Amoxicillin/Clavulanate Potassium

What is Amoxicillin/Clavulanate Potassium?

Amoxicillin/Clavulanate Potassium is a combined antibiotic tablet that can treat nasal infections. The combination of two medications means the tablets are effective against a broad range of bacteria.

Amoxicillin is a penicillin-like antibiotic, and clavulanate potassium belongs to a class of drugs known as beta-lactamase inhibitors. In short, they extend the amount of time amoxicillin is active in your system.

Nasal infections can be caused by both viruses and bacteria. If your infection is bacterial, you might be prescribed a short course of antibiotics like Amoxicillin/Clavulanate Potassium. Viral and bacterial sinus infections often cause the same symptoms, such as pain around your cheeks, headaches, and yellow or green mucus from your nose. Viral infections often clear up on their own, but nasal symptoms that linger could mean you have a bacterial sinus infection.

How does Amoxicillin/Clavulanate Potassium work?

Antibiotics stop bacteria from growing. Amoxicillin is used to treat various bacterial infections, including pneumonia, bronchitis and urinary tract infections.^[1] It works in the same way as penicillin – by damaging the cell walls of bacteria, it makes them leaky and eventually destroys them.

Clavulanate potassium is used in combination with amoxicillin to prevent bacteria from breaking it down. This action prolongs the amount of time amoxicillin has to work in your body, making it more effective at clearing infections.

What doses of Amoxicillin/Clavulanate Potassium are there?

Amoxicillin/Clavulanate potassium tablets come in three strengths: 250mg/125mg, 500mg/125mg or 875mg/125mg.

You’ll either be told to take 500 mg/125 mg or 875 mg/125 mg every 12 hours, or 250 mg/125 mg or 500 mg/125 mg every 8 hours.

The dose you’re prescribed usually depends on the severity of your symptoms. Your physician will advise you about the amount of Amoxicillin/Clavulanate potassium you need to take each day, but a course of tablets usually lasts for at least five days.

How to take Amoxicillin/Clavulanate Potassium

Swallow your tablets whole, with a glass of water. Avoid breaking them up or trying to dissolve them.

You can take Amoxicilin and clavulanate potassium with or without food, but the clavulanate potassium in the tablets might be better absorbed if you take it with a meal. With this in mind, you should aim to take your dose before you eat.

Try to take your doses at the same time each day, so you stick to a dosage routine without making any mistakes.

How long does Amoxicillin/Clavulanate Potassium take to work?

Antibiotics will work faster for some people than they will for others, so it’s hard to say exactly when you’ll start feeling better.

The medication will start working in your system soon after your first tablet, but it might be a few days before your symptoms start to clear. Feeling less congested, mucus returning to a normal colour, and less pressure in your face are all signs that your infection is clearing.

If your nasal infection symptoms do start to ease up after only a few days, it’s still important to finish the entire course of tablets. Stopping antibiotics too soon can mean the bacteria causing your infection can survive, and may mean you need to start a course of treatment again. Take your antibiotics how they’ve been prescribed.

What if I make a mistake while using Amoxicillin/Clavulanate Potassium?

If you forget to take a tablet at your usual time, you can take it as soon as you remember. If it’s getting close to the time when your next dose is due, however, skip the missed tablet and continue with your normal dosage routine.

If you take too many tablets, go to the emergency department at your nearest hospital and seek urgent help. If you can, bring the box your tablets came in with you, to give hospital staff as much information as possible.