Amoxicillin 500 mg Uses and Side Effects
Amoxicillin 500 mg is a generic antibiotic that is part of the penicillin antibiotic class. It treats certain bacterial infections by preventing the growth of bacterial cell walls.
If you were prescribed amoxicillin, you may have some questions about what it is for, how to take it and what to look out for when taking it. Better understanding how the drug works helps you to avoid certain risks associated with the drug and recognize when to call for medical help.
Also, amoxicillin is not effective for viral infections such as the common cold and flu.
What Is Amoxicillin 500 mg?
Amoxicillin comes as capsules, tablets, chewable tablets, and as suspension. Amoxicillin 500 mg strengths contain 500 mg amoxicillin in each dosage unit.
How amoxicillin is dosed is dependent on the infection, age, how much the kidney is functioning, and other health related issues. Therefore, amoxicillin should not be taken in a different way other than how your health care provider instructed.
What Is Amoxicillin 500 mg Used For?
Amoxicillin 500 mg is used to treat several bacterial infections where the bacteria are susceptible to it.
Among the reasons it is prescribed for are:
- Respiratory infections of the pneumonia kind.
- Ear and throat infections of the bacterial kind, sinusitis, etc.
- UTIs, where the bacteria are susceptible to it.
- Infections of the skin, where the bacteria are susceptible to it.
- H Pylori infections, where it is used with other medications used to get rid of H Pylori.
Amoxicillin cannot kill or cure viral infections (for example, the cold or the flu). The unnecessary use of antibiotics encourages antibiotic resistance.
How Does Amoxicillin Work?
Amoxicillin disrupts bacterial cell wall synthesis. Bacteria with weakened cell walls cannot multiply. This helps your immune system fight and clear the infection. Amoxicillin does not treat or kill viral infections. For this reason, it has no impact on your recovery time for the common cold or flu.
How Should You Take Amoxicillin 500 mg?
Always follow your doctor’s orders. The exact quantity of amoxicillin will depend on your doctor’s instructions and the nature of your infection.
Amoxicillin is usually prescribed to be taken multiple times a day. It can be taken with or without food, whichever is more tolerable to your stomach.
It is generally safe to miss a dose of amoxicillin and take it at a later time as long as it is at least 6 hours until your next scheduled dose.
Doses of Amoxicillin should be taken at a consistent time throughout the day. It is never safe to take double the recommended dosage to make up for a missed dose.
Amoxicilin should be taken only for the infection for which it is prescribed. Taking it for another person’s infection is a waste, and taking leftover Amoxicilin for yourself for another infection is unsafe.
How Quickly Does Amoxicillin 500 mg Work?
The length of time before you start to feel better is dependent on the illness and the severity of the infection. No infection is the same, therefore, the time for improvement varies. Amoxicillin helps with many upper respiratory tract infections, but severe infections can take much longer than anticipated for improvement.
Curing symptoms does not always kill the infection. Be sure to follow your treatment schedule and call your doctor if you don’t experience an improvement in symptoms or if your symptoms get worse.
Common Side Effects of Amoxicillin 500 mg
Amoxicillin is an antibiotic and may cause side effects that are very common and associated with the digestive tract.
| Side Effect | What You May Notice |
| Nausea | Feeling sick or unsettled |
| Diarrhea | Loose or frequent stools |
| Vomiting | Feeling sick or throwing up |
| Stomach discomfort | Mild abdominal upset |
| Skin rash | Red or irritated areas |
Most of these side effects go away within a few days to a week and can be managed with simple at home interventions such as increasing fluid intake to manage mild diarrhea.
Persistent or worsening symptoms should be reported to your doctor.
Serious Side Effects to Watch For
These side effects are rare but very serious and warrant a call to your doctor.
Call your doctor immediately if you develop any of the following:
- Difficulty breathing or swallowing
- Swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
- Severe hives
- Widespread blistering or peeling skin
- Severe or persistent diarrhea
- Watery or bloody stools
These symptoms can also indicate a severe allergic reaction or may be caused by antibiotic induced colitis.
Diarrhea, may also be experienced after completing antibiotic therapy.
It is important to avoid over the counter remedies for diarrhea, especially with severe or bloody diarrhea.
Who Should Be Careful With Amoxicillin?
Amoxicillin 500 mg is contraindicated for individuals with known penicillin allergy.
All of your health conditions impact your treatment too. Your kidney health makes a difference when your doctor decides how much amoxicillin to prescribe.
Each health and wellness product you purchase needs to be shared with your doctor. This includes prescription medications, over the counter drugs, supplements, and vitamins.
Amoxicillin vs. Amoxicillin-Clavulanate
Amoxicillin and amoxicillin-clavulanate are indeed not the same.
Amoxicillin-clavulanate contains amoxicillin and clavulanic acid. Clavulanic acid helps protect amoxicillin from the effects of certain resistant bacteria.
For this reason, the combination can treat infections that may not respond to amoxicillin alone. It is really the doctor’s call as to which of the two drugs is more appropriate depending on the suspected bacteria and the type of infection.
What Happens If You Stop Amoxicillin Early?
Never mess with your prescribed treatment and never change your self-prescribed treatment.
Even if you start feeling better, the infection may not be truly eliminated. Amoxicillin may have been doing its job and missing doses may not have cured the infection at all. It also possibly contributes to antibiotic resistance.
Can I Take Amoxicillin with Food?
Amoxicillin 500 mg can be taken with or without food. To ease the digestive discomfort that sometimes accompanies the medication, many people like to take it with food.
Try to take it at the same times each day.
Final Thoughts
Amoxicillin 500 mg is an effective medication to combat bacterial infections when prescribed by a doctor. It does have side effects that include nausea and diarrhea, and stomach discomfort, but thankfully serious side effects are not common.
Take amoxicillin as prescribed and don’t use leftover antibiotics for a new infection. If symptoms become worse, don’t get better or you get severe diarrhea, breathing problems, swelling or a serious rash call your doctor.