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Amoxicillin.m4a
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Amoxicillin
Other Names
Amoxil, Larotid
Drug Class
Antibacterial (Penicillin)
 

What is amoxicillin?What is amoxicillin?

What is amoxicillin?

Amoxicillin is an antibacterial prescription medicine approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of certain bacterial infections, such as infections of the ear, nose and throat; genitourinary tract; skin; and respiratory tract (including pneumonia). 

Community-acquired pneumonia, a bacterial respiratory disease, can be an opportunistic infection (OI) of HIV. An OI is an infection that occurs more frequently or is more severe in people with weakened immune systems—such as people with HIV—than in people with healthy immune systems. To learn more about OIs, read the HIVinfo What is an Opportunistic Infection? fact sheet.

How is amoxicillin used in people with HIV?How is amoxicillin used in people with HIV?

How is amoxicillin used in people with HIV?

The Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Opportunistic Infections in Adults and Adolescents With HIV and/or the Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Opportunistic Infections in Children With and Exposed to HIV include recommendations on the uses of amoxicillin in people with HIV to treat community-acquired pneumonia.

The recommended uses may not always be consistent with the FDA-approved uses of amoxicillin. See the Adult and Pediatric Opportunistic Infection Guidelines for complete information on recommended uses of amoxicillin in adults and children with HIV. Amoxicillin may have other recommended uses not listed above.

What should I tell my health care provider before taking amoxicillin?What should I tell my health care provider before taking amoxicillin?

What should I tell my health care provider before taking amoxicillin?

Before taking amoxicillin, tell your health care provider:

  • If you are allergic to amoxicillin, penicillin or cephalosporin antibiotics, or any other medicines.
  • About any medical conditions you have or have had, including:
    • Kidney problems, including if you are receiving dialysis
    • Liver problems
    • Allergies, hay fever, eczema, asthma
    • Mononucleosis (also called "mono")
  • About anything that could affect your ability to take medicines, such as difficulty swallowing or remembering to take pills.
  • If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Talk to your health care provider about the risks and benefits of taking amoxicillin during pregnancy.
  • If you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. For mothers with HIV in the United States, the Guideline recommends speaking with your health care provider to discuss options for feeding your baby. Mothers with suppressed viral load have a less than 1% chance of transmitting HIV to their baby via their own milk. Although most medicines are safe to use while breastfeeding, some medicines should be avoided. Always let your health care provider know about all the medicines and supplements you are using before you start breastfeeding.
  • About other prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Amoxicillin may affect the way other medicines or products work, and other medicines or products may affect how amoxicillin works. Ask your health care provider if there are interactions between amoxicillin and the other medicines you take.

How should I take amoxicillin?How should I take amoxicillin?

How should I take amoxicillin?

Take amoxicillin according to your health care provider’s instructions. Your health care provider will tell you how much amoxicillin to take and when to take it. 

It is important to complete the full prescribed course of treatment with amoxicillin, even if you begin to feel better. If you stop using amoxicillin too soon or skip doses, your infection may not be fully treated, and the bacteria may become harder to treat (resistant).

Before you start amoxicillin and each time you get a refill, read any printed information that comes with your medicine.

What side effects can amoxicillin cause?What side effects can amoxicillin cause?

What side effects can amoxicillin cause?

Amoxicillin may cause side effects that can be mild or serious. To learn about possible side effects of amoxicillin, see the FDA drug label or talk to your health care provider or pharmacist. Tell your health care professional if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. Your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some side effects.

You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088) or online.

How should amoxicillin be stored?How should amoxicillin be stored?

How should amoxicillin be stored?

  • Store amoxicillin tablets (film coated and chewable), capsules and powder for oral suspension at room temperature, 68°F to 77°F (20°C to 25°C).
  • Store reconstituted (mixed) oral suspensions of amoxicillin in a refrigerator, if possible. Throw away any unused portion of the oral suspension after 14 days.  
  • Do not use amoxicillin if the original seal over the container opening is broken or missing.
  • Throw away amoxicillin that is no longer needed or expired (out of date). Follow FDA guidelines on how to safely dispose of unused medicine.
  • Keep amoxicillin and all medicines out of reach of children.

Where can I find more information about amoxicillin?Where can I find more information about amoxicillin?

Where can I find more information about amoxicillin?

 

Last Reviewed: April 24, 2025