Amoxicillin: What’s the Safe Dosage for Kids?

When your child’s doctor prescribes amoxicillin for your child, they will tell you the dosage they recommend. The doctor will decide this dosage based on many factors, including your child’s age and weight, the type of infection they’re treating, and other factors. Each patient is different, so this dosage will be specific to your child. Be sure to give your child the exact dosage their doctor prescribes for them. This is important for all prescription drugs, but it’s especially important for antibiotics, including amoxicillin. If used incorrectly, an antibiotic may not treat your child’s infection completely. This could make the infection get worse or even come back again later. The bacteria could also develop resistance to the drug, which means that the antibiotic may not work to treat the infection anymore. To help prevent these problems, be sure to give your child the entire course of treatment as prescribed by your child’s doctor. This means you should keep giving your child the amoxicillin until all of it is gone. You should do this even if your child starts feeling better before they’ve taken all of the medication. Doing this gives you the best chance of treating your child’s infection successfully.

Taking too much amoxicillin can cause dangerous effects in your child. These effects include kidney damage or kidney failure. The risk of these effects is another reason why you should follow the doctor’s dosage instructions exactly as prescribed. If you think your child has taken too much amoxicillin, call your child’s doctor or your local poison control center right away. If your child’s symptoms are severe, go to the nearest emergency room or call 9-1-1. Symptoms of overdose can include:

• nausea
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• pain in your child’s lower back

Like most drugs, amoxicillin has side effects, as well as warnings. If you have any questions about the effects of this drug, ask your child’s doctor or your pharmacist. The more common side effects of amoxicillin can include:

• nausea
• vomiting
• diarrhea

Amoxicillin can also cause serious side effects. If your child has any of these side effects, call your child’s doctor right away. If your child’s symptoms are severe, call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest emergency room. Serious side effects of amoxicillin can include:

• Watery and bloody stools, with or without stomach cramps. This can occur up to two months after taking the last dose of this drug.
• Severe allergic reaction, with symptoms such as swelling of the tongue and throat, trouble breathing, and swelling of the hands, feet, and other body parts
• Severe skin rash
• Yellowing of your child’s skin and the whites of their eyes. This can be a sign of liver problems.
• Brown, yellow, or gray staining of your child’s teeth
• Unusual bleeding and bruising

Before your child starts taking amoxicillin, tell their doctor about any medications, vitamins, or herbs your child is taking. Be sure to include over-the-counter medications. Some of these substances may interact with amoxicillin. An interaction is an effect that can be harmful or keep the drug from working well. Examples of drugs that can interact with amoxicillin include:

• probenecid
• other antibiotics such as doxycycline and minocycline
• certain types of hormonal birth control

If your child has certain health conditions, amoxicillin may not be the best option for them. Tell your child’s doctor if your child has any conditions that may cause health problems with the use of amoxicillin. Examples of these conditions include:

• history of allergic reaction to amoxicillin or any type of penicillin
• kidney disease

Amoxicillin stops the growth of certain types of bacteria. It’s used to treat a range of bacterial infections, including infections of the:

• ear
• nose
• throat
• skin
• urinary tract

Like all antibiotics, amoxicillin must only be used for bacterial infections. Amoxicillin will not treat infections caused by viruses, such as the common cold. Amoxicillin is available as a generic drug. It comes as a capsule, tablet, chewable tablet, and powder for liquid suspension. All forms are taken by mouth.

If your child’s doctor has prescribed amoxicillin, follow their instructions carefully. Give your child the exact dosage the doctor prescribes. Following your doctor’s instructions can help make sure your child’s treatment with amoxicillin is as effective as possible. To learn more about amoxicillin, review this article with your child’s doctor. Be sure to ask any questions you have. The more you know about your child’s treatment, the more confident you may feel that you’re giving your child the care they need.