In the article, we will consider the instructions for use, price and reviews for the Amoxiclav preparation. The drug is a popular drug from the antibiotic group. He is often prescribed by therapists and pediatricians to treat chronic infectious diseases. Reviews about Amoxiclav below.
The composition of the drug
The medication consists of two main components. One of them is semisynthetic penicillin, namely amoxicillin, the second ingredient is clavulanic acid. Each of these components performs its function. Amoxicillin is classified as an antibiotic, but clavulanic acid has no noticeable antibacterial effect.
It is well known that penicillins are one of the first antibiotics that were received back in the mid-twentieth century. During their use, they have shown a high level of effectiveness. But many bacteria have already managed to develop resistance to them. Therefore, amoxicillin has become harmless to many bacteria.
Clavulanic acid is designed to fight bacteria resistance by helping amoxicillin. It is thanks to this acid that Amoxiclav is very effective.
Thus, it is this combination that causes great antibacterial activity. Amoxicillin, which is combined with clavulanic acid, is doubly active against many bacteria that cause infectious pathologies.
Sensitive bacteria to Amoxiclav
So, Amoxiclav is able to destroy many different bacteria, for example, it is effective against streptococci, staphylococci, shigella, klebsiella, brucella, echinococcus, helicobacter, clostridia, hemophilic bacillus and salmonella.
Release form
Amoxiclav is available in tablet form. There are two types. The main one is the pills, which are covered with a film coating. They are intended for ingestion, dissolve in the intestines. They also produce instant tablets that dissolve in the mouth. You can buy this drug in the form of a suspension, and, in addition, in bottles that contain powder for the preparation of solutions intended for intravenous administration.
Reviews about Amoxiclav are mostly positive.
Indications for use
When should you use the product? It is prescribed for various infectious pathologies, the causative agents of which are bacteria. This medication is often prescribed for the treatment of acute respiratory diseases. "Amoxiclav" reduces the severity of the symptoms of the disease, reducing its duration. So, this medicine is effective in the following infections:
- the presence of respiratory diseases;
- therapy of urological, andrological and gynecological diseases;
- treatment of skin diseases caused by bacterial infections;
- treatment of infections of connective and bone tissues;
- therapy of infectious cholecystitis and cholangitis.
Now we give the bacterial ailments of the respiratory system, in which this drug can be prescribed. So, it is prescribed for pharyngitis, otitis media, tonsillitis, laryngitis and rhinitis. Among other things, this antibiotic is effective for sinusitis, sinusitis, pneumonia, pleurisy, bronchitis and tracheitis.
In addition, Amoxiclav is prescribed for bacterial infections of the genitourinary system. For example, it is often prescribed for pyelonephritis, cystitis, urethritis, prostatitis, adnexitis, endometritis and salpingitis.
It is recommended to prescribe Amoxiclav for the prevention and treatment of infections associated with teeth and gums. This drug is also prescribed for the treatment of bites and wounds. Can Amoxiclav be used during pregnancy? Reviews about this, too.
Contraindications
The drug has not many contraindications. This antibiotic can be treated for children, even infants. For infants, it is advised to buy a suspension, a solution for intravenous administration is also suitable. Pregnant women can also use this drug, but under the strict supervision of a doctor.
The main contraindication for taking this antibiotic is the intolerance of penicillins and cephalosporins in humans. You can not be treated with Amoxiclav and people who suffer from severe forms of liver failure and infectious mononucleosis. Amoxiclav is also not suitable for those who previously used amoxicillin led to the development of jaundice.
Taking this drug depends on the condition of the patient's kidneys. People with insufficiency of this organ should be prescribed small doses of Amoxiclav. Children under twelve years of age should not be prescribed Amoxiclav tablets. For small patients, a suspension is preferred. With caution, the drug is prescribed during pregnancy. Its use is possible when the benefit to the mother is higher than the negative impact that this drug can cause to the developing fetus.
We will also consider reviews of Amoxiclav for children.
Side effects
The presented medication is characterized by good tolerance, and adverse reactions on the background of its administration appear infrequently. Mostly there are side effects that are associated with the digestive system. Like any antibiotic, Amoxiclav destroys not only pathogens, but also healthy intestinal microflora. Therefore, as a result of long-term treatment, manifestations are possible that will be associated with dysbiosis. We are talking about the occurrence of dyspepsia, nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain and the like.
This is confirmed by the instructions for use and reviews of Amoxiclav.
After completing the treatment course, in order to restore the intestinal microflora, probiotic drugs in the form of Bifidumbacterin, Linex and others should be taken. Candidiasis can develop on the skin and mucous membranes, that is, Candida is affected. Adverse reactions that are associated with dysbacteriosis are the most common with Amoxiclav. As a result of taking Amoxiclav, many women are likely to experience candidal colpitis, that is, thrush.
Another group of side effects are allergic reactions. They can occur, for example, in the form of a rash on the skin, as well as in the form of urticaria or dermatitis. In this case, it is recommended to stop taking the drug, and then consult a doctor. Very rarely, taking this antibiotic can cause Quincke's edema along with anaphylactic shock.
According to the instructions and reviews for Amoxiclav, its use may also cause adverse reactions associated with impaired liver function, for example, the appearance of cholestatic jaundice and hepatitis. Such phenomena were mainly observed in elderly patients and in men, especially with a long course of therapy.
Other adverse reactions are possible in the form of headaches, dizziness, insomnia, changes in the blood composition, for example, leukopenia along with neutropenia, thrombocytopenia and agranulocytosis can be noted. The appearance of anemia, changes in the urine in the form of crystalluria and pseudomembranous colitis is not ruled out. This is evidenced by numerous reviews.
How to take Amoxiclav?
Mode of application
The dosage of this medication may depend on many different factors, for example, the disease itself, its severity, the kidney function of the patient, his age, and the like. Therefore, the exact dosage should be prescribed by an infectious disease specialist or therapist. Too low doses of Amoxiclav can cause the bacteria to become immune to it and develop resistance. Too much dose will entail risks of adverse reactions.
In the presence of infections that occur with low intensity, as a rule, one tablet of Amoxiclav is prescribed three times. In severe pathologies, two tablets may be prescribed three times a day.
For children, dosage is prescribed based on their weight. It should be remembered that for small patients, it is preferable to use a suspension, and not tablets. In the presence of infections that occur in mild or moderate form, it is recommended to use a dosage of 20 milligrams per kilogram of weight. And against the background of severe infections, it should be doubled. Amoxiclav packaging is provided with special instructions that allow you to calculate the dosage for children in different cases. We give the maximum daily dosage of clavulanic acid and amoxicillin, which is recommended for children and adults:
- for adults, amoxicillin should not exceed 6 grams, and clavulanic acid - 0.6 grams;
- for children, amoxicillin does not exceed 45 micrograms per kilogram of body weight, and clavulanic acid - 10 micrograms per kilogram of body weight.
In the presence of renal failure, the dosage must be adjusted. The medicine presented must be taken at certain time intervals. Thus, if three pills are prescribed per day, they should be consumed exactly eight hours later, for example, at 8:00 in the morning, at 16:00 and at midnight. In the event that the medication is prescribed twice a day, then the tablets are consumed every twelve hours. This technique allows you to maintain a constant concentration of the drug in the blood, so that the effectiveness of the drug will be maximum. Reviews on the use of Amoxiclav are of interest to many.
The absorption of the active components into the blood is carried out regardless of the consumption of food, in this regard, "Amoksiklav" is taken before, after, or directly with food. Thus, from eating its effectiveness will not decrease. True, doctors are advised to take these pills before meals. This will reduce the likelihood of unpleasant side effects associated with the digestive system.
Children who are over twelve years old, weighing more than forty kilograms, should take an adult dosage. Individuals with renal dysfunction, which is associated with a decrease in creatinine clearance, require dose adjustment.
The duration of therapy is usually from five to fourteen days. Exceeding this period requires special instructions from your doctor. If therapy with this drug is ineffective, a replacement should be found. If the improvement due to Amoxiclav occurred earlier than the treatment course was completed, then it still needs to be completed to avoid relapse of the pathology.
Let us further consider analogues, reviews about Amoxiclav.
Drug Analogs
Structural analogues of this drug should include drugs that contain amoxicillin along with clavulanic acid, for example, these are in the form of Augmentin, Flemoklav and Solutab. Drugs that contain amoxicillin alone will not be considered an adequate replacement due to the fact that the list of microorganisms that are sensitive to amoxicillin is less than that of Amoxiclav. Absolutely the same can be said about other medicines of the penicillin category, since their scope of application does not coincide with the field of use of tablets and Amoxiclav suspension.
According to reviews, this medication is very effective.
Interaction with other medicines
The effectiveness of the drug "Amoxiclav" usually increases in case of simultaneous administration with various bactericidal antibiotics. But it must be said that macrolides along with tetracyclines, sulfonamides and other bacteriostatic antibiotics only reduce the effectiveness of this drug. In this regard, it is necessary to avoid concurrent administration of Amoxiclav with bacteriostatic agents. It should also be borne in mind that the simultaneous use of it with hormonal contraceptives can weaken the effect of the latter. Adult reviews of Amoxiclav confirm that the drug is usually well tolerated.
The simultaneous use of alcohol is prohibited. The fact is that in this case, a negative effect on the liver is possible along with a decrease in the effect of the drug. Also, the simultaneous use of this antibiotic with Methotrexate is prohibited, since Amoxiclav enhances its toxicity. You can not prescribe Amoxiclav at the same time as Disulfiram, this increases the likelihood of allergic reactions. Against the background of concurrent administration with Allopurinol, the risk of developing exanthema increases.
As part of taking a suspension or tablets in combination with oral anticoagulants, caution must be exercised, since the medication can increase prothrombin time.
What is the price of Amoxiclav? Reviews and analogues above.
Price
The cost ranges from two hundred to five hundred rubles, depending on the form of release of the drug. For example, two hundred eighty rubles must be paid for a suspension. The price of tablets is about five hundred rubles. And ampoules will cost two hundred rubles.
What do the doctor's say? Reviews about Amoxiclav specialists
Doctors write in their reviews that the drug is much more effective in treating various respiratory diseases than its analogue called Amoxicillin. Experts say that they usually prescribe a five-day course of treatment for their patients. According to the assurances of doctors, this is usually enough to recover.
Many doctors write about Amoxiclav that this drug has an excellent effect on various bacterial infections of the genital organs. It is noted that the medicine rarely gives any side effects. In parallel, regardless of the pathology, doctors always prescribe antifungal medications, in addition, probiotics in order to restore healthy intestinal microflora.
Doctors say in their reviews of Amoxiclav that the injectable use of this drug can quickly eliminate the manifestations of severe otolaryngological diseases. Doctors also note that the medication copes well with inflammation of the middle ear. As doctors say, patients like to take a sweet fruit suspension.
We reviewed the Amoxiclav tool, instructions, price and reviews.