Amoxicillin is one of the most commonly used antibiotics in primary care to treat a wide range of bacterial infections. Aminopenicillin by nature, Amoxicillin has been created by adding an extra amino acid to the penicillin group to help it fight antibiotic resistance, observed in an increasing incidence in its parent compound, penicillin.
Amoxicillin is effective against several infectious conditions ranging from dental abscesses and chest infections to peptic ulcers. But in recent times, several cases have been reported of complications arising from incorrect use or misuse of Amoxicillin. Amoxicillin misuse consists of using the medication incorrectly, using it in conditions that do not require its use or unknowingly consuming a spurious drug.
While Amoxicillin misuse may not directly result in serious complications, it can pave the way for antibiotic resistance ( when the bacterial pathogens develop the ability to withstand the response of the medications or develop the ability to defeat the drugs designed to destroy them).
Antibiotic resistance can make it hard to treat serious infections like pneumonia, tuberculosis, and salmonellosis, which are major public health concerns and responsible for increasing global mortality incidences in an alarming manner.
Here are a few mistakes to avoid when using or procuring Amoxicillin to enable safe and beneficial drug use.
Using it without the doctor’s advice
Antibiotics such as buy Amoxicillin UK end to be ineffective for colds, flu, and other viral infections. Taking antibiotics when not necessary increases your risk of future infections that resists antibiotic treatment.
The CDC has estimated that two million deaths occur yearly in the United States because of infections caused by antibiotic-resistant pathogens.
In a study by the Lancet, approximately 4.59 million deaths were estimated to occur globally in 2019 due to bacterial antibiotic medication resistance.
Image Credit – https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)02724-0/fulltext
E.Coli, Staphylococcus aureus, K.Pneumoniae, S.Pneumoniae, Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, and Acinebacter Baumannii are among the leading antibiotic-resistant pathogens, all of which have shown resistance to a variable degree to Amoxicillin in clinical trials and observed in a meta-analysis of studies.
Sharing your Amoxicillin
Healthcare Providers have strictly urged people not to share their Amoxicillin or other antibiotics with others as it can lead to increased instances of drug misuse/ overuse and a wide range of ensuing adverse reactions.
According to Antibiotic Research Uk, the range of infections varies with the pathogen and the individual’s immunity and tolerance levels to antibiotics. The Amoxicillin dose that works for you and decreases the intensity of your symptoms may not work for other people.
An important point the research team put forward was that the person you are sharing your Amoxicillin with might have an entirely different infection in another body part. The use of Amoxicillin may prove unfruitful in providing symptomatic relief.
For example, you may be prescribed Amoxicillin for a chest infection, and the other person be suffering a urinary tract infection, requiring a different antibiotic in higher or lower doses to deal with the infection. Some infections may also result from viral or fungal pathogens, and antibiotics like Amoxicillin and Penicillin do not work in such conditions.
Most importantly, the other person may be allergic or hypersensitive to Amoxicillin or Penicillin. Its use can result in a host of complications, including anaphylactic reactions, Steven Johnson Syndrome, and breathing complications.
Instead of sharing your Amoxicillin, you can advise them to consult their community pharmacist or contact a general practitioner who can steer them in the correct treatment path.
Using the incorrect dose
This antibiotic comes in strengths of 125, 250, and 500 mg, out of which Amoxicillin 500 mg is the most widely used adult dose for conditions of chest infections like pneumonia, dental abscesses, and stomach ulcers.
Higher strengths of Amoxicillin are usually taken twelve hourly or twice a day. They are sometimes even advised eight hourly or three times a day with or without food. The strength and dose of Amoxicillin depend on the infection it is being used to treat, the severity of your condition, and your weight.
Usually, adults, teenagers, and children weighing forty kilos or over can use 250-500 mg of Amoxicillin three times a day. Amoxicillin 500 mg – 875 mg can also be used twice daily in such cases. But children and infants less than forty kilos should use a lower and regulated dose.
A few drug labels have suggested that the medication can be used to a maximum limit of 1000 mg daily. But the use should be conducted under the physician’s guidance. Using the incorrect dose of Amoxicillin can delay the treatment period and increase the risk of systemic complications.
Worse, using Amoxicillin in higher doses for prolonged periods can result in overdose symptoms of nausea, stomach upset, and rarely kidney failure.
Not exerting the required care during its purchase.
Spurious antibiotics pose a major risk to public health by resulting in more extended hospital stays, more frequent hospital admissions, and greater use of antibiotics to counter the damage caused by spurious antibiotics, in turn resulting in higher costs to public health services with increased antibiotic resistance risk.
Obtaining a genuine version of Amoxicillin while procuring is crucial to counter the complications. Amoxicillin uk is available only by prescription. You need a physician’s or a general practitioner’s prescription to buy Amoxicillin in UK from a registered pharmacy or selected clinical outlets dispensing the medicine.
Additionally, you can buy Amoxicillin online. But ensure that you order the drug from a genuine online pharmaceutical website that has a good reputation and will guarantee you original medication delivery on time.
Several searches pop up when you google ‘Amoxicillin uk buy. ‘ Ensure that the site you have opted for has a valid registration number, is equipped with good customer reviews, and has a customer care number that you can use to reach out to them.
Not reading the safety instructions mentioned in the leaflet.
Every medication comes with a leaflet containing the safety instructions and warnings associated with its use, and it is no different with Amoxicillin. Amoxicillin is contraindicated in patients with previous anaphylactic or severe drug-induced reactions and is advised to be used with great caution in pregnant and breastfeeding ladies.
Amoxicillin can interact with medications like warfarin, allopurinol, and probenecid, increasing the risk of bleeding and skin rashes, giving rise to symptomatic discomfort, and reducing medicine effectiveness. It may also interact with alcohol and some live vaccines.
Reading the safety instructions mentioned in the leaflet is crucial to stay safe and avoiding drug interactions and allergic reactions because of using it.
