Amoxicillin treatment requires utmost care and attention, especially with a child’s infection in question. Failing to comply with prescriptions can result in stronger side effects, decreased efficacy of the drug, prolonged treatment, worsening symptoms, etc. This is why it is essential to dose and take the medicine correctly. When treating a sick kid, this responsibility falls on their parent or guardian. We prepared this material to answer possible questions about amoxicillin child dosage, give useful tips to ensure safe and trouble-free treatment, and help prevent complications.
What is Amoxicillin
Amoxicillin is a penicillin antibiotic. Its molecule was developed in the 1960s. Nowadays, it is available under various trade names, such as:
- Amoxicot;
- Amoxil;
- Dispermox;
- Moxatag;
- Ospamox;
- Trimox.
These drugs contain the same active compound—amoxicillin—but are manufactured by different companies. This creates the necessity of diverse naming.
Amoxicillin can be taken orally (through the mouth) or parenterally (via injection). The latter is usually applied to hospitalized patients and in the veterinary field. The oral forms of the drug come in pills, capsules, dispersible tablets, powders for suspensions, etc.
How Does Amoxicillin Work
Amoxicillin to the class of beta-lactam antibiotics. They are bactericidal drugs which means they kill pathogens. The molecules of the drugs can attach to the penicillin-binding proteins that are present in the bacteria cells and necessary to build cell walls. When the antibiotic interacts with the susceptible cell, autolytic enzymes of the cell wall activate, triggering lysis—the process when the cell membrane breaks down. As a result, the cell dies.
Amoxicillin is often combined with clavulanic acid—a compound that enhances its antibacterial effect.
It is noteworthy that antibiotics only work against specific groups of infections. For example, amoxicillin can be used to treat diseases caused by these species:
- Streptococcus;
- Enterococcus;
- Clostridium;
- Clostridium;
- Haemophilus influenzae;
- Actinomyces;
- Shigella;
- Salmonella spp.;
- Escherichia coli (some strains);
- Corynebacteria
If bacteria are not prone to the antibiotic’s mechanism of action, it will not work. Instead, they can develop something called antibacterial resistance—a dangerous occurrence when bacteria are immune to AB treatment. This is why you should never use antibiotics without a doctor’s prescription: healthcare providers know exactly, what antibiotics are effective for an individual’s case.
Amoxicillin Dosage
While doctors have amoxicillin dosage charts for kids and adults, the prescribed dose will depend on many factors, including the patient’s age, weight, and condition and its severity. For instance, the daily dose for an adult can vary from 750 mg to 1750 mg:
- For infections of the throat, ears, nose, skin, or genitourinary tract: 500 mg every 12 hours or 250 mg every 8 hours if mild/moderate. For severe diseases, the standard protocol is 875 mg every 12 hours or 500 mg every 8 hours.
- For mild, moderate, or severe infections of the lower respiratory tract: 875 mg every 12 hours or 500 mg every 8 hours.
Other cases, such as using amoxicillin to treat H. pylori together with other medications, treating patients with renal impairment (poor kidney function), AB therapy for pregnant patients, etc., have specific dosage recommendations.
Amoxicillin Dosage for Kids
We mentioned that weight matters for dosage in antibacterial treatment. Thus, amoxicillin antibiotic dosage for infants and toddlers will be different. Moreover, the standard recommended amoxicillin dose for children is intended for kids who weigh less than 40 kg. Otherwise, their dosage should be determined using the guidelines for adults.
The medication is most frequently administered to children as an oral suspension of various strengths:
- 125 mg/5 mL
- 200 mg/5 mL
- 250 mg/5 mL
- 400 mg/5 mL
It is made by adding a specific amount of water into a bottle with the powdered antibiotic and shaking vigorously. The prescribed amount of the medication can swallowed after being placed straight on the child’s tongue or added to milk, formula, cold drinks, or fruit juice.
Usual amoxicillin dosage for kids older than 3 months:
- For mild/moderate infections of the throat, ears, nose, skin, or genitourinary tract: 25 mg/kg/day in divided doses every 12 hours OR 20 mg/kg/day in divided doses every 8 hours. For severe diseases, 45 mg/kg/day in divided doses every 12 hours OR 40 mg/kg/day in divided doses every 8 hours.
- For mild, moderate, or severe infections of the lower respiratory tract: 45 mg/kg/day in divided doses every 12 hours OR 40 mg/kg/day in divided doses every 8 hours.
Missed Dose of Amoxicillin
It is best to avoid missing a dose of an antibiotic. Yet, if you forgot to take one (or give one to a child), here is what you should do:
- take the dose as soon as you remember about it;
- if it is already close to the next dose, skip the forgotten one;
- do not take extra doses or two doses at once.
What Should You Do if You Take Too Much Amoxicillin?
In the event of an overdosage, consult your doctor as soon as possible. The treatment should be put on pause, and symptoms, if present, treated accordingly. If necessary, the doctor may prescribe certain support measures to improve the patient’s condition.
Possible Side Effects
The most typical adverse reactions to amoxicillin are diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and rash. We remind you to contact your healthcare provider if your condition persists or worsens or if you suspect you experience side effects from the drug, including hives, itching, breathlessness, swelling, etc.
Tips to reduce side effects
To reduce GI-related side effects of amoxicillin, you can take your doses with meals. Preferring easy-to-digest foods, such as soup, also helps. To avoid antibiotic-associated diarrhea, enrich your diet with probiotic foods: yogurt, sauerkraut, kimchi, miso, etc.
Summary
Amoxicillin is an antibiotic used to treat a wide range of infections both in adult and pediatric practices. The patient’s age, weight, type of infection, and other variables all affect how much amoxicillin is prescribed.
FAQ
Can amoxicillin be given to children with high blood pressure?
There are no known side effects of the drug that affect blood pressure or interactions with antihypertensive drugs. If you are concerned, ask your doctor.
How many ml of amoxicillin for a 2-year-old?
The dose depends on the child’s weight, infection, severity of the condition, and other factors. Consult your doctor for guidance.
Can amoxicillin be given to a child with a compromised immune system?
Antibiotics do not harm a patient’s immune system and are often used to prevent complications after surgery, including tooth extraction. However, each individual case should be discussed with a doctor.
Can adults take children’s amoxicillin?
While the active compound is the same, it would be hard to make an adult dose of antibiotic from oral suspension used for kids.
How much amoxicillin per day?
A doctor should decide the specific dosage for each patient.