Reconstitution, Administration, And General Dosage Of Amoxicillin

 Reconstitution, Administration, And General Dosage Of Amoxicillin

Amoxicillin trihydrate is administered orally. Amoxicillin has also been given IV as the sodium salt, but a parenteral dosage form of amoxicillin is currently not available in the US.

Amoxicillin may be administered orally without regard to meals. However, in studies evaluating the film-coated tablet containing 875 mg of amoxicillin, the tablet was administered at the start of a light meal.

The required dose of reconstituted amoxicillin oral suspension should be placed directly on the child's tongue for swallowing. Alternatively, the required dose of oral suspension may be added to formula, milk, fruit juice, water, or ginger ale and then administered immediately.

Amoxicillin powder for oral suspension should be reconstituted at the time of dispensing by adding the amount of water specified on the bottle to provide a suspension containing 125, 200, 250, or 400 mg of amoxicillin per 5 mL or 50 mg of amoxicillin per mL. After tapping the bottle to thoroughly loosen the powder for oral suspension, the water should be added to the powder in 2 portions and the suspension agitated well after each addition. The suspension should be agitated well just prior to administration of each dose.

Dosage of amoxicillin, which is available for oral use as the trihydrate, is expressed in terms of anhydrous amoxicillin.

General Adult Dosage
The usual adult dosage of amoxicillin for the treatment of mild to moderate infections of the ear, nose, or throat; skin and skin structure; or genitourinary tract is 500 mg every 12 hours or 250 mg every 8 hours. A dosage of 875 mg every 12 hours or 500 mg every 8 hours should be used for the treatment of severe infections of the ear, nose, or throat; skin and skin structure; or genitourinary tract in adults. The usual adult dosage of amoxicillin for the treatment of mild, moderate, or severe lower respiratory tract infections is 875 mg every 12 hours or 500 mg every 8 hours.

A single 3-g oral dose of amoxicillin has been used effectively for the initial treatment of acute, uncomplicated urinary tract infections in nonpregnant women.

General Pediatric Dosage
The manufacturer states that for neonates and infants 12 weeks of age or younger, amoxicillin may be administered in a dosage of up to 30 mg/kg daily in divided doses every 12 hours.

The usual dosage of amoxicillin for pediatric patients 3 months of age or older for the treatment of mild to moderate infections of the ear, nose, throat, skin and skin structure, or genitourinary tract is 20 mg/kg daily in divided doses every 8 hours or 25 mg/kg daily in divided doses every 12 hours. The usual dosage of amoxicillin for pediatric patients 3 months of age or older for the treatment of mild, moderate, or severe lower respiratory tract infections or for the treatment of severe infections of the ear, nose, throat, skin and skin structure, or genitourinary tract is 40 mg/kg daily in divided doses every 8 hours or 45 mg/kg daily in divided doses every 12 hours.