From the Guidelines
Amoxicillin is not an antiviral medication, and it should not be used to treat viral infections. It is an antibiotic that belongs to the penicillin class and is only effective against bacterial infections, not viral infections. Amoxicillin works by inhibiting bacterial cell wall synthesis, which is a structure that viruses do not possess. Common viral infections such as the common cold, influenza, COVID-19, and most sore throats will not respond to amoxicillin treatment. Using antibiotics like amoxicillin for viral infections is ineffective and contributes to antibiotic resistance, a growing global health concern. For viral infections, treatment typically focuses on managing symptoms while the body's immune system fights the virus. In some cases, specific antiviral medications may be prescribed for certain viral infections, such as oseltamivir (Tamiflu) for influenza or acyclovir for herpes infections, but amoxicillin should never be used for this purpose 1.
Some key points to consider when treating infections include:
- The distinction between viral and bacterial infections, as antibiotics like amoxicillin are only effective against bacterial infections 1
- The potential for antibiotic resistance when using antibiotics inappropriately, such as for viral infections 1
- The importance of using specific antiviral medications for certain viral infections, rather than relying on antibiotics like amoxicillin 1
In terms of morbidity, mortality, and quality of life, using amoxicillin to treat viral infections can have negative consequences, including:
- Contributing to antibiotic resistance, which can make bacterial infections more difficult to treat 1
- Failing to provide effective treatment for viral infections, which can lead to prolonged illness and decreased quality of life 1
- Increasing the risk of adverse effects from unnecessary antibiotic use, such as allergic reactions or gastrointestinal disturbances 1
Overall, amoxicillin should only be used to treat bacterial infections, and alternative treatments should be sought for viral infections. By prioritizing the use of antibiotics like amoxicillin for bacterial infections only, we can help to reduce the risk of antibiotic resistance and improve patient outcomes 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
Antibacterial Resistance Patients should be counseled that antibacterial drugs, including amoxicillin, should only be used to treat or prevent bacterial infections. Antibacterial drugs do not treat viral infections (e.g., the common cold).
- Amoxicillin is not an antiviral medication. It is an antibacterial drug that should only be used to treat or prevent bacterial infections.
- The FDA drug label explicitly states that antibacterial drugs, including amoxicillin, do not treat viral infections 2, 2.
From the Research
Antiviral Medications
- Antiviral drugs are a class of medicines used for the treatment of viral infections, and they work by targeting the viruses themselves or the host cell factors 3.
- Examples of antiviral drugs include inhibitors of virus attachment, inhibitors of virus entry, uncoating inhibitors, polymerase inhibitors, protease inhibitors, inhibitors of nucleoside and nucleotide reverse transcriptase, and the inhibitors of integrase 3.
Amoxicillin
- Amoxicillin is an antibiotic, and it is used to treat bacterial infections, not viral infections 4.
- Amoxicillin/clavulanate is a broad-spectrum antibacterial that has been available for clinical use in a wide range of indications for over 20 years, primarily in the treatment of community-acquired respiratory tract infections 4.
- There is no evidence to suggest that amoxicillin has antiviral activity, and it is not approved as an antiviral therapy 5, 6.
Antibiotics and Viral Infections
- Some antibiotics have been studied for their potential antiviral activity, including macrolides, glycopeptides, tetracyclines, fluoroquinolones, cephalosporins, and aminoglycosides 5.
- However, the use of antibiotics to combat viral infections remains controversial and is not generally accepted, as clinical trials are required to prove their effectiveness 5, 6.
- Antibiotic use can disturb the normal gut microbiome, which can impede the antiviral immune response and enhance the severity and susceptibility to viral infections 6.