Amoxicillin
Amoxicillin is a penicillin antibiotic used for chest, skin, dental and urinary infections, sold as tablets and capsules from 250mg to 1000mg and in clavulanate combinations.
Amoxicillin
Amoxicillin
250/500mg
Amoxicillin tablets in 250mg and 500mg, a penicillin-type antibiotic for bacterial chest, ear, throat, skin and urinary infections, sold in packs from 30 to 360 tablets.
Infections amoxicillin treats
Amoxicillin is used for bacterial infections: pneumonia and other chest infections, ear, nose and throat infections, skin infections, urinary tract infections and dental abscesses. It is also given alongside other medicines to clear Helicobacter pylori, the bacterium behind many stomach ulcers. It is a penicillin antibiotic; the antibiotics range covers the others used for the same kinds of infection.
The job it does is simple. Bacteria need a tough outer wall to survive, and amoxicillin blocks the enzyme that builds it. The wall fails, the bacteria break apart, and the immune system clears what is left. Viruses have no such wall, which is why a cold or flu does not improve with it.
Tablets, capsules and clavulanate combinations
Plain amoxicillin comes as Amoxicillin tablets in 250mg and 500mg, and as Amoxil capsules, which run from 250mg up to 1000mg with a 625mg step between. Cenmox and Trimox are capsules as well, both in 250mg and 500mg.
Two products add clavulanate, which blocks an enzyme that some bacteria use to disable amoxicillin. Augmentin tablets combine the two at 250/125mg, 500/125mg, 750/250mg and 875/125mg, and Advent DT tablets are 400/57mg. The combination suits infections such as sinusitis, where a plain penicillin may not be enough on its own.
Getting through the course
Say the label asks for a dose every 12 hours: that usually means breakfast and the evening meal, and a three-times-a-day course adds one in the middle of the afternoon. A meal alongside the dose calms the queasiness some people get.
Symptoms ease long before the infection is gone, and the pack holds enough tablets to finish the job. Stopping at day three because you feel fine is how an infection comes back. If you realise you have missed a dose, take it then and keep to the usual times afterwards, unless the next one is nearly due. Never double up.
Side effects worth knowing
Nausea, vomiting and loose stools are the usual complaints, along with headache, a rash, vaginal itching or thrush, and a temporary yellow, brown or grey tinge to the teeth.
An allergic reaction that spreads, or comes with wheezing, trouble swallowing or breathing, blistering or peeling skin, or swelling of the face, lips, tongue, throat or eyes, needs urgent treatment. Severe or long-lasting diarrhoea, and vomiting that continues for hours after a dose, also need attention without delay.
Penicillin allergy, kidneys and other medicines
If a penicillin has ever caused you a serious reaction, amoxicillin is the wrong antibiotic, because they belong to one family. Kidney problems slow the way the body gets rid of the drug, which is why doses may be placed further apart. Anyone taking methotrexate should know amoxicillin pushes its blood level up, and anyone on allopurinol for gout is more likely to break out in a rash.
Sources
- Amoxicillin: MedlinePlus Drug Information — MedlinePlus / National Library of Medicine
- Bacterial infections - symptoms, causes and treatments - Healthdirect — Healthdirect Australia
Where can I buy Amoxicillin in Hong Kong?
You can buy Amoxicillin online with delivery to Hong Kong. The range covers plain Amoxicillin tablets in 250mg and 500mg, generic Amoxil capsules in 250mg, 500mg, 625mg and 1000mg, generic Augmentin tablets combining amoxicillin with clavulanate, and Cenmox capsules, with more on the page. An order can be cancelled within 24 hours if it has not been dispatched, and support answers 24/7 in English and Cantonese.
How much does Amoxicillin cost?
Prices vary between the six amoxicillin products and between pack sizes. Every product page lists its current prices in HKD or in the currency you choose.
Do I need a prescription to order Amoxicillin?
PockDose does not ask you to upload a prescription when you order amoxicillin. See the ordering FAQ for details.
What are the other names for amoxicillin?
Trimox and Amoxil are brand names of amoxicillin, which is also sold as Almox, Mox, Moxikind and Novamox. Here, amoxicillin can be bought online as Cenmox, generic Trimox, generic Amoxil and amoxicillin tablets. These are generics, not the original brand.
How long does amoxicillin take to work?
Improvement usually begins in the first days of treatment, though the speed depends on the infection. Keep going to the end of the pack even when you feel well: the bacteria that outlast the early days are the ones that bring a relapse.
What is the difference between amoxicillin and Augmentin?
Augmentin is amoxicillin with clavulanate added. Clavulanate blocks an enzyme that some bacteria make to disable amoxicillin, so the pair is chosen for infections such as sinusitis where plain amoxicillin may not be enough. The two numbers on an Augmentin tablet, such as 875/125mg, are amoxicillin first, clavulanate second.
Can I drink alcohol with amoxicillin?
Alcohol does not stop amoxicillin working, and there is no reaction between the two. A heavy night can still leave you feeling worse, though, because nausea, stomach upset and dehydration land on top of an infection your body is already fighting. Keep drinking light until the course is done.
Does amoxicillin affect the contraceptive pill?
Only rifampicin and rifabutin among antibiotics weaken hormonal contraception, and amoxicillin is not either of them. What can interfere is vomiting or severe diarrhoea, which may stop a pill being absorbed, so count that day as a missed pill.
Does amoxicillin cause thrush?
Thrush is a recognised side effect of antibiotics: they can upset the balance of yeast in the body, which shows up as vaginal itching or a white discharge. It usually settles once the course finishes.