From the Guidelines
You should eat something mild like crackers, toast, or a banana as soon as possible and drink plenty of water to help alleviate potential stomach upset caused by taking amoxicillin clavulanate on an empty stomach. Taking amoxicillin clavulanate on an empty stomach may cause stomach upset, nausea, or vomiting due to the clavulanic acid component being harsh on an empty stomach 1.
Key Considerations
- For future doses, always take this medication with food as directed to reduce gastrointestinal side effects 1.
- If you develop severe stomach pain, persistent vomiting, or diarrhea, contact your healthcare provider.
- Continue taking your full prescribed course of antibiotics as scheduled, just make sure to have them with food from now on, as missing doses or stopping early can lead to antibiotic resistance and incomplete treatment of your infection 1.
Additional Guidance
- The addition of clavulanate to amoxicillin enhances its activity against β-lactamase–producing strains of H influenzae, but it can also increase the incidence of gastrointestinal side effects 1.
- Recent studies suggest that high-dose amoxicillin (clavulanate) has significantly fewer bacteriologic failures against β-lactamase–negative H influenzae than lower doses 1.
- When administered twice a day, amoxicillin/clavulanate has a lower incidence of gastrointestinal side effects compared to three times a day 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
Inform patients that amoxicillin and clavulanate potassium tablets may be taken every 8 hours or every 12 hours, depending on the dose prescribed Each dose should be taken with a meal or snack to reduce the possibility of gastrointestinal upset.
You should take your next dose with a meal or snack to reduce the possibility of gastrointestinal upset, as the medication is supposed to be taken with food. If you experience any severe gastrointestinal symptoms, you should contact your physician as soon as possible 2.
From the Research
Taking Amoxicillin Clavulanate on an Empty Stomach
- The studies provided do not directly address the issue of taking amoxicillin clavulanate on an empty stomach 3, 4.
- However, it is known that amoxicillin clavulanate can cause gastrointestinal side effects, including nausea and vomiting 3.
- If you are experiencing nausea or vomiting after taking amoxicillin clavulanate on an empty stomach, you may want to consider taking antiemetic medication to help alleviate these symptoms.
- A study comparing the efficacy of ondansetron, metoclopramide, and placebo for adults with nausea and vomiting found that reductions in nausea severity were similar for all three groups, but there was a trend toward greater reductions in VAS ratings and a lesser requirement for rescue medication in the antiemetic drug groups 4.
- It is recommended to consult with a healthcare professional for guidance on how to manage any side effects you may be experiencing while taking amoxicillin clavulanate.
Potential Side Effects
- Amoxicillin clavulanate can cause gastrointestinal side effects, including:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Clostridium difficile infection 3
- These side effects may be more pronounced when taking the medication on an empty stomach.
Administration Guidance
- The optimal oral administration of amoxicillin clavulanate, including the choice of combination ratio, is discussed in a study by 3.
- However, this study does not provide specific guidance on taking the medication on an empty stomach.