Recommended Dosage of Augmentin (Amoxicillin/Clavulanate) in India
For adults in India, the standard dose of Augmentin is 875 mg amoxicillin/125 mg clavulanate twice daily for most common infections, with a duration of 7-10 days depending on the infection type and severity.
Adult Dosing Recommendations
Standard Dosing
- Standard dose: 875/125 mg twice daily 1
- Duration: 7-10 days for most infections, but may be shortened to 5 days for certain respiratory infections 2
Alternative Dosing Options
- Lower dose option: 500/125 mg three times daily 3
- Higher dose option: 2000/125 mg twice daily (Augmentin XR) for severe respiratory infections or resistant pathogens 4, 2
Pediatric Dosing Recommendations
- Standard pediatric dose: 40 mg/kg/day of amoxicillin component in three divided doses 1, 5
- High-dose formulation: 90/6.4 mg/kg/day in two divided doses for resistant infections 5, 4
- Maximum daily dose: Not to exceed 2000 mg amoxicillin component per day for children
Indication-Specific Dosing
Respiratory Tract Infections
- Acute otitis media: 90/6.4 mg/kg/day in two divided doses (pediatric) 5
- Chronic bronchitis exacerbation: 875/125 mg twice daily for 7 days or 2000/125 mg twice daily for 5 days 2
- Sinusitis: 875/125 mg twice daily for 7-10 days 6
Urinary Tract Infections
- Uncomplicated UTI: 375 mg three times daily for 6-7 days 7, 3
- Complicated UTI: 875/125 mg twice daily for 10-14 days 1
Group A Streptococcal Infections
- Chronic carriers: 40 mg amoxicillin/kg/day in three divided doses for 10 days 1
Special Considerations
Renal Impairment
- Dose adjustment may be necessary for patients with significant renal impairment (GFR <30 ml/min)
- For patients with mild renal insufficiency (GFR 55-70 ml/min), standard dosing has been shown to be well tolerated 7
Treatment Failures
- For patients who have failed initial therapy with other antibiotics, Augmentin is often an effective second-line option 6
- Consider high-dose formulations for suspected resistant pathogens 4
Common Pitfalls and Caveats
- Resistance concerns: Local resistance patterns should guide therapy, particularly for respiratory infections
- Gastrointestinal side effects: Diarrhoea is generally less frequent with twice-daily than with three-times-daily treatment 5
- Complete the full course: Patients should complete the full prescribed course even if symptoms improve quickly
- Take with food: Administration with meals may reduce gastrointestinal side effects
- Avoid in penicillin allergy: Do not use in patients with history of immediate hypersensitivity reactions to penicillins
Augmentin remains a valuable broad-spectrum antibiotic in India with excellent activity against many common pathogens, including beta-lactamase producing strains of H. influenzae and M. catarrhalis, as well as most strains of S. pneumoniae 4.