ACL-375

Amoxicillin 250 mg + clavulanic acid 125 mg

Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid is a combination of penicillin-type antibiotic used to treat a wide variety of bacterial infections.

Amoxicillin

A semisynthetic antibiotic, with a broad spectrum of bactericidal activity against many Gram-positive and Gram-negative microorganisms. They do not directly kill bacteria, but they stop bacteria from multiplying by preventing bacteria from forming the walls that surround them. The walls are necessary to protect bacteria from their environment and to keep the contents of the bacterial cell together. Amoxicillin is effective against many different bacteria including H. influenzae, N. gonorrhoea, E. coli, Pneumonococci, Streptococci, and certain strains of Staphylococci. The FDA approved Amoxicillin in December 1974.

Clavulanic acid

Clavulanic acid is a beta-lactam structurally related to the penicillins and possesses the ability to inactivate some beta-lactamases by blocking the active sites of these enzymes. Binding and irreversibly inhibiting the beta-lactamase results in a restoration of the antimicrobial activity of beta-lactam antibiotics against lactamase-secreting-resistant bacteria. It enhances the effectiveness of amoxicillin against bacteria that are ordinarily resistant to amoxicillin alone.

Indications

• Lower respiratory tract infections
• Acute bacterial otitis media
• Sinusitis
• Skin and skin structure infections
• Urinary tract infections

Dosage

• Respiratory tract infections : 250 mg orally every 8 hrs for 10 days
• Otitis media : 250 mg orally every 8 hrs for 10-14 days
• Sinusitis : 250 mg orally every 8 hrs for 10-14 days
• Skin & soft tissue infections : 250 mg orally every 8 hrs for 7 days or for 3 days following resolution of acute inflammation
• Urinary tract infections : 250 mg orally every 8 hrs for 3-7 days

Contraindications

It is contraindicated in patients with hypersensitivity to drug, cholestatic jaundice and hepatic dysfunction, suspected to have mononucleosis

Ampicillin class antibiotics are exreted in human milk, therefore caution should be exercised when amoxicillin and clavulanate potassium is administered to a nursing woman.

Precautions

Caution should be exercised in patients who are allergic to it; or to penicillin or cephalosporin antibiotics; or if you have any other allergies, severe kidney disease that requires dialysis, history of liver problems (such as cholestatic jaundice) that occured with previous use of amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, diabetes, during pregnancy and breast feeding.

It may cause live bacterial vaccines (such as typhoid vaccine) not to work as well. Therefore, do not have any immunizations/vaccinations while using this medication

During pregnancy, this medication should be used only when clearly needed.

Side-effects

Nausea, vomiting, bloody or prolonged diarrhea, indigestion, abdominal discomfort, bloating, gas, mild skin rash, hives, easy bruising or bleeding, reversible hepatitis, difficulty breathing or swallowing, wheezing, vaginal itching and discharge and super infection, blood or mucus in stool

Drug interaction

• Allopurinol : Increased risk of skin rash
• Antacids : May affect the efficacy of Co-Amoxiclav. Take at least 2 hours apart
• Chloroquine : Reduce the efficacy of Co-Amoxiclav
• Oral contraceptives : Possible reduced contraceptive efficacy. Another form of contraceptive is advised.
• Probenecid : Increased risk of Co-Amoxiclav toxicity
• Tetracycline : Possible reduced Co-Amoxiclav efficacy
• Warfarin : Increased risk of Warfarin toxicity