From the Guidelines
Amoxiclav dosing depends on the patient's age, weight, infection severity, and renal function, with a standard dose of 875 mg amoxicillin/125 mg clavulanate twice daily or 500 mg amoxicillin/125 mg clavulanate three times daily for most common infections in adults with normal kidney function. For children, dosing is typically based on the amoxicillin component at 25 mg/kg/d of the amoxicillin component in 2 divided doses po, as recommended by the Infectious Diseases Society of America 1.
Key Considerations
- The medication should be taken with food to enhance absorption and reduce gastrointestinal side effects.
- Treatment duration usually ranges from 7-14 days depending on the infection type and severity.
- Dose adjustment is necessary for patients with renal impairment.
- Common side effects include diarrhea, nausea, and skin rash.
Patient-Specific Factors
- Age and weight are crucial in determining the appropriate dose of amoxiclav for children.
- Infection severity and type also play a significant role in deciding the treatment duration and dose.
- Renal function is essential to consider for dose adjustment to prevent toxicity.
Evidence-Based Recommendations
- The Infectious Diseases Society of America recommends amoxiclav as an option for treating skin and soft tissue infections, with specific dosing guidelines for adults and children 1.
- Other studies support the use of amoxiclav in various infections, including community-acquired pneumonia, with dosing recommendations based on local susceptibility data 1.
From the Research
Amoxiclav Dose
- The dose of amoxicillin/clavulanate can vary depending on the infection being treated and the patient's age and weight 2.
- For lower respiratory tract infections, a dose of 875/125 mg given every 12 hours is as effective as 500/125 mg given every 8 hours 3.
- In children with bronchiectasis, a dose of 45 mg/kg per day of amoxicillin-clavulanate is used to treat non-severe respiratory exacerbations 2.
- The efficacy of amoxicillin/clavulanate has been compared to other antibiotics, such as levofloxacin and azithromycin, in various studies 4, 5, 6.
- Amoxicillin/clavulanate has been shown to be effective in treating a range of infections, including community-acquired pneumonia, acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis, and skin and skin structure infections 4, 5, 6.
Dosage Comparison
- A study comparing the efficacy of amoxicillin/clavulanate given every 12 hours to every 8 hours found that the two regimens were similar in terms of clinical and bacteriological success 3.
- Another study found that amoxicillin/clavulanate was as effective as levofloxacin in treating community-acquired pneumonia 4.
- Amoxicillin/clavulanate has also been compared to azithromycin in the treatment of non-severe respiratory exacerbations in children with bronchiectasis, with both antibiotics showing similar efficacy 2.