Augmentin MedFacts

Augmentin

Augmentin is used for:

Treating infections caused by certain bacteria.

Augmentin is a penicillin antibiotic. It works by killing sensitive bacteria.

Do NOT use Augmentin if:

• you are allergic to any of the ingredients contained in Augmentin or other penicillin antibiotics (eg, ampicillin)
• you have a history of liver problems or yellowing of the eyes or skin caused by Augmentin
• you have infectious mononucleosis (mono)
• you are taking a tetracycline antibiotic (eg, doxycycline)
• you have recently received or will be receiving live oral typhoid vaccine

Contact your health care provider as soon as possible if any of the above applies to you.

Consider before using Augmentin

Medical Conditions

There are medical conditions that can influence usage of Augmentin . Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are either pregnant or planning to become pregnant
• if you are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any medicine (either prescription or nonprescription), herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you are allergic to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have a history of allergies, asthma, hay fever, or hives
• if you have ever had a severe allergic reaction (eg, severe rash, hives, breathing difficulties, dizziness) to a cephalosporin (eg, cephalexin) or other beta-lactam antibiotic (eg, imipenem)
• if you have kidney problems or gonorrhea
• if you have a history of liver problems or yellowing of the eyes or skin

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Augmentin . Inform your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, in particular any from the list below:

• Anticoagulants (eg, warfarin) because the risk of bleeding may be increased
• Probenecid because it may increase the amount of Augmentin in your blood
• Chloramphenicol, macrolide antibiotics (eg, erythromycin), sulfonamides (eg, sulfamethoxazole), or tetracycline antibiotics (eg, doxycycline) because they may decrease Augmentin 's effectiveness
• Methotrexate because the risk of its side effects may be increased by Augmentin
• Live oral typhoid vaccine or hormonal birth control (eg, birth control pills) because their effectiveness may be decreased by Augmentin

This is not a full list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Augmentin may interact with other medicines that you take. Also, consult your health care provider in advance if you are going to start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

Augmentin Usage Guidelines

You should use Augmentin as recommended by your doctor. Read the medicine's label for precise dosing instructions.

• Take Augmentin by mouth with or without food. If stomach upset occurs, take with food to reduce stomach irritation.
• To clear up your infection completely, take Augmentin for the full course of treatment. Keep taking it even if you feel better in a few days.
• If you miss a dose of Augmentin , take it as soon as you get it remembered. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, ignore the missed one and get back to your normal dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at the same time.

Clarify with your health care provider any issues you may have about usage of Augmentin .

Important safety information on augmentin

• Augmentin may cause dizziness. This effect may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Augmentin with caution. Refrain from driving or performing other possibly dangerous activities until you know how you react to it.
• Augmentin only works against bacteria; it does not treat viral infections (eg, the common cold).
• Be sure to use Augmentin for the full course of treatment. If you do not, the medicine may not clear up your infection completely. The bacteria could also become less sensitive to this or other medicines. This could make the infection harder to treat in the future.
• Long-term or repeated use of Augmentin may cause a second infection. Tell your doctor if signs of a second infection occur. Your medicine may need to be changed to treat this.
• Contact your doctor right away if stomach pain or cramps, severe diarrhea, or bloody stools occur. Do not treat diarrhea without first checking with your doctor.
• Hormonal birth control (eg, birth control pills) may not work as well while you are using Augmentin . To prevent pregnancy, use an extra form of birth control (eg, condoms).
• Brown, yellow, or gray tooth discoloration has occurred rarely in some patients taking Augmentin . It occurred most often in children. The discoloration was reduced or removed by brushing or dental cleaning in most cases. Contact your doctor if you experience this effect.
• Diabetes patients - Augmentin may cause the results of some tests for urine glucose to be wrong. Ask your doctor before you change your diet or the dose of your diabetes medicine.
• Lab tests, including liver function, kidney function, and complete blood cell counts, may be performed if you use Augmentin for a long period of time. These tests can be used to monitor your medical condition or to check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
• Use Augmentin with caution in OLDER PATIENTS, because they may be more sensitive to its effects, especially patients with kidney problems.
• Use Augmentin with extreme caution in CHILDREN younger than 10 years old who have diarrhea or an infection of the stomach or bowel.
• Augmentin should not be used in CHILDREN who weigh less than 88 lbs (40 kg); safety and effectiveness in these children have not been confirmed.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Augmentin while you are pregnant. Augmentin is found in breast milk. If you are breast-feeding or going to breast-feed, discuss with your doctor any possible risks to your baby.

Side effects may be caused by Augmentin

Any medicine may cause side effects, but the majority of people have either slight side effects, or dont have it at all. Consult your doctor if any of the most COMMON side effects from the list below persist or start bothering you:

Diarrhea; nausea; vomiting.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); bloody stools; confusion; dark urine; fever, chills, or persistent sore throat; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin; seizures; severe diarrhea; stomach pain or cramps; unusual bruising or bleeding; vaginal discharge or irritation; yellowing of the skin or eyes.

It sholud be noted, that this is not a full list of possible side effects. If you have questions or need medical advice about side effects, contact your doctor or health care provider. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088) or at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center (http://www.aapcc.org/findyour.htm), or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include decreased urination; severe nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea; stomach pain; unusual drowsiness.

Augmentin storage instructions:

Store Augmentin at or below 77 degrees F (25 degrees C). Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Augmentin out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

• If you have any questions on Augmentin , please consult your doctor, pharmacist, or health care provider.
• Augmentin is supposed to be used only by the patient it is prescribed to. Do not share it with other people.
• If your symptoms do not improve or even become worse, inform your doctor.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Augmentin . If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.