What is amox-clav?
Amox-clav is an abbreviation and stands for amoxicillin-clavulanate. It is a combination of amoxicillin, an antibiotic, and clavulanic acid, a beta-lactamase inhibitor. Amoxicillin is a member of the penicillin family of antibiotics. The clavulanate enhances the antimicrobial effect, preventing the bacteria that produce beta-lactamases from blocking the amoxicillin [1, 2].
Amox-clav has been commonly used since the 1970s. One of its positive aspects is its mild side effects [3].
What not to take with amox-clav?
Amox-clav should not be taken with drugs like ketoconazole, leflunomide, lomitapide, levoketoconazole, methotrexate, mipomersen, pexidartinib [4].
For example, the use of amox-clav with ketoconazole increases the risk of liver damage and related complications [5].
Similarly, the use of pexidartinib with amox-clav leads to a higher risk of liver injury [6].
Methotrexate, in combination with amoxicillin, can cause severe damage to the body [7].
You should also remember that amox-clav lowers the effectiveness of contraceptives [8]. It is advisable to use other protective methods while taking this antibiotic.
If you don't know whether you can take your medication with amoxicillin-clavulanate, you can use Medisearch. It will answer your question according to the available medical literature.
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What is the mechanism of action of amox-clav?
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Clavulanic acid prevents the antibiotic from being inactivated by bacteria. It blocks the bacteria-produced enzymes, allowing it to be effective against bacteria that are resistant to amoxicillin [10, 11].
Additionally, clavulanic acid has antioxidant properties. It changes the expression of more than 1000 genes and activates nuclear factors (NRF2) responsible for its antioxidative effect [12].
What are the potential side effects of amox-clav?
Amoxicillin-clavulanate can cause a range of side effects.
The most common adverse effects are:
In rare cases, amox-clav can lead to liver complications like cholestatic hepatitis. People with this condition will have severe hyperbilirubinemia. It will result in jaundice [15, 16].
When to see a doctor after side effects from amox-clav?
It's important to know when to see a doctor if you experience severe side effects from amoxicillin-clavulanate.
You should refer to your doctor when you have diarrhea, changes in taste, stomach pain, vaginal itching, or headache while on amox-clav [17, 13].
However, if you experience severe adverse effects during your therapy, you must seek immediate medical attention. Among the warning signs are skin allergic reactions, such as rashes, hives, shortness of breath, swelling of the face, lips, and tongue, abdominal pain, or severe diarrhea [17, 18, 13].