From the FDA Drug Label
Skipping doses or not completing the full course of therapy may: (1) decrease the effectiveness of the immediate treatment, and (2) increase the likelihood that bacteria will develop resistance and will not be treatable by amoxicillin and clavulanate potassium tablets or other antibacterial drugs in the future The patient should take the missed dose of Augmentin as soon as possible, and then continue with their regular dosing schedule. If it is close to the time of the next dose, the patient should skip the missed dose and take the next dose at the regular time. The patient should not take a double dose to make up for the missed dose. It is essential to complete the full course of therapy as directed by the doctor to ensure the effectiveness of the treatment and prevent the development of antibiotic resistance 1.
- Key points:
- Take the missed dose as soon as possible
- Continue with the regular dosing schedule
- Do not take a double dose
- Complete the full course of therapy as directed by the doctor
From the Research
If you miss a dose of Augmentin BID, take it as soon as you remember, unless it's almost time for your next scheduled dose. This approach is based on the principle of maintaining consistent antibiotic levels in the bloodstream to effectively fight bacterial infections, as supported by studies on pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics 2. When considering the management of missed doses, it's essential to prioritize the patient's safety and the efficacy of the treatment. The most recent and highest quality study on this topic suggests that taking a missed dose as soon as possible is the best approach, unless it's close to the next scheduled dose, in which case the missed dose should be skipped 2. Some studies suggest that taking a double dose after a missed dose may be beneficial for certain medications with long half-lives, but this approach is not universally recommended and may increase the risk of side effects 3. In the context of Augmentin (amoxicillin/clavulanate) treatment, maintaining a steady concentration of the antibiotic in the system is crucial for effectively fighting bacterial infections, as demonstrated in studies on the treatment of odontogenic infections 4. Therefore, the recommended approach is to:
- Take the missed dose as soon as you remember, unless it's almost time for your next scheduled dose
- Skip the missed dose if it's close to the next scheduled dose (within 4 hours)
- Never take a double dose to make up for a missed one, as this could increase the risk of side effects
- Try to space the doses evenly throughout the day, ideally about 12 hours apart, to maintain consistent antibiotic levels in the bloodstream
- Always complete the full prescribed course of antibiotics, even if you feel better, to ensure the infection is completely cleared and to prevent antibiotic resistance.