Clavulanic Acid
Clavulanic acid, also called clavulanate, is added to amoxicillin to defeat bacteria that would otherwise break the antibiotic down; here it comes as Augmentin tablets in four strengths and Advent DT 400/57mg tablets for bacterial infections.
Why clavulanic acid is never sold on its own
Some bacteria defend themselves with enzymes called beta-lactamases, which cut penicillin-type antibiotics apart before they can reach their target. Clavulanic acid blocks those enzymes, holding them occupied while amoxicillin gets on with the job of stopping the bacteria from multiplying. On its own, clavulanic acid barely touches an infection; its whole purpose is to keep amoxicillin working in bacteria that would otherwise shrug it off. American labels often call it clavulanate, after its potassium salt; the ingredient is the same.
What the combination is used for
Amoxicillin with clavulanic acid treats bacterial infections of the ears, sinuses, lungs and chest, skin, and urinary tract; sinus infections lead the searches for it. The combination belongs to the antibiotics group, and it does nothing for colds or flu, which are viral. Adding clavulanic acid widens the range of bacteria that amoxicillin can handle, which is why the two are never sold apart. The pairing is called broad-spectrum because it covers more types of bacteria than amoxicillin alone.
Augmentin and Advent DT
Augmentin comes in four tablet strengths. Each is printed as a pair of numbers in milligrams, amoxicillin first and clavulanic acid second: 250/125mg, 500/125mg and 875/125mg, plus 750/250mg, the one tablet with a larger amount of clavulanic acid. Advent DT is a 400/57mg dispersible tablet. The infection being treated decides how much amoxicillin a dose has to deliver.
Take a dose with a meal or a snack and leave 8 to 12 hours between doses, which means two or three doses in a day. Many people feel better within a few days, but the course is still worth finishing: bacteria left behind by a short course are the tougher ones, and they can resist the antibiotic next time. The number of days depends on the infection being treated.
Side effects
Loose stools are the usual complaint, sometimes with nausea, vomiting, indigestion, or vaginal itching and discharge. A mild rash can appear as well. Diarrhoea is more common with the combination than with plain amoxicillin. Watery or bloody diarrhoea, starting during the course or shortly after it, or swelling of the face, lips or throat with difficulty breathing, needs urgent treatment. Very rarely the liver is affected, which can show as yellowing of the skin or eyes or unusually dark urine; it has shown up more often in people who had liver trouble after an earlier course.
Before you start
A previous liver reaction to this antibiotic, or an allergy to penicillin-type medicines, rules the combination out, and adding clavulanic acid changes nothing about a penicillin allergy. Glandular fever (mononucleosis) commonly brings out a widespread rash when amoxicillin is taken, so it is not the answer for a sore throat that turns out to be viral. Keep the tablets in their original strip or bottle, somewhere cool and dry, and check the expiry date.
Sources
- Amoxicillin and Clavulanic Acid: MedlinePlus Drug Information — MedlinePlus / U.S. National Library of Medicine
- CDC - Antibiotic Use — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Where can I order Clavulanic Acid for delivery in Hong Kong?
Clavulanic acid can be ordered online for delivery to Hong Kong, combined with amoxicillin. The page lists generic Augmentin tablets in 250/125mg, 500/125mg, 750/250mg and 875/125mg, and Advent DT tablets in 400/57mg. Each order is sent in plain, unbranded packaging with nothing outside to show what is inside.
What is the price of Clavulanic Acid?
Each of the two clavulanic acid products has its own price per pack, shown on its page in HKD or your selected currency; larger packs usually cost less per unit.
Do I need a prescription to order Clavulanic Acid?
PockDose does not ask you to upload a prescription when you order clavulanic acid. See the ordering FAQ for details.
What is another name for amoxicillin and clavulanic acid?
Augmentin is a brand name of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid, which are also sold as Co-amoxiclav. Here, amoxicillin and clavulanic acid can be bought online as Advent DT and generic Augmentin. These are generics, not the original brand.
Is clavulanate the same as clavulanic acid?
Yes. Clavulanic acid is the international name, and clavulanate is the American name, taken from the potassium clavulanate salt in the tablets. A pack may carry either word for the same ingredient.
Does clavulanic acid work on its own?
No. Clavulanic acid has almost no ability to kill bacteria by itself, and its job is to block the enzymes that bacteria use to break amoxicillin down, which is why the two are always supplied together. Both Augmentin and Advent DT contain both parts of the pair.
Is Augmentin the same as amoxicillin?
Not quite. Augmentin is amoxicillin with clavulanic acid added. Plain amoxicillin has no clavulanic acid, so bacteria that make beta-lactamases can break it down and carry on growing. The clavulanic acid in Augmentin holds those enzymes back, which is why the combination reaches some bacteria that plain amoxicillin would miss.
What is the difference between the Augmentin and Advent DT strengths?
The first number is the amoxicillin and the second the clavulanic acid. Augmentin raises the amoxicillin from 250 through 500 to 875mg with 125mg of clavulanic acid, and its 750mg tablet carries 250mg. Advent DT is a 400/57mg dispersible tablet, a smaller dose that keeps the same purpose.
How long does amoxicillin and clavulanic acid take to work?
Most people feel better within the first few days, well before the infection has gone. Stopping at that point is what lets the surviving bacteria regrow, so the tablets are taken for the whole course, however many days it runs. Symptoms that carry on or get worse suggest the infection is not clearing.
Can Augmentin cause a yeast infection?
It can. Antibiotics disturb the balance of bacteria and yeast in the body, and yeast can then overgrow. The usual sign is vaginal itching, soreness or a white discharge, which may show up during the course or in the week or two after it ends.
Is clavulanic acid a penicillin?
No. Clavulanic acid is a beta-lactamase inhibitor, a separate group of medicines. Amoxicillin is the penicillin in the pair, so a known penicillin allergy counts here as much as it does with plain amoxicillin.