From the Research
For throat angina (streptococcal pharyngitis), the recommended dosing regimen for amoxicillin-clavulanic acid is 875 mg amoxicillin/125 mg clavulanic acid taken orally twice daily for 10 days, as this regimen has been shown to be effective and well-tolerated in clinical trials, including a recent study published in 2024 1. This medication should be taken with food to reduce gastrointestinal side effects. The choice of this dosing regimen is based on the most recent and highest quality study available, which demonstrated that amoxicillin-clavulanic acid has high therapeutic efficacy in the treatment of acute streptococcal tonsillopharyngitis, with a recovery rate of 96.6% in patients treated with this regimen 1. Additionally, this regimen has been compared to other treatment options, including clindamycin, and has been found to be effective and well-tolerated 2. It's also worth noting that the twice-daily regimen has been shown to have better adherence compared to the thrice-daily regimen 3. Some key points to consider when prescribing amoxicillin-clavulanic acid include:
- The importance of completing the full course of antibiotics, even if symptoms improve before completion, to ensure complete eradication of the infection and prevent antibiotic resistance.
- The potential for common side effects, such as diarrhea, nausea, and skin rash.
- The need to consider alternative antibiotics if the patient is allergic to penicillin.
- The availability of different formulations, including dispersible tablets, which may have advantages in terms of pharmacokinetic parameters and patient compliance 1.