1. AMOXICILLIN HISTORY
How was Amoxicillin discovered?

The Beecham scientists discovered Amoxicillin in 1972.

GlaxoSmithKline currently markets Amoxicillin under the trade name Amoxil.

Note: World-drugs.net sells generic Amoxicillin

2. AMOXICILLIN FACTS

Amoxicillin is a moderate-spectrum beta-lactam antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections caused by susceptible micro-organisms. Amoxicillin is usually the drug of choice within the class because it is better absorbed, following oral administration, than other beta-lactam antibiotics.

Amoxicillin is susceptible to degradation by beta-lactamase-producing bacteria, and so is often given with clavulanic acid.

3. ABOUT AMOXICILLIN MEDICATION
What are antibiotics?

An antibiotic is a drug that kills or slows the growth of bacteria. Antibiotics are one class of "antimicrobials", a larger group, which also includes anti-viral, anti-fungal, and anti-parasitic drugs. They are relatively harmless to the host, and therefore can be used to treat infections. The term originally described only those formulations derived from living organisms, in contradistinction to "chemotherapeutic agents", which were purely synthetic. Nowadays the term "antibiotic" is also applied also to synthetic antimicrobials, such as the sulfonamides.

Antibiotics are labeled as "magic bullets": drugs, which target disease without harming the host. Antibiotics are not effective in viral infections, fungal infections and other nonbacterial infections, and individual antibiotics vary widely in their effectiveness on various types of bacteria. Some specific antibiotics target either gram-negative or gram-positive bacteria, and others are more wide-spectrum antibiotics.

The effectiveness of individual antibiotics varies with the location of the infection, the ability of the antibiotics to reach the site of infection, and the ability of the bacteria to resist or inactivate the antibiotic. Some antibiotics actually kill the bacteria (bactericidal), whereas others merely prevent the bacteria from multiplying (bacteriostatic) so that the host's immune system can overcome them.

Classes of Antibiotics?

There are many ways to classify antibiotics.

One such classification is by chemical structure:

Aminoglycosides

• Amikacin
• Dibekacin
• Gentamicin
• Kanamycin
• Neomycin
• Netilmicin
• Paromomycin
• Sisomycin
• Streptomycin
• Tobramycin

Beta-lactam ring antibiotics

• Carbapenems
• Ertapenem
• Imipenem
• Meropenem

Cephalosporins and cephamycins

• Cephalexin
• Cefazolin
• Cefuroxime
• Cefadroxil
• Ceftazidime

Penicillins

• Amoxicillin

Monocyclic beta-lactams

Glycopeptide antibiotics

• Vancomycin
• Teicoplanin
• Ramoplanin
• Decaplanin

Oxazolidinones

• Linezolid
• Quinupristin/dalfopristin

Polyketides

Macrolides

• Erythromycin
• Azithromycin
• Clarithromycin
• Roxithromycin

Ketolides

• Telithromycin

Tetracyclines

• Doxycycline
• Oxytetracycline
• Chlortetracycline

Polymyxins

• Polymyxin B
• Colistin

Quinolones (fluoroquinolones)

• Nalidixic acid
• Ciprofloxacin (Cipro)
• Ofloxacin
• Norfloxacin (Norflox)
• Levofloxacin (Levaquin)
• Trovafloxacin (Trovan)

Streptogramins

Sulfonamides

• Prontosil

Other important antibiotics:

• Chloramphenicol
• Clindamycin
• Fusidic acid
• Trimethoprim

Another such classification is by their mechanism of action

Antibiotics, which interfere with cell-wall synthesis

Beta-lactams, including penicillins like Amoxicillin and cephalosporins; mono-lactams, such as Imipenem; vancomycin, bacitracin

Antibiotics that interfere with bacterial protein synthesis

Antibiotics that bind to the 50S ribosomal unit

Lincosamides / lincosides including clindamycin and lincomycin; chloramphenicol, macrolides

Antibiotics, which interfere the 30S ribosomal unit

Tetracyclines; aminoglycosides including gentamicin

Drugs that inhibit folate synthesis

Sulfonamides and trimethoprim

Drugs that interfere with DNA synthesis

Metronidazole, quinolones, novobiocin

Drugs that interfere with RNA synthesis

Rifampin (rifampicin)

Drugs that interfere with cell membrane function

Polymyxin B, gramicidin

Antibiotics can also be classified by the organisms against which they are effective, and by the type of infection in which they are useful, which depends on the sensitivities of the organisms that most commonly cause the infection and the concentration of antibiotic obtainable in the affected tissue.

How does Amoxicillin work?

Amoxicillin belongs to a group of antibiotics called penicillins. Amoxicillin is used to treat infections caused by bacteria.

Amoxicillin works by interfering with the ability of bacteria to form cell walls. The cell walls of bacteria are vital for their survival. They keep unwanted substances from entering their cells and stop the contents of their cells from leaking out. Amoxicillin impairs the bonds that hold the bacterial cell wall together. This allows holes to appear in the cell walls and kills the bacteria.

 

Uses of Amoxicillin

• Bacterial infection of the middle ear (otitis media)
• Bronchitis
• Pneumonia

Pneumonia is defined as an inflammation, usually caused by infection of, involving the alveoli of the lungs. It occurs in patients of all age groups, but young children and the elderly, as well as immunocompromised and immune deficient patients, are especially at risk. Causal therapy is with antibiotics like Amoxicillin.

• Skin or soft tissue infections

Cellulitis is a noncontagious inflammation of the connective tissue of the skin, resulting from a bacterial infection. Antibiotics like Amoxicillin are given to control infection, and analgesics may be needed to control pain. Within 7 to 10 days of treatment cellulitis can be cured

• Gonoccocal arthritis

Gonoccocal arthritis is an infection, usually of a single joint, that occurs following infection with gonorrhea. If the strain of bacteria is not antibiotic-resistant, recovery is expected.

• Abdominal infections (peritonitis)
• Bacterial infection of the heart valves and the lining surrounding the heart (bacterial endocarditis)
• Preventing infection of the heart (bacterial endocarditis) during medical or dental procedures in people with heart valve defects or artificial heart valves
• Dental abscess

Amoxicillin is used to treat bacterial infections of the center of a tooth resulting in the collection of pus.

• Infection of the blood (septicaemia or blood poisoning)
• Typhoid and paratyphoid fever
• Eradicating bacteria in the gut (Helicobacteria pylori) that cause ulcers (in combination with other medicines.

4.AMOXICILLIN EFFECTIVENESS
When is Amoxicillin best taken?

Amoxicillin is stable in the presence of gastric acid and is rapidly absorbed after oral administration. The effect of food on the absorption of Amoxicillin from the capsules of Amoxicillin has been partially investigated. The 250 mg and 500 mg formulations have been studied only when administered at the start of a light meal. However, food effect studies have not been performed with the 200-mg and 500-mg formulations. Amoxicillin diffuses readily into most body tissues and fluids, with the exception of brain and spinal fluid, except when meninges are inflamed. The half-life of Amoxicillin is 61.3 minutes. Most of the Amoxicillin is excreted unchanged in the urine; its excretion can be delayed by concurrent administration of probenecid. In blood serum, Amoxicillin is approximately 20% protein-bound.

Orally administered doses of 250-mg and 500-mg Amoxicillin capsules result in average peak blood levels 1 to 2 hours after administration in the range of 3.5 mcg/mL to 5.0 and 5.5 mcg/mL to 7.5 mcg/mL, respectively.

5.AMOXICILLIN EFFECTS ON SPECIAL POPULATION
How do different people react to Amoxicillin?

Pregnancy : Pregnancy Category B. Reproduction studies have been performed in mice and rats at doses up to 10 times the human dose and have revealed no evidence of impaired fertility or harm to the fetus due to Amoxicillin. There are, however, no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Because animal reproduction studies are not always predictive of human response, Amoxicillin should be used during Pregnancy only if clearly needed.

Labor and Delivery : It is not known whether use of Amoxicillin in humans during labor or delivery has immediate or delayed adverse effects on the fetus, prolongs the duration of labor, or increases the likelihood of forceps delivery or other obstetrical intervention or resuscitation of the newborn.

Nursing Mothers : Penicillins has been shown to be excreted in human milk. Amoxicillin use by nursing mothers may lead to sensitization of infants. Caution should be exercised when Amoxicillin is administered to a nursing woman.

Pediatric Use : Because of incompletely developed renal function in neonates and young infants, the elimination of Amoxicillin may be delayed. Dosing of Amoxicillin should be modified in pediatric patients 12 weeks or younger (</=3 months).

Information for Patients : Amoxicillin may be taken every 8 hours or every 12 hours, depending on the strength of the product prescribed.

Patients should be counseled that antibacterial drugs, including Amoxicillin, should only be used to treat bacterial infections. They do not treat viral infections (e.g., the common cold). When Amoxicillin is prescribed to treat a bacterial infection, patients should be told that although it is common to feel better early in the course of therapy, the medication should be taken exactly as directed. Skipping doses or not completing the full course of therapy may: (1) decrease the effectiveness of the immediate treatment, and (2) increase the likelihood that bacteria will develop resistance and will not be treatable by Amoxicillin or other antibacterial drugs in the future.

6. AMOXICILLIN EFFECTS ON MEDICAL CONDITIONS
How does Amoxicillin affect your existing condition/ailment?

Amoxicillin should not be used incase of liver or kidney dysfunction.

7. OTHER/ALTERNATE USES OF AMOXICILLIN
What else does Amoxicillin treat?

Amoxicillin can also be used to treat some bacteria caused sexually transmitted diseases.

8. ADVERSE/SIDE EFFECTS of AMOXICILLIN
What are the side effects of Amoxicillin?

The following adverse reactions have been observed with Amoxicillin

Gastrointestinal : Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and hemorrhagic / pseudomembranous colitis.

Onset of pseudomembranous colitis symptoms may occur during or after antibiotic treatment.

Hypersensitivity Reactions : Serum sickness like reactions, erythematous maculopapular rashes, erythema multiforme, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, exfoliative dermatitis, toxic epidermal necrolysis, acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis, hypersensitivity vasculitis and urticaria have been reported.

These hypersensitivity reactions may be controlled with antihistamines and, if necessary, systemic corticosteroids. Whenever such reactions occur, Amoxicillin should be discontinued unless, in the opinion of the physician, the condition being treated is life threatening and amenable only to Amoxicillin therapy.

Liver : A moderate rise in serum levels has been noted, but the significance of this finding is unknown. Hepatic dysfunction including cholestatic jaundice, hepatic cholestasis and acute cytolytic hepatitis have been reported.

Hemic and Lymphatic Systems : Anemia, including hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, thrombocytopenic purpura, eosinophilia, leukopenia, and agranulocytosis has been reported during therapy with penicillins. These reactions are usually reversible on discontinuation of therapy and are believed to be hypersensitivity phenomena.

Central Nervous System : Reversible hyperactivity, agitation, anxiety, insomnia, confusion, convulsions, behavioral changes, and/or dizziness have been reported rarely.

Miscellaneous : Tooth discoloration (brown, yellow, or gray staining) has been rarely reported. Most reports occurred in pediatric patients. Discoloration was reduced or eliminated with brushing or dental cleaning in most cases.

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