Amoxicillin is one of the most widely used drugs. It is a beneficial substance, but only if used correctly and when it is indispensable. A ubiquitous question is wanting to know how long amoxicillin takes to work. I must tell you that it depends on the pathology for which it was indicated if you take other medications and your own body.
Next, in this FastlyHealarticle, you will find all the information you need to know so that the treatment with this antibiotic is effective and you know when it begins to act.
Table of Contents
What is amoxicillin for
Amoxicillin is an antibiotic in the penicillin family. It has become one of the most used options in this group due to its effective action, the convenience of being able to administer it in two or three daily doses, and, above all, because it is not necessary to subject yourself to punctures, it is ingested by mouth.
This semisynthetic antibiotic affects different types of bacteria: Gram-negative, Gram-positive, and other types such as Proteus, Salmonella, and Shigella.
What Infections Amoxicillin Cures
Amoxicillin is helpful for a wide variety of bacterial infections, such as those located, for example, in:
- The upper respiratory tract (nose, throat, ear): not every sore throat is resolved with this antibiotic. The vast majority of pharyngitis (about 90%) is viral, so its indication must be accurate, but a professional can prescribe it in some instances of pharyngitis, otitis media, and rhinosinusitis.
- It can also be used in the mouth before dental extractions.
- The lower respiratory tract (bronchi and lungs): it is helpful to treat acute and chronic bronchitis cases and some bacterial instances of pneumonia.
- The skin and soft tissues.
- The genital and urinary tract.
- The digestive tract: in cases of H. pylori ulcer and bile duct infections.
How long does amoxicillin take to work?
When used correctly, in cases of infections caused by bacteria sensitive to the antibiotic, it takes approximately 48 hours for amoxicillin to start working.
The most common in these cases is that:
- Decrease the fever.
- Little by little, the inflammation goes down.
- The pain also diminishes.
This also depends on several factors such as your immunity status, how complicated the infection is, what other pathologies you suffer from, whether or not you have used antibiotics before, etc.
As I have told you, amoxicillin is a widely used antibiotic, sometimes correctly and sometimes not. Sometimes it can take longer than usual to take effect simply because it was not the appropriate treatment. This is usually seen in the following cases:
- Viral infections
- Bacterial infections are caused by microorganisms not sensitive to amoxicillin.
- Inappropriate use of this antibiotic in previous opportunities.
- Low defenses.
- Several different organisms cause the disease.
For amoxicillin treatment to be effective, how it is taken is very important.
How often to take amoxicillin
This depends on the dose and the medical problem you have been directed to take it. In general, it is indicated to take every 8 hours in uncomplicated infections. There are some cases in which it can be stated every 12 hours.
How many days to take amoxicillin
In general, for uncomplicated infections, 7-day treatments are usually indicated. Sometimes it can take 14 or 21 days and even longer. It all depends on the pathology to be resolved or prevented and the health status of the drugged person.
Medicines that can alter the effect of amoxicillin
This is quite an important point to pay attention to. Some drugs can alter the absorption or effect of amoxicillin in your body. Thus, we have the following cases:
- Other antibiotics can decrease the bactericidal action of amoxicillin: tetracyclines, chloramphenicol, and macrolides.
- Some medications can increase the circulation of amoxicillin in the blood, making it last longer in the body. Such is the case of acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin), probenecid, indomethacin, and phenylbutazone.
- Amoxicillin can reduce the action of oral contraceptives.
- Adverse reactions may increase if amoxicillin is used together with methotrexate and allopurinol.
- Some drugs inhibit bactericidal activity: tetracyclines, chloramphenicol, and macrolides.
Why not take amoxicillin if it has not been prescribed medically
It is essential to use this medicine when it is necessary. If you take amoxicillin unnecessarily, your health problem will not be solved, but you will also decrease the possibility that it will be effective when you need to take it for real.
This is due to a phenomenon called bacterial resistance. When you take an antibiotic at the wrong time, you cause the bacteria to become stronger or more resistant over time, meaning that amoxicillin will no longer affect them. This is true for this and all antibiotics.
On the other hand, you overload your body with chemicals that must be processed and eliminated, making it difficult to deal with the health problem for which you took the antibiotic.
This article is merely informative. At FastlyHeal .com, we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor if you present any type of condition or discomfort.
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I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.