Amoxicillin 875 mg Dosing Interval
Yes, you can take amoxicillin 875 mg at 10 PM after taking it at 1 PM, as this provides a 9-hour interval which falls within the acceptable dosing range for twice-daily amoxicillin administration. 1
Standard Dosing Interval
- Amoxicillin 875 mg is FDA-approved for administration every 12 hours, which is the standard recommended interval 1
- However, the pharmacokinetics of amoxicillin allow for some flexibility in timing without compromising efficacy 2
- Your proposed schedule (1 PM and 10 PM) creates a 9-hour interval followed by a 15-hour interval, which averages to the intended twice-daily dosing 1
Pharmacokinetic Considerations
- Amoxicillin has a terminal half-life of approximately 1.27 hours, meaning the drug is largely eliminated within several hours of administration 2
- By 12 hours post-dose, plasma amoxicillin concentrations are very low (approximately 0.05 mcg/mL), with minimal risk of accumulation 2
- The key therapeutic parameter is maintaining time above the minimum inhibitory concentration (T>MIC) for at least 40% of the dosing interval, which is achievable even with some variation in timing 2
Practical Recommendations
- For optimal consistency, try to space doses as close to 12 hours apart as possible (e.g., 1 PM and 1 AM, or adjust your morning dose to 10 AM to pair with 10 PM) 1
- If you need to take the evening dose at 10 PM today, this is acceptable and will not compromise treatment efficacy 3, 4
- Going forward, establish a consistent schedule that you can maintain throughout your treatment course 1
Important Caveats
- Take amoxicillin at the start of a meal to minimize gastrointestinal intolerance 1
- Complete the full prescribed course even if symptoms improve, particularly for streptococcal infections which require at least 10 days of therapy to prevent complications 1
- Minor variations in dosing intervals (within a few hours) are generally well-tolerated and do not significantly impact clinical outcomes 3, 4