Augmentin is Another Name for Amoxicillin/Clavulanate
Augmentin is the brand name for the combination antibiotic amoxicillin/clavulanate (also written as amoxicillin-clavulanate or amoxicillin/clavulanic acid). 1
What This Combination Contains
The medication consists of two components:
- Amoxicillin: A semisynthetic penicillin-type antibiotic that kills bacteria
- Clavulanate (clavulanic acid): A β-lactamase inhibitor that protects amoxicillin from being destroyed by bacterial enzymes 1
Alternative Names and Formulations
The same combination is known by several names depending on the formulation and region:
- Augmentin (standard formulation)
- Augmentin XR (extended-release formulation for adults, 2000mg/125mg) 2, 3
- Augmentin ES-600 (high-dose pediatric formulation, 600mg/42.9mg per 5mL) 1, 4, 5
- Amoxicillin-clavulanate or amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (generic names) 6
Key Clinical Point
When prescribing or discussing this medication, all these names refer to the same drug combination—amoxicillin paired with clavulanic acid. The clavulanate component specifically targets β-lactamase-producing bacteria (like many strains of Haemophilus influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis) that would otherwise be resistant to amoxicillin alone 7.