DrugindexOnline^{2nd edition}

Generic Name: Amoxicillin Oral Suspension (a-MOX-ih-sil-in)
Brand Name: Examples include Amoxil and Trimox

Amoxicillin Suspension is used for:

Treating infections caused by certain bacteria. It may be used with other medications to treat ulcers of the small intestines.

Amoxicillin Suspension is a penicillin antibiotic. It works by interfering with formation of the cell wall of sensitive bacteria while it is growing, killing it or preventing its growth.

Do NOT use Amoxicillin Suspension if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Amoxicillin Suspension or other penicillin antibiotics (eg, ampicillin)

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Amoxicillin Suspension:

Some medical conditions may interact with Amoxicillin Suspension. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have a history of allergies, asthma, hay fever, or hives
• if you have had a severe allergic reaction (eg, severe rash, hives, breathing difficulties, dizziness) to a cephalosporin (eg, cephalexin) or other beta-lactam antibiotic (eg, imipenem)
• if you are a child 9 years of age or younger experiencing diarrhea or a stomach infection
• if you have infectious mononucleosis (ie, mono, the "kissing disease")

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Amoxicillin Suspension. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Probenecid because it may increase the actions and side effects of Amoxicillin Suspension
• Tetracycline antibiotics (eg, doxycycline) because the effectiveness of Amoxicillin Suspension may be decreased
• Methotrexate because risk of side effects and toxicity, including kidney failure (severely decreased urine output, confusion, weight gain), unusual bruising or bleeding, possible increase in infections, fatigue, or mouth and skin ulcers, may be increased by Amoxicillin Suspension
• Oral anticoagulants (eg, warfarin) because side effects, including risk of bleeding, may be increased by Amoxicillin Suspension
• Oral contraceptives (ie, birth control pills) because their effectiveness could be decreased by Amoxicillin Suspension

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Amoxicillin Suspension may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Amoxicillin Suspension:

Use Amoxicillin Suspension as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• Amoxicillin Suspension may be taken with or without food.
• Shake well before using.
• Use a measuring device marked for medicine dosing. Ask your pharmacist for help if you are unsure of how to measure your dose.
• The dose may be added to formula, milk, fruit juice, water, ginger ale, or cold drinks. The dose should be taken immediately after being added to any of these items. Drink the entire amount to make sure the full dose is given.
• Refrigeration may improve the taste of Amoxicillin Suspension, but may not be required. Depending on the brand, when stored at room temperature, Amoxicillin Suspension may expire earlier than if it was refrigerated. Check the bottle or ask your pharmacist to see if (and for how long) you can store Amoxicillin Suspension at room temperature.
• To clear up your infection completely, continue using Amoxicillin Suspension for the full course of treatment, even if you feel better in a few days.
• If you miss a dose of Amoxicillin Suspension, 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.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Amoxicillin Suspension.

Important safety information:

• Amoxicillin Suspension may cause drowsiness. Do not drive, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how you react to Amoxicillin Suspension. Using Amoxicillin Suspension alone, with certain other medicines, or with alcohol may lessen your ability to drive or to perform other potentially dangerous tasks.
• It is important to use Amoxicillin Suspension for the full course of treatment. Failure to do so may decrease the effectiveness of Amoxicillin Suspension and may increase the risk that the bacteria will no longer be sensitive to Amoxicillin Suspension and will not be able to be treated by this or certain other antibiotics in the future.
• Amoxicillin Suspension is effective only against bacteria. It is not effective for treating viral infections (eg, the common cold).
• Long-term or repeated use of Amoxicillin Suspension may cause a second infection. Your doctor may want to change your medicine to treat the second infection. Contact your doctor if signs of a second infection occur.
• If severe diarrhea, stomach pain/cramps or bloody stools occur, contact your doctor immediately. This could be a symptom of a serious side effect requiring immediate medical attention. Do not treat diarrhea without consulting your doctor.
• Amoxicillin Suspension may decrease the effectiveness of your birth control pills. To prevent pregnancy, be sure to use an additional form of birth control (eg, condoms) while using Amoxicillin Suspension.
• Diabetes patients - Amoxicillin Suspension may cause false test results with some urine glucose tests. Check with your doctor before you adjust your dose of your diabetes medicine or change your diet.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you plan on becoming pregnant, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of using Amoxicillin Suspension during pregnancy. Amoxicillin Suspension is excreted in breast milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you are using Amoxicillin Suspension, check with your doctor or pharmacist to discuss the risks to your baby.

Possible side effects of Amoxicillin Suspension:

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Diarrhea; dizziness; irritation of mouth or throat; nausea; vomiting.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); bloody stools; chills; seizures; severe diarrhea; stomach pain/cramps; vaginal discharge or irritation;yellowing of the skin or eyes.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions or need medical advice about side effects, contact your doctor or health care provider. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088) or at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center (http://www.aapcc.org/findyour.htm), or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include diarrhea; nausea; seizures; severely decreased urine output; vomiting.

Proper storage of Amoxicillin Suspension:

Keep the bottle tightly closed. Refrigeration (36 to 46 degrees F; 2 to 8 degrees C) may improve the taste of Amoxicillin Suspension, but may not be required. Depending on the brand, when stored at room temperature (77 degrees F; 25 degrees C), Amoxicillin Suspension may expire earlier than if it was refrigerated. Check the bottle or ask your pharmacist to see if (and for how long) you can store Amoxicillin Suspension at room temperature. Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Amoxicillin Suspension out of reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

• If you have any questions about Amoxicillin Suspension, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• Amoxicillin Suspension is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
• If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Amoxicillin Suspension. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.