Bacterial infections are to be treated without delay. People who leave them without being treated may witness severely adverse outcomes. Upon experiencing the characteristic signs of infections, it is a safe practice to consult with a qualified medical practitioner. Drugs belong to a genre called antibiotics – which includes meds such as penicillin, amoxicillin, etc. – are widely prescribed to arrest bacterial infections and stop their further spread. Amoxicillin has quite a wide range of treatment capabilities. But, can you use amoxicillin if you are allergic to antibiotics like penicillin? It becomes essential to know more about this.
Amoxicillin
Amoxicillin is a commonly administered antibacterial medication; it is available in pharmacies as tablets or chewable pills, capsules as well as a suspended syrup form. It is used to treat a broad variety of infectious conditions such as bacterial attacks of nasal pathways, lungs, skin, etc. It is typically administered two (2) times each day. Each dose is evenly spaced out by a time interval of 12 hours. Dosages may vary based on the intensity of the infectious condition, your age, presence of pre-existing ailments (if any) and also on other drugs you are currently taking.
No two individuals – who develop bacterial infections – may have a similar treatment plan. For example, if your infections are acute or severe, doses of amoxicillin are administered three (3) times per day. Also, if infections are spreading quite fast, a boosted dosage plan is prescribed. You are advised to take these dosages at the same time every day; this practice is known to yield a quicker remedy.
But, can you take amoxicillin if you are allergic penicillin?
It is not a safe thing to take amoxicillin if you are allergic to drugs like penicillin. This is chiefly because the former belongs to the penicillin genre of antibacterial meds. Hence, if you have known episodes of hypersensitivity to penicillin, intake of amoxicillin can trigger harmful side effects. In the US, more than 9% of people are known to have some form of allergy to penicillin.
Penicillin V
How to know if you are allergic to penicillin? You may experience one or more of the following side effects: itchiness of skin, formation of rashes, inflammation of parts such as throat or gums, etc. In some cases, people may also report of respiratory conditions such as shortened cycles of breathing, gasping or wheezing.
In all such cases, your treating doctor may advise you to go for a test to check for such allergies. Penicillin-triggered allergies are quite common, especially among children. However, most people experience milder forms of the aforesaid allergic reactions. Hence, it is important to know if your allergy is a mild one or an acute one. Those living with severe forms of this allergy must stay away from using drugs that form part of penicillin class of antibiotics. On the other hand – if your allergy or hypersensitivity is a milder one, you may take penicillin-genre drugs such as amoxicillin.
Those with a serious allergy to penicillin may also need to avoid using meds such as ampicillin, piperacillin, oxacillin, augmentin (which is amoxicillin and clavulanic acid), etc. As amoxicillin and augmentin are more commonly used than the rest, added level of precaution is needed. Those who live with known hypersensitivity/allergy to penicillin must never use augmentin as well. Both these meds i.e., amoxicillin and augmentin – are widely used to treat skin-based infections, inner ear-related infections and infections in your respiratory tract, especially the lower tract.
Last but not least, talk to your treating doctor of antibiotics you can take. Or instance, you may take oral drugs such as doxycycline, Bactrim (trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole), clindamycin, etc. Above all, it is a good practice to discuss with your caregiver about your prior allergies to penicillin each time you start a new medication plan that involves the intake of antibacterial meds.
Doxycycline
Disclaimer
Information provided here are only of supplementary nature. Information shared here does not substitute a qualified doctor’s advice. This website is not suggesting intake of this drug as safe or appropriate. Hence it is advised to talk to your doctor before consuming this med or any other drug.
Education: Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) from the University of Florida. Experience: 5 years as a pharmacist and medical writer, creating content on medication management and pharmaceutical news for healthcare blogs and patient education sites.
