Amoxicillin Capsule 500mg – Patient Information Leaflet
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine.
• Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
• If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
• This medicine is usually prescribed for adults and for children who are able to swallow capsules.
Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their symptoms are the same as yours.
• If any of the side effects gets serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet,
please tell your doctor or pharmacist.
In this leaflet:
1 What Amoxil is and what it is used for
2 Before you take Amoxil
3 How to take Amoxil
4 Possible side effects
5 How to store Amoxil
6 Further information
1 What Amoxil is and
what it is used for
What Amoxil is
Amoxil Capsules 250 mg and 500 mg (called Amoxil in this leaflet) are antibiotics. The capsules
contain a medicine called amoxicillin. This belongs to a group of medicines called ‘penicillins’.
What Amoxil is used for
Amoxil is used to treat infections in different parts of the body caused by bacteria. It is also used to stop infections when you have a tooth removed or other surgery. Amoxil may also be used in combination with other medicines to treat stomach ulcers.
2 Before you take Amoxil
Do not take Amoxil if you:
• are allergic (hypersensitive) to amoxicillin, penicillin or any of the other ingredients of Amoxil
• have ever had an allergic (hypersensitive) reaction to any antibiotic. This can include a skin
rash or swelling of the face or neck.
Do not take Amoxil if any of the above apply. If you are not sure, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Amoxil.
Take special care with Amoxil
Check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking this medicine if you:
• have glandular fever
• are being treated for kidney problems
• are not passing water regularly.
If you are not sure if any of the above apply to you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Amoxil.
Having urine or blood tests
If you are having tests on your water (urine glucose tests) or blood tests for liver function, let the doctor or nurse know that you are on Amoxil. This is because Amoxil can affect the results of these tests.
Taking other medicines
Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines.
This includes medicines that can be bought without a prescription and herbal medicines. This
is because Amoxil can affect the way some other medicines work. Also some other medicines can affect the way Amoxil works.
• If you are taking allopurinol (used for gout) with Amoxil, it may be more likely that you’ll have an allergic skin reaction.
• If you are taking probenecid (used for gout), your doctor may decide to adjust your dose of Amoxil.
• If medicines to help stop blood clots (such as warfarin) are taken with Amoxil then extra blood tests may be needed. Amoxil may stop the contraceptive pill working.
You will need to use extra contraceptive precautions, such as using a condom. If you need
any advice, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking any medicine if you think you might be or if
you are pregnant, or if you are breast-feeding.
3 How to take Amoxil
Always take Amoxil exactly as your doctor has told you. You should check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
When taking Amoxil
• Swallow the capsules whole with a glass of water at the start of a meal or slightly before
• Space the doses evenly during the day, at least 4 hours apart
• Never take 2 doses in 1 hour
• The maximum recommended dose is 6 g per day given as 2 x 3 g doses.
The usual dose is:
Children aged under 10 years who are able to swallow capsules
• Severe infections: 1 x 250 mg capsule three times a day.
• For children aged 3 to 10 years only with severe or continuous ear infections: 750 mg (3 x 250 mg capsules or 1 x 500 mg capsule and 1 x 250 mg capsule) may be given twice a day for 2 days.
Adults, elderly patients and children over 10 years
• Standard dose: 1 x 250 mg capsule 3 times a day.
• Severe infections: 1 x 500 mg capsule 3 times a day.
• Severe or recurrent chest infection: 3 g (6 x 500 mg capsules) twice a day.
• Urinary tract (water) infection: 2 x 3 g doses (6 x 500 mg capsules) with 10 to 12 hours between each dose.
• Dental abscess (infection under the gums and
teeth): 2 x 3 g doses (6 x 500 mg capsules) with 8 hours between each dose.
• Gonorrhoea (a sexually transmitted infection): 1 x 3 g dose (6 x 500 mg capsules).
• Stomach ulcers: 1 x 750 mg dose (3 x 250 mg capsules or 1 x 500 mg capsule and 1 x 250 mg capsule) or 1 x 1 g dose (2 x 500 mg capsules) twice a day for 7 days with other antibiotics.
To stop infection during surgery
• The dose will vary according to the type of surgery. Other medicines may also be given at
the same time.
• Your doctor, pharmacist or nurse can give you more details.
Kidney problems If you have kidney problems the dose might be lower than the usual dose.
If you take too much Amoxil If you have too much Amoxil, signs might be an upset stomach (feeling sick, being sick or diarrhoea) or crystals in the urine, which may be seen as cloudy urine, or problems passing urine. Talk to your doctor as soon as possible. Take the medicine to show the doctor.
If you forget to take Amoxil
• If you forget to take a dose don’t worry, take it as soon as you remember.
• Don’t take the next dose too soon, wait about 4 hours before taking the next dose.
How long should you take Amoxil for?
• Keep taking Amoxil until the treatment is finished, even if you feel better. You need every dose to help fight the infection. If some bacteria survive they can cause the infection to come back. Treatment should be continued for 2 to 3 days after the symptoms have gone.
• Do not take Amoxil for more than 2 weeks. If you still feel unwell you should go back to see the doctor.
Package Leaflet: Information for the User
Amoxil® Capsules 250 mg and 500 mg amoxicillin
Thrush (a yeast infection of moist areas of the body) may develop if Amoxil is used for a long time. If this occurs and you have been taking Amoxil for longer than recommended, tell your doctor.
If you have any further questions on the use of this product, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
4 Possible side effects
Like all medicines, Amoxil can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. The following side effects may happen with this medicine.
Stop taking Amoxil and see a doctor straight away, if you notice any of the following
serious side effects – you may need urgent medical treatment:
The following are very rare (affects less than 1 in 10,000 people)
• allergic reactions, the signs may include: skin itching or rash, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, body or breathing difficulties. These can be serious and occasionally deaths have occurred
• rash or pinpoint flat red round spots under the skin surface or bruising of the skin. This is due to
inflammation of blood vessel walls due to an allergic reaction. It can be associated with joint pain (arthritis) and kidney problems
• a delayed allergic reaction can occur usually 7 to 12 days after having Amoxil, some signs include: rashes, fever, joint pains and enlargement of the lymph nodes especially under the arms
• a skin reaction known as ‘erythema multiforme’ where you may develop: itchy reddish purple
patches on the skin especially on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet, ‘hive-like’ raised
swollen areas on the skin, tender areas on the surfaces of the mouth, eyes and private parts.
You may have a fever and be very tired
• other severe skin reactions can include: changes in skin colour, bumps under the skin, blistering, pustules, peeling, redness, pain, itching, scaling. These may be associated with fever, headaches and body aches
• high temperature (fever), chills, a sore throat or other signs of an infection, or if you bruise easily. These may be signs of a problem with your .blood cells
• inflammation of the large bowel (colon) with
diarrhoea sometimes containing blood, pain and
fever
• serious liver side effects may occur which are often reversible. They are mainly associated with people having treatment over a long period, males and the elderly.
You must tell your doctor urgently if you get:
- severe diarrhoea with bleeding
- blisters, redness or bruising of the skin
- darker urine or paler stools
- yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes (jaundice). See also anaemia below which might result in jaundice.
These can happen when having the medicine or for up to several weeks after.
If any of the above happen stop taking the medicine and see your doctor straight away.
Sometimes you may get less severe skin reactions such as:
• a mildly itchy rash (round, pink-red patches), 'hive-like’ swollen areas on forearms, legs, palms, hands or feet. This is uncommon (affects less than 1 in 100 people).
If you have any of these talk to your doctor as Amoxil will need to be stopped.
The other possible side effects are:
Common (affects less than 1 in 10 people)
• skin rash
• feeling sick (nausea)
• diarrhoea.
Uncommon (affects less than 1 in 100 people)
• being sick (vomiting).
Very rare (affects less than 1 in 10,000 people)
• thrush (a yeast infection of the vagina, mouth or skin folds), you can get treatment for thrush
from your doctor or pharmacist
• kidney problems
• fits (convulsions), seen in patients on high doses or with kidney problems
• dizziness
• hyperactivity
• crystals in the urine, which may be seen as cloudy urine, or difficulty or discomfort in passing urine. Make sure you drink plenty of fluids to reduce the chance of these symptoms
• teeth may appear stained, usually returning to normal with brushing (this has been reported in children)
• the tongue may change to yellow, brown or black and it may have a hairy appearance
• an excessive breakdown of red blood cells causing a form of anaemia. Signs include: tiredness, headaches, shortness of breath, dizziness, looking pale and yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes
• the blood may take longer to clot than it normally would. You may notice this if you have a nosebleed or cut yourself. If any of the side effects gets serious, or if you have any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.
5 How to store Amoxil
• Keep out of the reach and sight of children.
• Do not use Amoxil after the expiry date which is stated on the carton. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
• Store in the original pack in a dry place.
• Do not use Amoxil if there are visible signs of deterioration.
• Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines nolonger required. These measures will help to protect the environment.
6 Further information
What Amoxil contains
• The active substance in each capsule is 250 mg or 500 mg amoxicillin.
• The other ingredients are magnesium stearate (E572), erythrosine (E127), indigo carmine (E132), titanium dioxide (E171), yellow iron oxide (E172) and gelatin.
What Amoxil looks like and contents of the pack
Amoxil Capsules are maroon and gold capsules overprinted ‘Amoxil 250’ or ‘Amoxil 500’. They are packaged in blister packs, enclosed in a carton.
Newsletter Offers 
Earn £2.50