What is the total amount of amoxicillin (amoxicillin) 500mg to be dispensed for a 10-day treatment, three times a day (tid)?

Total Amount of Amoxicillin 500mg to Dispense for 10 Days TID

For a 10-day treatment of amoxicillin 500mg three times daily (tid), the total amount to be dispensed is 30 tablets (500mg each). 1, 2

Calculation Method

• Amoxicillin 500mg three times daily (tid) means 3 tablets per day 2
• Treatment duration of 10 days 1
• Total number of tablets = 3 tablets/day × 10 days = 30 tablets 2

Supporting Evidence from Guidelines

• For respiratory tract infections including sinusitis, amoxicillin 500mg three times daily for 10 days is a standard recommended regimen 1
• The FDA label for amoxicillin confirms the dosing of 500mg every 8 hours (equivalent to three times daily) for a 10-day course for various infections 2
• IDSA guidelines for streptococcal pharyngitis recommend amoxicillin for 10 days to prevent complications such as acute rheumatic fever 1

Clinical Considerations

• The 10-day duration is particularly important for streptococcal infections to prevent acute rheumatic fever 1, 2
• For severe infections, higher doses may be used (e.g., 875mg twice daily), but the question specifically asks about 500mg tid 2
• Treatment should generally continue for 48-72 hours beyond symptom resolution 2

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Not accounting for all doses in the full 10-day period (30 total doses needed) 2
• Confusing tid (three times daily) with bid (twice daily) dosing regimens 1, 2
• Dispensing insufficient medication for the complete treatment course, which could lead to treatment failure or antimicrobial resistance 1