Augmentin

Augmentin is a penicillin antibiotic that contains a amalgamation of clavulanate potassium and amoxicillin. On one hand, amoxicillin is an antibiotic in a family of drugs called penicillins. It mostly fights bacteria in the body in order to treat bacterial infections and the like. On the other hand, clavulanate potassium is a form of clavulanic acid that is similar to penicillin. Clavulanate potassium treats bacterial infections that are frequently resilient to penicillins and other antibiotics.

In any case, Augmentin is mostly used to remedy many different infections caused by bacteria, such as infections of the skin, urinary tract infections, bronchitis, ear infections, pneumonia, and sinusitis. The drug may also be used for other purposes not listed in this drug review.

The recommended dose for adults is one 500 milligram tablet of Augmentin every twelve hours or one 250 milligram tablet of Augmentin every eight hours. For more serious infections of the respiratory tract or infections in general, a dose of one 875 milligram tablet of Augmentin every twelve hours or one 500 milligram tablet of Augmentin every eight hours.

As for hemodialysis patients, they should have a dose of 500 milligrams every 24 hours depending on the seriousness of their infection. They should also get an additional dose during and at the end of their dialysis. Moreover, patients that are hepatically impaired should be dosed with due care and caution by monitoring the hepatic function at regular intervals. Lastly, children weighing forty kilos or more should be dosed in the same way as adults.

Patients suffering from impaired renal function do not need a dose adjustment in general unless the impairment is severe. Gravely impaired patients with a glomerular filtration rate of less than thirty milliliters per minute should not be dosed with an 875 milligram tablet.

As for patients with a glomerular filtration rate of ten to thirty milliliters per minute, they should be dosed with 500 milligrams or 250 milligrams every twelve hours depending on the seriousness of the infection. In turn, patients with less than ten milliliters per minute glomerular filtration rate should receive 500 milligrams or 250 milligrams every twenty four hours depending on the seriousness of the infection.

While Augmentin has the characteristic low toxicity of the penicillin family of antibiotics, intermittent evaluation of organ system functions—including hematopoietic, hepatic, and renal function—is recommended during prolonged treatment. Also, a high percentage of patients with mononucleosis who are administered Augmentin tend to develop an erythematous skin rash. Ergo, ampicillin-class antibiotics like Augmentin should not be administered to those types of patients.

Keep in mind that during Augmentin treatment, there's still a possibility of superinfections with bacterial or mycotic pathogens. If ever superinfections happen—and they usually involve Candida or Pseudomonas—the medication should be halted and appropriate therapy instituted.

Taking Augmentin in the absence of a strongly suspected or proven bacterial infection or a prophylactic indication is unlikely to give benefit to the patient and increases the chances of the development of drug-resistant bacteria. Talk to your doctor in regards to the pros and cons of taking the drug before starting actual treatment.

Common side effects that have been reported from using Augmentin include an occasional case of exfoliative dermatitis including toxic epidermal necrolysis, hypersensitivity vasculitis, acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis, erythema multiforme that sometimes but rarely develops to Stevens-Johnson syndrome, serum sickness-like reactions, frequent fever, myalgia, arthralgia, angioedema, pruritus, and urticaria or skin rashes accompanied by arthritis.

Other much rarer side effects include hemorrhagic/pseudomembranous colitis, enterocolitis, mucocutaneous candidiasis, black "hairy" tongue, glossitis, stomatitis, gastritis, indigestion, vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea. Symptoms of pseudomembranous colitis may happen during or after Augmentin treatment. Tooth discoloration ranging from gray, yellow, and brown have infrequently been reported as well.

Augmentin has the following structural formula: