It often happens that, despite all the precautions taken, we still get sick. And we get sick quite seriously - so that you need to take antibiotics, and not just drink a couple of times "Paracetamol". One of these antibiotics designed to save the human body in the fight against viruses is Amoxiclav. What kind of medicine this is, what it is intended for, what its features are, who is the manufacturer of Amoxiclav - you can read about this and much more in this article.
What is Amoxiclav?
This is the name of a special medicine that contains amoxicillin (in fact, based on it and developed) and clavulanic acid. The latter is responsible for inhibition of various physiological and enzymatic processes in the body, the first (which, incidentally, is found among other things and as a completely independent drug) is included in the penicillin group and, accordingly, is an antimicrobial drug. Thus, if we summarize the information presented, it turns out that Amoxiclav is an antibiotic spectrum of antibiotics.
What does antibiotic mean?
Indeed, how do antibiotics differ from antiviral agents or, say, from simple “Paracetamol"? The name "antibiotic" is translated literally: "against life." This substance is able to suppress living cells with life processes occurring in them. In other words, they kill bacteria, germs, pathogens. Their main difference from antiviral medicines is precisely this: they do not affect the virus in any way. Antiviral is advisable to drink in the initial stages of the disease. However, if they did not have time to help, the virus entered the body and bacteria began to lead an active life in it, the temperature rose, then the time came for taking antibiotics. Some, by the way, drink them immediately, hardly getting sick and not waiting for the situation to worsen - in order to stop everything at the root.
When is the remedy indicated?
"Amoxiclav" can be taken if it is necessary to destroy such types of bacteria as streptococcus or staphylococcus, hemophilic bacillus or salmonella. In other words, this medication is indicated for:
- respiratory diseases;
- diseases affecting the respiratory tract;
- infections of a urological or gynecological nature;
- skin diseases;
- cholecystitis and so on.
Many worry whether Amoxiclav can be taken for gum disease. Yes, you can, and not only gums, but also teeth; Moreover, often this medication is prescribed for the treatment of wounds and / or bites. In general, it is a drug with a wide spectrum of action.
What is the difference between Amoxiclav and Amoxicillin?
As mentioned above, amoxicillin, which is part of Amoxiclav and is its main component, exists as well as a completely independent medicine. This is also an antibiotic. However, then what is the difference between these two drugs? Which is better - Amoxiclav or Amoxicillin?
And the only difference is one, and it lies in the very clavulanic acid, which, in addition to amoxicillin, is in Amoxiclav. The thing is that amoxicillin is a substance from the penicillin group - this was also mentioned above. Penicillin has been known for a very, very long time, and for such a long period of time many bacteria that it had previously successfully influenced have already managed to develop immunity and are not amenable to its effects. It is these groups of bacteria, which over time have received protection from penicillin drugs, and clavulanic acid is designed to act. It is the so-called support for amoxicillin. So, "Amoxiclav" has just a wider spectrum of effects than "Amoxicillin." That is, it affects more and more types of bacteria than its "ally".
It is definitely difficult to answer the question which of these two drugs is best: one and the other have a number of advantages. But since in the article we pay attention to Amoxiclav, we will continue to further study it. And first of all, we denote its other differences from similar drugs.
Advantages of Amoxiclav
We will not mention about clavulanic acid and its possibilities, but we will repeat once again that Amoxiclav, as indicated above, is a broad-spectrum drug - the indications for its use are different and are not limited only to diseases of the respiratory system. Accordingly, the fact that it can help in many different situations is also an undeniable advantage of the medication.
Another plus of this drug is the possibility of using it by a person of any age (including children and the elderly). Amoxiclav is well tolerated and extremely rarely gives any side effects. It quickly penetrates deep into the bloodstream and into tissues; its absorption is not affected by food intake. This is a truly reliable drug, rightfully deserved to be among the best in its category and has proven itself only in the most positive way.
Country of manufacture "Amoksiklava"
For many, the decisive factor in the question of whether or not to purchase a particular drug is information about who produces this medication. Someone prefers exclusively Russian companies, someone, on the contrary, trusts only foreign drugs. People sometimes specifically ask this information from a pharmacist.
Who is the Amoxiclav manufacturing company? This is the Slovenian company "Lek", opened in the mid-40s of the last century in Ljubljana. They provided the Slovenian market (at first only it) with high-quality medicinal products.
At the beginning of this century, the Lek company joined the Novartis company from Switzerland, one of the world's leading drug supply companies, and thus entered the markets of other countries. For more than ten years, Lek has been working with Russia, with headquarters and offices in Moscow and St. Petersburg.
This organization is not only the manufacturer of Amoxiclav. Here, in "Lek", many other medicines are produced, such as, for example, Ketonal or Linex. Lek has its plants not only in Slovenia, but also in other countries (for example, Romania, Poland). It is one of the largest manufacturing companies of Amoxiclav and other medicines, not only in Europe, but throughout the world; Moreover, in the market in the United States of America, Lek generally ranks first in terms of sales.
Release form
The most common version of this drug in the form of tablets. However, not everyone knows that the manufacturer produces Amoxiclav in two versions of tablets: the first is intended for swallowing (these are ordinary tablets that dissolve in the stomach); the second is instant, it dissolves in the mouth in just a couple of minutes. However, the first variety is still more common.
Each package must bear the dosage of Amoxiclav tablets. It always consists of two numbers. This is either 250 mg + 125 mg, or 500 mg + 125 mg, or 875 mg + 125 mg. The first digit indicates the amount of the main drug substance, the second - auxiliary. Thus, a constant number of 125 on Amoxiclav tablets is an indicator of the amount of clavulanic acid.
The tablet option is not the only one in this medication. You can also find it in powder for the preparation of a solution to put an injection. Among other things, there is also a suspension (syrup type liquid). Accordingly, you can choose the kind of drug that is most to your liking, but you need to remember that experts recommend giving the suspension to children (however, taking it for adults, of course, is also not forbidden).
In powder, unlike Amoxiclav tablets, the dosage of clavulanic acid varies - 100 mg or 200 mg. The amount of the main substance in it is 500 mg or 1000 mg. The dosage of the suspension is 125 mg, 250 mg and 500 mg of amoxicillin.
Contraindications to the use of Amoxiclav
So, the use of Amoxiclav - suspension, tablets or injections, it does not matter - it is possible, as mentioned above, by people of all ages. We emphasize: even infants, babies can take this medication, however, only in the most extreme cases. Amoxiclav is allowed to both nursing mothers and pregnant women, but only strictly under the supervision of a doctor. It may seem that Amoxiclav has no contraindications at all. This is not so, they are, although there really are very few of them.
Firstly, you can not drink "Amoxiclav" to people with intolerance to penicillin substances. Secondly, those who have been diagnosed with liver failure and / or the occurrence of cholestatic jaundice (possibly due to the use of amoxicillin earlier). As for renal failure, although people suffering from this disease can take Amoxiclav, there are certain restrictions for them. So, the dosage of the drug should be significantly reduced. In addition, we emphasize once again that it is best for children up to the age of 12 to give a suspension, in any case, the tablet form is strictly forbidden for them, and, choosing between an injection and syrup, most children will, of course, prefer the latter option. Amoxiclav injections, by the way, can be given even to infants.
Side effects of the drug
It has already been repeatedly emphasized above that Amoxiclav extremely rarely has any side effects since the drug is very well absorbed by the body. Nevertheless, since Amoxiclav is an antibiotic, it works just like other antibiotics, namely: it not only destroys harmful and pathogenic bacteria, but also irritates and damages the beneficial intestinal microflora, since "good" bacteria die along with " bad. " Accordingly, those side effects of Amoxiclav that can occur are directly related to the functioning of the gastrointestinal system of the body. So, as a reaction to the drug, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and also nausea can occur. To stop all this, as well as restore the intestinal microflora, it is strongly recommended to take such special preparations as, for example, Linex, with which, by the way, Amoxiclav has a one-for-two manufacturer.
In addition, if we talk about the side effects of Amoxiclav, it is necessary to mention the possible development of fungal infections on the skin, in the mouth and on the mucous membranes, including the appearance of thrush in women. This is due to dysbacteriosis, starting with the use of Amoxiclav and drugs like it. An allergy may occur in the form of a rash or urticaria (rarely Quincke's edema), which indicates the need to immediately stop taking the drug and consult a specialist. To complete the list of possible side effects, you need the possible appearance of such ailments and troubles as headache, jaundice, hepatitis, insomnia, anemia. All this should not be scary, these are only possible side effects that practically do not appear (according to reviews) when using Amoxiclav. In general, absolutely any, even completely harmless and safe medication has side effects. Therefore, you should not be afraid to take the medication just because of the availability of this list.
Recommended dosage
Particular attention should be paid to the fact that a doctor should prescribe a certain dosage of the drug, preferably an infectious disease doctor. self-medication is better not to do. The thing is that an improperly selected dosage can be dangerous to your own health. So, a small dosage simply will not help, and the bacteria will remain in the body. Too high a dosage is quite capable of causing side effects, which is also not very pleasant. Below are the most common recommendations on how to drink Amoxiclav. However, we emphasize again: still, the best option would be to use this drug only after consulting a specialist.
If the drug is prescribed as an adult patient, and the disease does not occur in his severe, but, so to speak, in a mild form, then Amoxiclav is usually prescribed in a dosage of 250 mg + 125 mg three times a day. Amoxiclav 500 mg + 125 mg is also often prescribed for adults, but twice a day (this is the case with tablets). In severe cases, the amount of Amoxiclav is usually increased to a dosage of 500 mg + 125 mg, plus in addition, in this case it is drunk not two per day, but three.
As for children, the dosage is calculated based on their weight. Each Amoxiclav package contains detailed instructions that allow you to accurately calculate the required dosage, focusing on the specific weight of a particular child. In general, as a rule, they take 20 mg of the drug per 1 kg of body weight. If the infection is serious and the disease is difficult, the dosage is doubled. However, it is important to remember that if a child weighs more than 40 kg and is over 12 years old, he should take the same dosage as an adult.
There are medicines that you need to drink strictly after a certain amount of time, for example, every 12 or 10 hours. Amoxiclav also belongs to these. How many hours do you need to drink it? This directly depends on how many tablets per day the patient should take. For example, if you consume three tablets, you need to drink each after 8 hours. In the same case, if there are two tablets, Amoxiclav is taken after 12 hours. This is very important, if you break this sequence, the effectiveness of the drug will not be as high as we would like.
Doctors recommend taking Amoxiclav before meals, but it really doesn’t matter when the patient drinks Amoxiclav after or before meals. Food intake does not affect the absorption of the drug. Accordingly, you can use it at any time. Doctors give the above recommendation for one simple reason - to minimize the risk of any undesirable effect on the part of the gastrointestinal tract.
The duration of administration is from 5 to 14 days, however, no matter how many days Amoxiclav the patient would have drunk, you should not quit taking the drug, even if it became better. You must complete the recommended course to the end.
Compatibility "Amoxiclav" with other drugs
Typically, each drug increases the exposure area of one drug and reduces another. Therefore, you can drink it with some drugs, but not with some. Amoxiclav is also no exception. If you take this medicine along with other bactericidal antibiotics, its effectiveness will even increase. However, bacteriostatic drugs (for example, Tetracycline, Erythromycin, and so on), on the contrary, will reduce the activity of Amoxiclav, so at the same time it is better not to use them. Amoxiclav also has negative compatibility in combination with any type of alcoholic product. In addition to reducing the effectiveness of the drug, the patient, by the way, risks getting serious liver problems. In addition, undergoing treatment with Amoxiclav, it is better not to take any hormonal contraceptives at this time - they most likely will not act. Methotrexate, Disulfiram and Allopurinol are strictly forbidden to be taken with Amoxiclav because of the high risk of a negative reaction of the body.
Analogues of the drug
Each drug has analogues that are identical in composition and, as a rule, significantly differ in cost. Thus, a person who wants to find a cheaper drug can do this, as well as one who prefers to use only expensive medications.
Amoxiclav has its own “substitutes,” but one must be careful here: ordinary amoxicillin cannot be considered a complete analogue of the above drug, since clavulanic acid is absent in it, therefore, the spectrum of action is less than that of Amoxiclav. Amoxicillin will not exert exactly the same effect on bacteria in the body as its "cooler" counterpart, since it simply can not cope with all bacteria. , "", . , , , . , , "" " ", . "".
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Augmentin is the English equivalent of Amoxiclav, a broad-spectrum antibiotic. You need to immediately pay attention to the fact that Augmentin is not a cheap analogue of Amoxiclav, rather, on the contrary, the course of treatment with this medication will be about five or even ten percent more expensive. However, many people prefer Augmentin to Amoxiclav, despite the fact that the effect of these drugs is absolutely identical, just like side effects and contraindications. Augmentin is usually prescribed twice daily at a dosage of 500 mg. Take it, unlike the previous analogue of "Amoksiklava" and small children can, however, only from three months of age.
The cost of Flemoklav Solyutab varies between 400-500 rubles. This medicine is of Dutch origin. It is forbidden to take children under two years of age, and with caution, only after careful consultation with a doctor, you can use the drug for people with liver failure and pregnant women. As a rule, this antibiotic in tablet form is prescribed three times a day, 500 mg each. Important: a similar drug can be taken exclusively before meals, while it is recommended to dissolve it in water.
Panklav, Serbian-made tablets, are dispensed from pharmacies exclusively by prescription and have exactly the same composition as the drug we are interested in. It is necessary to take this medication strictly during meals, without chewing and drinking with a small amount of liquid - plain water is best. As with its "counterparts" -analogues, the Panclav dosage is, in general, standard: three tablets (at a dosage of 250 mg + 125 mg) or two (at a dosage of 500 mg +125 mg). This is for adults and adolescents over 12 years old, of course. But everyone who is younger than 12 years old should not use Panklav, so if necessary, children will have to choose another antibiotic. As for pregnancy, future mothers can drink the drug, but carefully, only after consulting a doctor. But real mummies, those who are breastfeeding, will need to choose: either breastfeeding, or Panklav, and therefore, if possible, it is better to opt for another medication - good, there are a lot of them now. The cost of Panklav, by the way, is approximately 300-400 rubles.
Another medicine similar to Amoxiclav is Ecoclave, which is found both in tablets and in suspension. Just like the above drug, “Ecoclave” is prohibited for children under 12 years old, undesirable for pregnant women, but nursing mothers are allowed, because it is not able to penetrate into breast milk. Caution should be taken with this drug and those who suffer from liver and / or renal failure. The method of use of "Ecoclave" is no different from the method described repeatedly above. The cost of this medicine is in the range of 300 rubles.
But “Clamosar” is more expensive: from 400 rubles. The peculiarity of this drug is that it is available in the form of a solution for intravenous injection. It can not be put neither pregnant nor lactating women, as well as those who have previously experienced jaundice. But for babies, these injections are allowed, and even for newborn babies. Adults and adolescents over 12 years of age and weighing more than 40 kg are prescribed 1000 mg three times a day. Children from three months of age and up to a year are given 25 mg per 1 kg of body weight three times a day, for children up to three months - the same dosage, but twice a day and very slowly, for 40 minutes.
Fibell is also sold in the form of powder for injection, but it is not an example more expensive than the above-mentioned medication - its cost varies within 900 rubles. Fibell is approved for use not only by adults, but also by children of any age. However, it is better for pregnant and lactating women to abstain from its use, although according to the instructions this drug is not prohibited.
Medication cost
In different pharmacies, Amoxiclav costs differently. It depends on the “coolness” of the pharmacy. On average, the price ranges from 250 to 860 rubles. After all, there are many more factors affecting the cost of the final product. What exactly the drug is purchased in, in what form, in what dosage - also matters in the issue of the formation of the final price.
By the way, in online pharmacies Amoksiklav can be cheaper - however, as in discounts. Now in almost every village of our country there are such cheap pharmacies where medicines are sold without a big markup.
Interesting Facts
- Antibiotics do not know how to affect fungi.
- If you do not finish the prescribed antibiotic intake (even if there is a recovery, as it may seem to the patient), the bacterium may remain "untreated", and the disease will simply turn into a latent form.
- Antibiotics should be washed down exclusively with water, since other drinks can inhibit and even neutralize the effect of antibiotics.
- Antibiotics were invented by the British Alexander Fleming. He discovered penicillin, and this happened quite by accident: the scientist noticed an unusual green mold on one of the cups with bacteria, and later discovered that this substance is capable of killing bacteria that cause various diseases.
- Even in antiquity, their own “antibiotics” already existed: dressings made of moldy bread that slave traders applied to the injured ankles of slaves under shackles. This made it possible to alleviate the pain of the sufferers, and therefore they could continue to work.
- The name "penicillin" was coined even before Fleming by the Frenchman Ernest Duchenne.
- The first patient to be cured with penicillin was a woman named Ann Miller - she got rid of streptococcal sepsis.
- Alexander Fleming has had over 20 different medals, 25 honorary degrees and even a knighthood throughout his life. And on his grave it is indicated that he is the inventor of antibiotics.
- In our country, penicillin began to actively treat patients in the mid 40s of the last century.
How to drink Amoxiclav? This is described in detail above. I would like to remind once again that only a specialist can prescribe treatment with this drug and indicate the required dosage. One can only hope that the information presented in the article will remain only theoretical knowledge, which does not have to be put into practice. Take care of your health and the health of your loved ones.