Can Amoxicillin Treat Gonorrhea and Chlamydia?
Yes, amoxicillin can treat gonorrhoea and chlamydia [1, 2]. However, in both diseases, amoxicillin is not the primary treatment.
Amoxicillin can be used for gonorrhoea but is not recommended. The causative agent is Neisseria gonorrhoea, a bacterium that develops resistance to penicillin by producing penicillinase, an enzyme that neutralizes the antibiotic.
The growing resistance of Neisseria gonorrhoea limits the number of effective antibiotics [3].
The CDC recommends ceftriaxone plus azithromycin as the primary treatment for gonorrhea. Amoxicillin, even though it can be effective, is not recommended and thus should not be used.
Similarly, amoxicillin can be effective for treating chlamydia, but is not recommended [4]. The CDC recommends other antibiotics such as doxycycline and azithromycin for treating chlamydia. Both of these antibiotics are preferred as they are more effective and have a lower risk of resistance.
What is Amoxicillin?
Amoxicillin is a semi-synthetic beta-lactam antibiotic. It belongs to the penicillin family and has a broad spectrum of activity. It is one of the most prescribed antibiotics worldwide [5, 6]. Various forms of amoxicillin can be taken. Among the most common are capsules and tablets [7].
What is Amoxicillin Used For?
Amoxicillin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that can be used for many bacterial infections.
Most frequently, amoxicillin is given for infections of the nose, ear, or sinus. However, it can also be used for urinary tract infections [7].
Also, other diseases like lower respiratory tract and skin infections can be treated with amoxicillin [9, 7].
In children, a common infection is otitis media. In the treatment of this disease, doctors often use amoxicillin [7].
What are the Side Effects of Amoxicillin?
Amoxicillin can cause a range of side effects.
Among the common ones are:
- diarrhea,
- naussea,
- headaches,
- skin rash and vaginal yeast infections [10, 7].
Less frequently, amoxicillin can cause an allergic reaction. It can present with symptoms like itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, or tongue [10, 7].
In more serious cases, allergic reactions can lead to breathing problems, blisters, trouble sleeping, and seizures [10, 7].
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