What is Amoxiclav? What does this remedy help with? You will learn the answers to these and other questions from the materials in this article. We will tell you about how much this medicine costs, in what form it is made and whether it can be combined with alcohol.
Composition, shape and packaging
Amoxiclav (1000 mg) contains active substances such as potassium salt of clavulanic acid and amoxicillin trihydrate. It is currently available in the following forms:
- film-coated tablets;
- powder for the preparation of suspensions;
- lyophilized powder for injection.
Amoxiclav tablets (1000 mg) are packed in aluminum blisters and cardboard packs, respectively.
Powder for suspension is available in dark glass vials. Also, a measuring spoon is attached to the drug.
As for the injection form, it is available in bottles of 1.2 and 0.6 g, which are placed in cardboard boxes.
Pharmacological features
How does the drug "Amoxiclav"? Instructions, reviews report that the combination of clavulanic acid and amoxicillin is unique in its kind.
Amoxicillin causes the death of bacteria by binding to their surface receptors. However, most microorganisms have learned to destroy this antibiotic substance through the enzyme beta-lactamase. The activity of this enzyme is able to reduce clavulanic acid. Due to this effect, suspension, injection and Amoxiclav tablets (1000 mg) are used to treat many infectious diseases.
Drug properties
What properties do antibiotics have? Amoxiclav (1000 mg) kills even those bacterial strains that have already shown resistance to amoxicillin.
The drug in question has a pronounced bactericidal and bacteriostatic effect on all types of echinococcus, streptococcus and listeria (except for methicillin-resistant strains). Also, gram-negative bacteria such as Brucella, Bordetella, Gardnerella, Salmonella, Klebsiella, Proteus, Moraxella, Clostridium, Shigella and others are sensitive to this medicine.
Pharmacokinetics
Can I take Amoxiclav (1000 mg) with food? Regardless of food, this medication is well absorbed from the intestines. Its highest concentration is reached after 60 minutes. It has a high speed and volume of distribution in the body (in the tonsils, lungs, synovial and pleural fluids, adipose and muscle tissues, prostate gland, middle ear and sinuses).
In breast milk, this drug is supplied in small quantities.
Amoxicillin is partially destroyed in the body, and clavulanic acid is extensively metabolized.
The drug is excreted through the kidneys, as well as the lungs and intestines. Its half-life is 90 minutes.
Amoxiclav: what helps?
The antibiotic in question is prescribed for the treatment of various infectious diseases:
- respiratory tract (for example, chronic or acute sinusitis), inflammation of the middle ear, pharyngeal abscess, tonsilopharyngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia and others;
- gynecological infections (septic abortion, endometritis, salpingitis, etc.);
- urinary tract (pyelonephritis, cystitis, urethritis, etc.);
- bone infections;
- odontogenic infections, in which the pathogen enters the human body through cavities in the teeth;
- genital infections (gonorrhea, chancroid);
- connective tissue infections;
- inflammation of the biliary tract (e.g., cholecystitis, cholangitis);
- infections of the skin, as well as soft tissues (phlegmon, bites, wound infection).
Contraindications
Does the antibiotic Amoxiclav have contraindications? Treatment with this agent is not carried out with impaired liver function and jaundice (cholestatic), as well as with increased sensitivity to the substances of the drug or to all penicillins.
This drug is prescribed with extreme caution in the presence of an allergy to cephalosporins, liver failure, pseudomembranous colitis and severe renal dysfunctions.
In patients with lymphocytic leukemia or mononucleosis who have been prescribed ampicillin, a erythematous rash may occur. With this reaction, antibiotic administration should be discontinued.
The drug "Amoxiclav": doses and methods of use
The drug "Amoxiclav" can be prescribed to patients in different ways. The method of its use depends on the weight and age of the patient, the condition of the liver and kidneys, as well as the severity of the infection.
The best time to use this medication is to start eating. The duration of therapy with this drug is 6-14 days. It is forbidden to use the medicine longer than the specified period.
For children under 12 years of age, an antibiotic is prescribed at the rate of 40 mg per kg of body weight per day. For adolescents whose weight is more than 40 kg, the drug is given in the same dosage as adults.
For adults, 375 mg tablets are prescribed every eight hours, and 625 mg every 12 hours. For severe infections, the patient is advised to take a medicine at a dose of 625 mg (every eight hours) or 1000 mg (every 12 hours).
Doctors emphasize that Amoxiclav tablets may differ in the number of active ingredients. Therefore, it should be borne in mind that it is forbidden to replace the dose of 625 mg with two doses of 375 mg.
For the treatment of odontogenic infections, the following scheme is used: a drug at a dosage of 375 mg is prescribed every eight hours, and at a dose of 625 mg every 12 hours.
If you need to take medicine for patients with kidney disease, then the urine creatinine content must be taken into account. In people with liver pathologies, constant monitoring of its work should be carried out.
How should Amoxiclav be given to small children? A suspension, the price of which is not very high, is prescribed for babies up to 3 months. The dose of this medicine is determined using a measuring spoon or pipette. For every kg of a child’s weight, 30 mg of amoxicillin should be given. Take the medicine twice a day.
For children older than 3 months with an average and mild degree of the disease, the drug is prescribed at the rate of 20 mg per kg of weight.
How is Amoxiclav used for severe infections? Suspension (the price of the medicine will be indicated below) is prescribed to children in an amount of 40 mg per kg of weight. The same dose is used to treat deep infections (for example, with middle ear inflammation, bronchitis, sinusitis, pneumonia, etc.).
The maximum daily dose of amoxicillin for children is 45 mg / kg, and for adults - 6 grams. As for clavulanic acid, it can be taken per day no more than 10 mg / kg for children and 600 mg for adults.
Side effects
As a rule, Amoxiclav is well tolerated. Although in some cases, side effects occur in the elderly and those patients who take the medication for a long time.
Most often, adverse reactions occur during or after completion of therapy. Although sometimes their development is observed after a few weeks after treatment:
- diarrhea, flatulence, nausea, glossitis, vomiting, pseudomembranous colitis, dyspepsia, stomatitis, discoloration of the tongue, gastritis, enterocolitis;
- anemia (hemolytic), agranulocytosis, eosinophilia, a decrease in the number of platelets and leukocytes;
- dizziness, headaches, inappropriate behavior, agitation, insomnia, hyperactivity, convulsions;
- an increase in liver function tests, an asymptomatic increase in the activity of AsAT, alkaline phosphatase and AlAT, as well as the level of bilirubin in the blood;
- rash, erythema multiforme, urticaria, exfoliative dermatitis, angioedema, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis ;
- blood in the urine, interstitial nephritis;
- oral candidiasis, fever, candidal vaginitis (with prolonged use of the drug).
Other drug compatibility
It is undesirable to combine Amoxiclav and indirect anticoagulants, as this may contribute to an increase in prothrombin time.
The medication in question enhances the toxicity of Metatrexate.
The interaction of allopurinol and Amoxiclav causes a risk of exanthema.
It is forbidden to prescribe a medication with macrolides or tetracyclines, as well as with sulfonamides due to a decrease in its effectiveness.
You can not combine rifampicin and amoxicillin, since these are antagonist preprates. Their joint administration weakens the antibacterial effect of both.
Taking the medication in question reduces the effectiveness of oral contraceptives.
It should also be noted that the drug "Amoxiclav" (1000) and alcohol are prohibited to combine due to the possible increase in adverse reactions.
Price, synonyms and analogues
Synonyms of this drug are: “Clavocin”, “Augmentin” and “Moksiklav”. As for the analogues, then they include:
- Amovikomb
- Ecoclave
- Arlet
- Flemoklav
- Bactoclav
- Toromentin
- Klamosar
- Rapiclav
- Verklav,
- Ranclave
- Medoclav
- Panklav
- "Liklav".
How much is the Amoxiclav antibiotic? Its price depends on the form of release. Tablets (1000 mg) can be purchased for 480 rubles, a suspension for 280, and lyophilized powder for injection for 180.
Drug Reviews
According to patient reviews, this medication is an effective drug that is used to treat many infectious diseases. When taking medication to treat respiratory ailments, relief comes on the third day.
Also, the drug is actively prescribed for the treatment of genitourinary infections.
In addition to positive reviews about this antibiotic, patients leave negative messages. According to them, the medicine "Amoxiclav" causes many side effects, which manifest themselves in the form of nausea, diarrhea and vomiting.