Amoxicillin is an antibiotic that belongs to the penicillin class. It's very important to understand this about the drug because most people who are allergic to a form of penicillin (or drugs like ampicillin and piperacillin) are at risk of having allergic reactions to either of them, and these reactions can often involve a anaphylactic shock. Understanding that amoxicillin could cause this reaction is vital to avoiding life-threatening reactions.
It's easy to say that antibiotics kill bacteria, but that's not exactly how amoxicillin works. Instead, it makes it harder for bacteria to form cell walls, which prevents them from creating additional bacteria. This can eventually be very effective against a variety of strains of bacteria, which can include E. coli and some forms of strep and staph. It won't always work, and a doctor can better determine which antibiotic is most likely to be appropriate. Some conditions for which amoxicillin may be prescribed include ear infections, tonsillitis, strep throat, urinary tract infections, gonorrhea, and bronchitis.
There are different strengths of this antibiotic, and it can come in tablets that people can swallow or chew. It is also available in liquid suspensions, which are usually mixed just before dispensing. Once the liquid forms of the drug are prepared, they must be refrigerated and have a fairly short shelf life. This should not be a concern, as it is strongly recommended that people finish all medications given to them as directed, and not keep any antibiotics to use for a different infection. Doctors advise against personal prescription, and with amoxicillin, the activity in the drug will likely wear off, especially if it's in liquid form.
Clearly, the most serious reactions to amoxicillin are allergic reactions, which can include symptoms of anaphylactic shock. This could mean that a person could have swelling of the lips, tongue, or throat, have difficulty breathing, develop a severe rash, and lose consciousness. These symptoms are medically urgent and require immediate attention. If a rash develops without symptoms, people should still alert doctors immediately. Severe allergy is rarely, if ever, the first time someone has taken a medication, but it can be difficult to tell if penicillin exposure occurred in the past.
Other serious but very rare side effects that require immediate medical attention include extreme diarrhea, severe cramping or stomach pain, and blood in your stool. Dark urine or evidence of yellowing of the skin or eyes should also be reported. Most people will have few side effects when using amoxicillin, although some people report stomach upset.
One of the main concerns is that the reduction of "good" bacteria in the stomach can seriously unbalance the stomach and cause chronic diarrhea. For this reason, many people take active cultures available in pill form or eat yogurt. Another possible side effect, which occurs especially in women, is yeast infection, which many claim is also reduced by eating yogurt.
It cannot be stressed enough that people should take medications like amoxicillin exactly as prescribed and for as long as directed. Antibiotics often make people feel better within a day or two of starting them, and some people assume they don't need to continue taking them. This can create an unfortunate catch-up effect, where the bacteria come back stronger and make people sick. Patients are always urged to finish their prescription so that they get the most potential benefit from it and so that the bacteria are fully damaged.