I need to tell my doctor BEFORE I take this drug? If you are allergic to this drug; any part of this drug; or any other drugs, foods, or substances. Tell your doctor about the allergy and what signs you had. If you are allergic to penicillin. If you have kidney disease. If you have turned yellow or had liver side effects with this drug before. If you have mono. If you are taking probenecid. This is not a list of all drugs or health problems that interact with this drug. Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all of your drugs (prescription or OTC, natural products, vitamins) and health problems. You must check to make sure that it is safe for you to take this drug with all of your drugs and health problems. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any drug without checking with your doctor. What are some things I need to know or do while I take this drug? Tell all of your health care providers that you take this drug. This includes your doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists. Have your blood work checked if you are on this drug for a long time. Talk with your doctor. This drug may affect certain lab tests. Tell all of your health care providers and lab workers that you take this drug. If you have high blood sugar (diabetes) and test your urine glucose, talk with your doctor to find out which tests are best to use. If you have phenylketonuria (PKU), talk with your doctor. Some products have phenylalanine. Do not use longer than you have been told. A second infection may happen.  Change in tooth color to yellow-gray-brown has happened with this drug. Most reports happened in children. Most of the time, the color change got less or went away with brushing or dental cleaning. If a change of tooth color happens, talk with the doctor. Birth control pills and other hormone-based birth control may not work as well to prevent pregnancy. Use some other kind of birth control also like a condom when taking this drug. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan on getting pregnant, or are breast-feeding. You will need to talk about the benefits and risks to you and the baby. What are some side effects that I need to call my doctor about right away? WARNING/CAUTION: Even though it may be rare, some people may have very bad and sometimes deadly side effects when taking a drug. Tell your doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of the following signs or symptoms that may be related to a very bad side effect: Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing, swallowing, or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat. Rarely, some allergic reactions have been deadly. Signs of a type of allergic reaction called drug-induced enterocolitis syndrome, like vomiting within 1 to 4 hours after taking this drug, diarrhea within 24 hours after taking this drug, pale or gray skin, feeling tired or unwell, or signs of low blood pressure like severe dizziness or passing out. Vaginal irritation or discharge. Fever or chills. Any unexplained bruising or bleeding. Diarrhea is common with antibiotics. Rarely, a severe form called C diff–associated diarrhea (CDAD) may happen. Sometimes, this has led to a deadly bowel problem. CDAD may happen during or a few months after taking antibiotics. Call your doctor right away if you have stomach pain, cramps, or very loose, watery, or bloody stools. Check with your doctor before treating diarrhea. Liver problems have happened with this drug. Rarely, this has been deadly. Call your doctor right away if you have signs of liver problems like dark urine, tiredness, decreased appetite, upset stomach or stomach pain, light-colored stools, throwing up, or yellow skin or eyes. Severe skin reactions may happen with this drug. These include Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), and other serious reactions. Sometimes, body organs may also be affected. These reactions can be deadly. Get medical help right away if you have signs like red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin; red or irritated eyes; sores in your mouth, throat, nose, eyes, genitals, or any areas of skin; fever; chills; body aches; shortness of breath; or swollen glands. What are some other side effects of this drug? All drugs may cause side effects. However, many people have no side effects or only have minor side effects. Call your doctor or get medical help if any of these side effects or any other side effects bother you or do not go away: For all patients taking this drug: Diarrhea, upset stomach, or throwing up. Children: Diaper rash.  These are not all of the side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, call your doctor. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to your national health agency. How is this drug best taken? Use this drug as ordered by your doctor. Read all information given to you. Follow all instructions closely. Extended-release tablets: Take tablet with food. Avoid taking this drug with high-fat meals. Swallow whole. Do not chew or crush. Some products may be broken in half. If you are not sure if you can break this product in half, talk with the doctor. Keep taking this drug as you have been told by your doctor or other health care provider, even if you feel well. All other products: Take this drug at the start of a meal to help it work the best and lower the chance of upset stomach. Keep taking this drug as you have been told by your doctor or other health care provider, even if you feel well. Chewable tablets: Chew well before swallowing. Liquid (suspension): Shake well before use. Measure liquid doses carefully. Use the measuring device that comes with this drug. If there is none, ask the pharmacist for a device to measure this drug. What do I do if I miss a dose? Take a missed dose as soon as you think about it. If it is close to the time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your normal time. Do not take 2 doses at the same time or extra doses. How do I store and/or throw out this drug? Liquid (suspension): Store liquid (suspension) in a refrigerator. Do not freeze. Throw away any part not used after 10 days. Some color change may be normal for certain products during storage. If you are not sure about this, talk with your pharmacist. All other products: Store at room temperature in a dry place. Do not store in a bathroom. All products: Keep all drugs in a safe place. Keep all drugs out of the reach of children and pets. Throw away unused or expired drugs. Do not flush down a toilet or pour down a drain unless you are told to do so. Check with your pharmacist if you have questions about the best way to throw out drugs. There may be drug take-back programs in your area. General drug facts  If your symptoms or health problems do not get better or if they become worse, call your doctor. Do not share your drugs with others and do not take anyone else's drugs. Some drugs may have another patient information leaflet. If you have any questions about this drug, please talk with your doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or other health care provider. If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened. Last Reviewed Date 2024-05-08 Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer: This generalized information is a limited summary of diagnosis, treatment, and/or medication information. It is not meant to be comprehensive and should be used as a tool to help the user understand and/or assess potential diagnostic and treatment options. It does NOT include all information about conditions, treatments, medications, side effects, or risks that may apply to a specific patient. It is not intended to be medical advice or a substitute for the medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment of a health care provider based on the health care provider's examination and assessment of a patient's specific and unique circumstances. Patients must speak with a health care provider for complete information about their health, medical questions, and treatment options, including any risks or benefits regarding use of medications. This information does not endorse any treatments or medications as safe, effective, or approved for treating a specific patient. UpToDate, Inc. and its affiliates disclaim any warranty or liability relating to this information or the use thereof. The use of this information is governed by the Terms of Use, available at https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/know/clinical-effectiveness-terms. Last Updated 6/10/24 © 2024 UpToDate, Inc. and its affiliates and/or licensors. All Rights Reserved.