Amoxicillin is a common antibiotic that is used to treat many bacterial infections. It is also the generic name for Augmentin.
Amoxicillin and I go way back. I used to take the liquid version when I was a child suffering from ear infections. We lovingly refer to it as “the pink stuff.”
As an adult, I am usually prescribed the 875-milligram tablet version of the drug, to treat things such as ear infections, sinusitis and pharyngitis.
This winter, I completed a round of this medication for a combination of all three aforementioned conditions. The side effects I experienced this time around were slight stomach upset and slight diarrhea for the first few days, as well as tremendous thirst. The doctor recommended eating yogurt before taking the pill, to counteract the upset stomach. I also ate a lot of applesauce and bananas to help with the diarrhea. Some of the thirst may have been attributed to dehydration I was experiencing from a lot of vomiting from another infection, as well as a high fever. When I was able to keep liquids down, I drank water, ginger ale, and Vitamin Water. If you do experience stomach upset when taking this antibiotic, beware of using over-the-counter medicines, such as Rolaids, as they can interfere with the antibiotic. An old remedy my mother always had us use was mixing a teaspoon of baking soda with water. It tastes kind of gross, but if you plug your nose and chug, it’s not so bad, and your stomach will feel better. It also doesn’t interact with antibiotics.
Once in the past, my doctor immediately prescribed Diflucan to be taken simultaneously, as amoxicillin has been known to also cause yeast infections in women. A friend of mine says she frequently experiences horrible yeast infections whenever she takes amoxicillin, and automatically asks for the Diflucan to accompany it.
When I took it one time a year ago, I also experienced a minor rash. I immediately returned to my doctor, who said that the rash was a minor side effect of the medication. To ease the irritation, I used a cortisone cream on my skin, and took Benadryl at night.
If you go to WebMD, you will find a comprehensive listing of side effects usually associated with this medication.
Common side effects included nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Of course, if these symptoms persist or worsen, you should contact your physician.
Highly unlikely, but very serious side effects include the following: dark urine, persistent nausea or vomiting, stomach or abdominal pain, yellowing eyes or skin, easy bruising or bleeding, persistent sore throat or fever.
Resistant bacteria can rarely cause a severe intestinal condition known as pseudomembranous colitis. These symptoms require immediate medical attention: persistent diarrhea, abdominal or stomach pain or cramping, blood or mucus in stool.
Prolonged use can lead to a vaginal yeast infection, or white patches in the mouth, known as oral thrush. Diflucan helps alleviate these.
In the event that a serious allergic reaction occurs, immediate medical attention is necessary. Signs of this include rash, itching, swelling, severe dizziness, trouble breathing. As was the case with myself, a mild rash can occur, but it is important that a medical professional determine the severity of the rash.
