Amoxiclav for acute and chronic bronchitis: treatment regimens

Amoxiclav is a semi-synthetic combination antibiotic, the active ingredients of which are amoxicillin and clavulanic acid. This drug has an effective and gentle effect on the body, so it is often prescribed by specialists to treat bronchitis.

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Pharmacodynamics

Amoxicillin, which is the active substance of amoxiclav, is an antibacterial substance of the penicillin group. Amoxiclav also contains an additional substance in the form of clavulanic acid. It has bactericidal properties and is a stimulator of protective processes in the body due to the destruction of the walls of some microorganisms. The main function of clavulanic acid is the suppression of β-lactamase, which is synthesized by some bacteria. Thus, the drug is able to effectively affect various types of pathogenic microorganisms.

This antibiotic gets into the internal organs in a short period of time. Because of this, the drug quickly and efficiently helps in the treatment of even severe bronchitis. About one hour after taking the medicine, its peak concentration is in the body. After taking it, about three hours later, the antibiotic completely leaves the body through the kidneys, a small amount of it can leave the body through the intestines or lungs.

Amoxiclav is able to act on such microorganisms as:

• gardnerella;
• Proteus;
• echinococci;
• Klebsiella;
• streptococci;
• listeria;
• Bordetella;
• shigella;
• Moraxella.

However, despite the positive effect against streptococcal infection, Amoxiclav does not help with bronchitis if methicillin-resistant strains have been identified.

One of the indications for use is bronchitis. Amoxiclav for chronic bronchitis has no less qualitative effect than Amoxiclav for acute bronchitis.

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Dosing and administration

There are several different forms of the drug. The method of administration and dosage vary depending on the form of release.

1. Pills

This form of Amoxiclav for bronchitis in adults (not younger than 12 years) is taken orally. Before swallowing the tablet, it should be dissolved in clean water (at the rate of one tablet per 100 ml of water) or chewed.

Amoxiclav tablets differ in the ratio and quantity of active substances (quantity of mg amoxicillin/quantity of mg clavulanic acid). There are three types of Amoxiclav tablets. Among them are:

• 250 (250 mg/125 mg)

It is used for mild and moderate stages of the disease, one dose every 8 hours.

• 500 (500 mg/125 mg)

It is used for mild and moderate stages of the disease, more often for severe stages of the disease, one dose every 8 hours.

• 2X (875 mg/125 mg)

It is used in severe stages of the disease, one dose every 12 hours.

2. Quicktab

Quicktab tablets have a fruity taste and should be dissolved in clean drinking water before use. It is mainly used in pediatric practice for children weighing at least 12 kilograms. It has two modifications:

• 500 mg/125 mg

It is used for mild or moderate bronchitis, one dose twice a day.

• 850 mg/125 mg

It is used in severe stages of bronchitis, one dose twice a day.

3. Amoxiclav powder for parenteral use.

This form of Amoxiclav is prescribed for particularly severe forms of the disease or if there is a risk of death in patients over 12 years of age.

The solution is administered using:

• intravenous injections

600 mg of antibiotic is diluted in 10 ml of special water for injection. This solution is administered to the patient intravenously over a period of time (approximately 4 minutes).

• droppers

600 mg of antibiotic is diluted in 10 ml of special injection water and 50 ml of infusion solution is added. The antibiotic is administered via droppers after a maximum of 20 minutes from the moment of dilution of the drug. The procedure is carried out for 40 minutes.

An adult should not take more than 6 g of amoxicillin and 600 mg of clavulanic acid in 24 hours. Amoxiclav for bronchitis in children weighing up to 40 kg is not recommended to be taken at the rate of more than 45 mg of amoxicillin and 10 mg of clavulanic acid per kilogram of weight.

How many days do you take Amoxiclav for bronchitis? This drug is recommended to be taken for no more than fourteen days in a row, since the effect of the active ingredient (amoxicillin) begins to gradually decrease.

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Features of taking Amoxiclav

Taking antibiotics is associated with some rules and restrictions. The features of taking Amoxiclav are the following factors:

• It is prohibited to consume alcohol of any type;
• kidney and liver function needs to be checked;
• patients with anuria should observe a time interval of at least 48 hours between antibiotic doses;
• Patients with current infectious mononucleosis are advised not to take Amoxiclav, as there is a high risk of developing an erythematous rash;
• antibacterial medications can have a negative impact on the gastrointestinal tract, so this antibiotic should be taken during meals to minimize negative consequences;
• It is essential to adhere to the recommended storage conditions for the medicine, namely, keep it in a dark place, out of reach of children, at a maximum air temperature of 25 degrees and in the absence of moisture;
• It is strictly forbidden to use the antibiotic after the expiration date indicated on the packaging.

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Contraindications

Contraindications for use are:

• hypersensitivity to the active components of the drug;
• development of lymphocytic leukemia at the present time;
• increased individual sensitivity to penicillin antibacterial drugs;
• if jaundice or liver dysfunction has previously been noted due to exposure to clavulanic acid or amoxicillin;
• current infectious mononucleosis;
• Use during pregnancy is permitted only when the benefit to the mother's treatment outweighs the potential risks of complications to the fetus.

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Side effects amoxiclav for bronchitis

Side effects may include:

• migraine attacks, various stages of dizziness;
• unreasonable anxiety, sleep disturbance;
• convulsions;
• interstitial nephritis, crystalluria;
• angioedema, skin rashes with various pathogenesis;
• thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, pancytopenia;
• anaphylactic shock;
• inflammation or dysfunction of the liver;
• dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract in the form of nausea and vomiting, vomiting, pain, bowel movements in the form of diarrhea;
• In case of overdose, agitation, convulsions, and insomnia are possible; therapy in this case is carried out by hemodialysis.

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Interactions with other drugs

Amoxiclav should be used with caution when taking other medications, since interactions with some drugs may affect the quality of treatment:

• the effect of oral contraceptives is significantly reduced;
• Amoxiclav should not be taken simultaneously with glucosamine and laxatives, as this reduces the absorption of this antibiotic; when taking ascorbic acid, the absorption of this medication becomes greater;
• Taking Amoxiclav at the same time as Rifampicin is fraught with a complete lack of therapeutic effect from both medications;
• methotrexate in combination with Amoxiclav significantly increases its toxic properties;
• when Amoxiclav and anticoagulants are used simultaneously, prothrombin time increases, which is why they should not be combined;
• When taking probenecid, the serum concentration of the active substance Amoxiclav increases, as a result of which its elimination from the body slows down.

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Amoxiclav analogues

Based on the anamnesis and diagnosis, specialists prescribe analogues of Amoxiclav, and not this antibiotic.

1. Sumamed. A broad-spectrum macrolide antibacterial drug that contains the active substance azithromycin. It is prescribed if penicillin-type antibacterial drugs are ineffective.
2. Flemoxin. The active substance of this antibacterial drug is amoxicillin, but it does not contain clavulanic acid, unlike Amoxiclav. Due to this fact, Flemoxin is effective for the treatment of respiratory diseases, but the total number of indications for use is significantly less than that of Amoxiclav.
3. Suprax. Also resistant to β-lactamase. Indicated for acute or chronic bronchitis.
4. Augmentin. It is a complete analogue of Amoxiclav, as it consists of the same active ingredients.

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Reviews of Amoxiclav

Patients leave mostly positive reviews about the antibiotic Amoxiclav. According to studies on whether Amoxiclav helps with bronchitis, this drug has a positive effect after 3 days of taking it. However, sometimes Amoxiclav does not have the desired effect on bronchitis or causes side effects due to an individual reaction to the drug.