Amoxicillin Over the Counter
From the very beginning of their utilization, antibiotics belong to the prescription group. This is because they require diagnostics and control. At the same time, the modern convenient world allows getting a prescription online and ordering a needed medicine at once. This is the case with Amoxicillin. If you are about to use this remedy, start by discovering more about its usage and effects.
What is Amoxicillin?
This medicine belongs to the group of penicillin antibiotics. They were developed the first and are still quite popular and used all over the world. The number of annual prescriptions for this representative exceeds millions in the USA alone.
The remedy comes in different dosage forms and is applicable to all patients. Also, there are only a few possible adverse reactions and they are quite rare. Combined with a wide range of activity against various bacteria, this makes Amoxicillin a perfect choice for the cure of many bacterial diseases.
How Amoxicillin works
The main aim of this medicine is to stop the growth of bacteria inside the body of a patient. The active molecule prevents their possibility to form cell walls. As a result, the existing bacteria die and they lose the chance to reproduce.
Still, this process is gradual and requires the proper concentration of the medicine in the body. That’s why it is crucial to follow the scheme and regimen of the intake.
Can I Buy Amoxicillin Over the Counter?
Usually, Amoxicillin without a prescription is not available. As with all other similar remedies, it is controlled and utilized only after the diagnostics. At the same time, nowadays one can get a prescription online after a consultation. Then, it can be used for purchases both online and offline.
Therefore, do not hesitate to try this convenient method and get a virtual consultation on a reliable pharmaceutical service.
Uses
As we have already mentioned, this medicine is effective against various strains of microorganisms. Still, it does not influence fungi and viruses. Thus, it’ll not cure the common flu.
The most common utilization and prescription cases include the following.
Respiratory tract infections
All parts of the respiratory tract may be attacked by bacteria. They cause such diseases as infections of the ears, nose and throat, sinusitis and pneumonia. All these illnesses can be cured using Amoxicillin.
Skin infections
Another common case includes various bacterial invasions of the skin. Here, the doctor should prove the bacterial nature of the disease and then prescribe antibiotics. Both oral and topical dosage forms can be of use in this case.
Urinary tract infections
One more possible need for Amoxicillin utilization includes infections of the urinary system, which include cystitis, urethritis and bacterial invasions of the kidneys. Such diseases are more common for women due to their physiological features and penicillin antibiotics usually work well in their treatment.
Customer Reviews
Hannah, 45: I got a prescription for these pills to cure the urinary tract. I was surprised at how quickly it acted! In addition, I didn’t experience any major adverse reactions and the course was perfect. Moreover, the drug was available for online purchase, which was very convenient.
Max, 23: As for me, Amoxicillin was the first such remedy I’ve ever tried. I never thought it would be so effective. I was also worried about adverse effects but there were none. On the contrary, the strongest symptoms of pneumonia vanished in a few days, so the cure was quick and safe!
Maria, 34: I was looking for a cure for children. It was perfect to get an online consultation together with answers to all my questions. The specialist advised me Amoxicillin so I ordered it at once, got a delivery right to my flat and quickly solved the problem. It’s great that there is a liquid dosage form for children and it’s quite easy to adjust a dose for them.
How to Take Amoxicillin
This medicine comes in several oral dosage forms that include capsules, usual and chewable tablets and a suspension (liquid dosage form for children mainly).
On average, the remedy is prescribed two or three times per day or every 8-12 hours in the following doses:
- Adults, teenagers and children with a body weight that exceeds 88 pounds should take from 25 to 500 mg every eight hours or a dose from 500 to 875 mg every 12 hours.
- Children with a body weight of less than 88 pounds are prescribed from 40 to 90 mg of a medicine per kilogram of body weight. This amount is divided into 2-3 doses per day.
The pills can be taken with or without food with a glass of water. It’s better to take them approximately at the same time.
The duration of the course depends on the type of disease and condition of the patient. The smallest period usually lasts three days. On average, doctors prescribe it for 7-10 days. Even if you start to feel better and experience no symptoms, do not stop the intake as it may contribute to resistance of microorganisms and the formation of a chronic illness.
Possible Side Effects
This medicine is considered safe and is not associated with many adverse reactions. Quite rarely patients report:
- headaches;
- indigestion;
- diarrhea;
- nausea and vomiting;
- skin rash and itching;
- vaginal yeast infections.
If any of these undesirable reactions appear, inform your doctor at once and follow his recommendations on further actions. Sometimes it is enough to adjust a dose or correct the situation with the help of other medicines, while other cases require the replacement of antibiotics.
Remember that this medicine is prohibited for all patients who are allergic to penicillin. That is why if there are any symptoms of the allergic response, immediately stop the intake of the pills and search for medical help.
Antibiotic resistance
The issue of resistance is one of the crucial reasons why these medicines belong to the prescription group and are not readily available to anyone. The thing is that when the amount of a remedy in the body is low, the bacteria can get used to it and even develop some protection. Then, a normal dose will not act and deliver the desired effect.
This problem often appears when the utilization of antibiotics is not controlled and patients use inappropriate doses or stop the treatment course earlier than needed. Therefore, always follow the recommendations of a specialist on the intake of this one and similar medicine and keep in mind the following rules:
- if you forgot about a pill and only a few hours have passed, then take it and adjust future doses to a new regimen;
- if it is already time to take the next table, never double a dose, just continue the course.
Misuse of these pills may lead to the development of a chronic disease and the appearance of resistant strains. That is why be careful, set alerts for taking your pills in time and do not neglect the rules described above. Then, your course will result in positive effects only.
Summary
In a nutshell, the long period of utilization of this remedy has proven its efficiency and safety. It is one of the few antibiotics that are recommended for pregnant and lactating women and children of different ages.
Still, it should be utilized responsibly and according to the recommendations of a healthcare provider. Do not neglect a consultation and strictly follow the treatment scheme. Then, you will get a positive effect without any negative consequences.
FAQ
Is there an over the counter version of amoxicillin?
Basically, there is no such thing. As well as other similar products, it requires a prescription. Still, the latter can be easily obtained online together with further online ordering.
What is a good alternative to amoxicillin?
All the medicines of the same penicillin group can substitute it, for instance, ampicillin or cephalexin. However, one should adjust their doses and scheme of the treatment as they will not be equivalent.
Do I need a prescription for amoxicillin?
Yes, one requires the consultation of a specialist to determine the nature of the disease. If it is bacterial, then a doctor selects the dose and regimen of the intake of the chosen antibiotic.
Can you still get antibiotics over the counter?
One can get OTC only in some topical dosage forms. As for tablets and capsules, they always require a prescription but the latter can be obtained online after a virtual consultation.