No, antibiotics like amoxicillin require a prescription from a licensed healthcare provider. This is because overuse or misuse of antibiotics can lead to something called antibiotic resistance, a situation where the antibiotic is no longer effective at treating bacteria.

Because of this, you’ll need to be evaluated by a licensed clinician to determine if an antibiotic is appropriate, and which type of antibiotic will be best at clearing the bacteria from your body.

If you’re dealing with a bacterial infection, you won’t be able to access systemic antibiotics (antibiotics that treat deeper or internal infections throughout the body) over the counter in the US.

These antibiotics require a prescription from a healthcare provider and include oral antibiotics (like amoxicillin), injection antibiotics, and prescription-strength topical antibiotics.

There are a few lower-dose topical antibiotic creams that are available over the counter in the US, such as bacitracin. However, these types of antibiotic creams are used to prevent infections from minor scrapes or cuts and are typically not strong enough to kill an existing infection.

Yes, you can get a new antibiotic prescription or refill for amoxicillin online from a licensed healthcare provider through telehealth platforms like Sesame!

Providers on Sesame are available 24/7 in all 50 states and can fill or refill your amoxicillin prescription during a same-day telehealth visit if it’s right for you.

If medication is prescribed during your online visit, your provider will send your prescription to your preferred pharmacy for same-day pickup or delivery. Note that all prescriptions are at the discretion of your healthcare provider.

You should not take amoxicillin if any of the following applies to you:

• You have a known allergy to amoxicillin or other penicillins.
• You have a known history of severe reactions to cephalosporins.
• You have mononucleosis (mono).
• You have kidney function problems.
• You are taking a blood thinner, other antibiotics, or another medication that can interact or impact the effectiveness of amoxicillin

A Sesame provider can review your medical history, allergies, symptoms, and current medications during your telehealth visit to help determine whether amoxicillin is safe and appropriate for your infection. If it’s not, they can recommend a safer alternative instead!

You should talk to your healthcare provider about any of the following medications while taking amoxicillin in order to reduce the risk of side effects or interactions:

• Allopurinol
• Methotrexate
• Blood thinners like warfarin
• Probenecid
• Other antibiotic medications
• Many birth control pills
• Some antidepressants

Along with the medications above, there are also certain lifestyle factors to be mindful of when taking amoxicillin:

• Avoid drinking alcohol (try to drink in moderation or avoid alcohol entirely until you’ve finished treatment)
• Avoid skipping doses or stopping treatment early (be sure to finish your full course of amoxicillin to prevent antibiotic resistance)

For most adults and children weighing 40 kg (about 88 pounds) or more with mild to moderate infections, the typical starting dose of amoxicillin may be:

• 500 mg taken orally three times daily for capsules or tablets, or
• 875 mg taken orally twice daily for capsules or tablets.

For pediatric patients and those with lower body weights, the medication dose may be lowered based on weight and the specific infection being treated. Providers also may prescribe an oral suspension instead of oral capsules and tablets for pediatric dosing.

It's important to complete your full course of amoxicillin as prescribed, even if your symptoms improve before the medication is finished. If you have any questions about your dosage or how to take amoxicillin, contact your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

The closest antibiotic substitutes for amoxicillin are ampicillin and penicillin V, which belong to the same family of antibiotics as amoxicillin (called penicillin-friendly antibiotics).

If you have a penicillin allergy, your provider might prescribe another type of antibiotic instead of amoxicillin, such as:

• Azithromycin (Z-Pak)

Clarithromycin (generic Biaxin)

• Clindamycin
• Ciprofloxacin (generic Cipro)
• Doxycycline (generic Doryx)
• Erythromycin
• Levofloxacin (generic Levaquin)
• Metronidazole (generic Metrogel)
• Minocycline (generic Minocin)
• Mupirocin (generic Bactroban)
• Ofloxacin (generic Floxin)
• Polymyxin B (generic Optimyxin/ Ultra Mide)
• Rifaximin (generic Xifaxan)
• Sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (generic Bactrim)
• Tetracycline (generic Adoxa)
• Tinidazole (generic Tindamax)
• Tobramycin (generic Tobrex)

All visits on Sesame are cash-pay, which means we do not accept insurance in order to keep prices low and transparent.

However, if you do have health insurance and are prescribed medication during your appointment, your health insurance plan will likely cover prescriptions for antibiotics like amoxicillin. You can confirm your medication coverage for amoxicillin by checking your insurance plan’s drug formulary or contacting your insurance provider directly.