The most common side effects of amoxicillin include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, changes in taste, and headaches. You should also call your doctor if you experience any of the following symptoms, as you may be experiencing a more severe adverse or allergic reaction:
- Skin rash
- Itching
- Hives
- Blisters or skin peeling
- Difficulty breathing
- Swelling
- Severe diarrhea
This is not a complete list of adverse effects, although these are among the most common. Seek medical attention right away if you experience any unusual symptoms while taking amoxicillin.
As with all prescription medication, be sure to inform the prescribing doctor or health care professional about any medical conditions you have been previously diagnosed with, as well as any medication/ supplements you are currently taking before starting treatment with amoxicillin.
If you have an allergy to penicillins or cephalosporin antibiotics (e.g., cefaclor, cefadroxil, cephalexin, Ceftin®, or Keflex®), tell your doctor before using amoxicillin. Other conditions, such as severe kidney disease, can impact the strength of amoxicillin in your body. People who have kidney disease must take smaller doses of antibiotics than people who have healthy kidneys.
Amoxicillin can interact with other forms of medication and substances, causing potentially serious side effects. These drug interactions include other antibiotics, allopurinol (Lopurin, Zyloprim), anticoagulants (blood thinners) like warfarin, oral contraceptives (birth control pills), and probenecid (Probalan in Col-Probenecid).
Although lactation research shows that amoxicillin produces low levels in breastmilk that are not expected to cause adverse effects in breastfed infants, you should still consult with your doctor if you are breastfeeding before taking amoxicillin. In addition, let your doctor know if you are pregnant or plan on becoming pregnant before starting treatment with this medication.