4.1. Therapeutic indications

Amoxicillin is indicated for the treatment of the following infections in adults and children (see sections 4.2, 4.4 and 5.1):

• Acute bacterial sinusitis

• Acute streptococcal tonsillitis and pharyngitis

• Acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis (AECB)/acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD)

• Community acquired pneumonia

• Acute otitis media

• Acute cystitis

• Acute pyelonephritis

• Asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnancy

• Typhoid and paratyphoid fevers

• Dental abscess with spreading cellulitis

• Prosthetic joint infections

• Helicobacter pylori eradication

• Lyme disease

Amoxicillin is also indicated for the prophylaxis of endocarditis. Consideration should be given to official guidance on the appropriate use of antibacterial agents.

4.2. Posology and method of administration

Posology

The dose of Amoxicillin that is selected to treat an individual infection should take into account:

• The expected pathogens and their likely susceptibility to antibacterial agents (see section 4.4)

• The severity and the site of the infection

• The age, weight and renal function of the patient; as shown below

The duration of therapy should be determined by the type of infection and the response of the patient, and should generally be as short as possible. Some infections require longer periods of treatment (see section 4.4 regarding prolonged therapy).

Adults and children ≥40 kg

Indication*

Dose*

Acute bacterial sinusitis

250 mg to 500 mg every 8 hours or 750 mg to 1 g every 12 hours

For severe infections 750 mg to 1 g every 8 hours

Acute cystitis may be treated with 3g twice daily for one day

Asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnancy

Acute pyelonephritis

Dental abscess with spreading cellulitis

Acute cystitis

Acute otitis media

500 mg every 8 hours, 750 mg to 1 g every 12 hours

For severe infections 750 mg to 1 g every 8 hours for 10 days

Acute streptococcal tonsillitis and pharyngitis

Acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis

Community acquired pneumonia

500 mg to 1 g every 8 hours

Typhoid and paratyphoid fever

500 mg to 2 g every 8 hours

Prosthetic joint infections

500 mg to 1 g every 8 hours

Prophylaxis of endocarditis

2 g orally, single dose 30 to 60 minutes before procedure

Helicobacter pylori eradication

750 mg to 1 g twice daily in combination with a proton pump inhibitor (e.g. omeprazole, lansoprazole) and another antibiotic (e.g. clarithromycin, metronidazole) for 7 days

Lyme disease (see section 4.4)

Early stage: 500 mg to 1 g every 8 hours up to a maximum of 4 g/day in divided doses for 14 days (10 to 21 days)

Late stage (systemic involvement): 500 mg to 2 g every 8 hours up to a maximum of 6 g/day in divided doses for 10 to 30 days

*Consideration should be given to the official treatment guidelines for each indication

Children <40 kg

Indication+

Dose+

Acute bacterial sinusitis

20 to 90 mg/kg/day in divided doses*

Acute otitis media

Community acquired pneumonia

Acute cystitis

Acute pyelonephritis

Dental abscess with spreading cellulitis

Acute streptococcal tonsillitis and pharyngitis

40 to 90 mg/kg/day in divided doses*

Typhoid and paratyphoid fever

100 mg/kg/day in three divided doses

Prophylaxis of endocarditis

50 mg/kg orally, single dose 30 to 60 minutes before procedure

Lyme disease (see section 4.4)

Early stage: 25 to 50 mg/kg/day in three divided doses for 10 to 21 days

Late stage (systemic involvement): 100 mg/kg/day in three divided doses for 10 to 30 days

+ Consideration should be given to the official treatment guidelines for each indication.

*Twice daily dosing regimens should only be considered when the dose is in the upper range.

Elderly

No dose adjustment is considered necessary.

Renal impairment

GFR (ml/min)

Adults and children ≥ 40 kg

Children < 40 kg#

greater than 30

No adjustment necessary

No adjustment necessary

10 to 30

Maximum 500 mg twice daily

15 mg/kg given twice daily (maximum 500 mg twice daily)

less than 10

Maximum 500 mg/day

15 mg/kg given as a single dose (maximum 500 mg)

# In the majority of cases, parenteral therapy is preferred.

In patients receiving haemodialysis

Amoxicillin may be removed from the circulation by haemodialysis.

Haemodialysis

Adults and children over 40 kg

500 mg every 24 h

Prior to haemodialysis one additional dose of 500 mg should be administered. In order to restore circulating drug levels, another dose of 500 mg should be administered after haemodialysis.

Children under 40 kg

15 mg/kg/day given as a single daily dose (maximum 500 mg).

Prior to haemodialysis one additional dose of 15 mg/kg should be administered. In order to restore circulating drug levels, another dose of 15 mg/kg should be administered after haemodialysis.

In patients receiving peritoneal dialysis

Amoxicillin maximum 500 mg/day.

Hepatic impairment

Dose with caution and monitor hepatic function at regular intervals (see sections 4.4 and 4.8).

Method of administration

Amoxicillin is for oral use.

Absorption of amoxicillin is unimpaired by food.

Therapy can be started parenterally according to the dosing recommendations of the intravenous formulation and continued with an oral preparation.

Swallow with water without opening capsule.

Capsules are not suitable for the treatment of patients who cannot swallow capsules due to the risk of going down the wrong way.

Other presentations are available, depending on the dosage, including oral presentations that can be used especially in patients who cannot swallow capsules.

4.3. Contraindications

Hypersensitivity to the active substance, to any of the penicillins or to any of the excipients listed in section 6.1.

History of a severe immediate hypersensitivity reaction (e.g. anaphylaxis) to another beta-lactam agent (e.g. a cephalosporin, carbapenem or monobactam).

4.4. Special warnings and precautions for use

Hypersensitivity reactions

Before initiating therapy with amoxicillin, careful enquiry should be made concerning previous hypersensitivity reactions to penicillins, cephalosporins or other beta-lactam agents (see sections 4.3 and 4.8).

Serious and occasionally fatal hypersensitivity reactions (including anaphylactoid and severe cutaneous adverse reactions) have been reported in patients receiving beta-lactam antibiotics (see section 4.3). These reactions are more likely to occur in individuals with a history of penicillin hypersensitivity and in atopic individuals. Hypersensitivity reactions can also progress to Kounis syndrome, a serious allergic reaction that can result in myocardial infarction (see section 4.8). Presenting symptoms of such reactions can include chest pain occurring in association with an allergic reaction to amoxicillin (see section 4.8). If an allergic reaction occurs, amoxicillin therapy must be discontinued and appropriate alternative therapy instituted.

Drug-induced enterocolitis syndrome (DIES) has been reported mainly in children receiving amoxicillin (see section 4.8). DIES is an allergic reaction with the leading symptom of protracted vomiting (1-4 hours after drug intake) in the absence of allergic skin or respiratory symptoms. Further symptoms could comprise abdominal pain, lethargy, diarrhoea, hypotension or leucocytosis with neutrophilia. There have been severe cases including progression to shock. If an allergic reaction occurs, amoxicillin therapy must be discontinued and appropriate alternative therapy instituted.

Non-susceptible microorganisms

Amoxicillin is not suitable for the treatment of some types of infection unless the pathogen is already documented and known to be susceptible or there is a very high likelihood that the pathogen would be suitable for treatment with amoxicillin (see section 5.1). This particularly applies when considering the treatment of patients with urinary tract infections and severe infections of the ear, nose and throat.

Convulsions

Convulsions may occur in patients with impaired renal function or in those receiving high doses or in patients with predisposing factors (e.g. history of seizures, treated epilepsy or meningeal disorders (see section 4.8).

Renal impairment

In patients with renal impairment, the dose should be adjusted according to the degree of impairment (see section 4.2).

Skin reactions

The occurrence at the treatment initiation of a feverish generalised erythema associated with pustula may be a symptom of acute generalised exanthemous pustulosis (AGEP, see section 4.8). This reaction requires amoxicillin discontinuation and contra-indicates any subsequent administration.

Amoxicillin should be avoided if infectious mononucleosis is suspected since the occurrence of a morbilliform rash has been associated with this condition following the use of amoxicillin.

Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction

The Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction has been seen following amoxicillin treatment of Lyme disease (see section 4.8). It results directly from the bactericidal activity of amoxicillin on the causative bacteria of Lyme disease, the spirochaete Borrelia burgdorferi. Patients should be reassured that this is a common and usually self-limiting consequence of antibiotic treatment of Lyme disease.

Overgrowth of non-susceptible microorganisms

Prolonged use may occasionally result in overgrowth of non-susceptible organisms.

Antibiotic-associated colitis has been reported with nearly all antibacterial agents and may range in severity from mild to life threatening (see section 4.8). Therefore, it is important to consider this diagnosis in patients who present with diarrhoea during, or subsequent to, the administration of any antibiotics. Should antibiotic-associated colitis occur, amoxicillin should immediately be discontinued, a physician consulted and an appropriate therapy initiated. Anti-peristaltic medicinal products are contra-indicated in this situation.

Prolonged therapy

Periodic assessment of organ system functions; including renal, hepatic and haematopoietic function is advisable during prolonged therapy. Elevated liver enzymes and changes in blood counts have been reported (see section 4.8).

Crystalluria

In patients with reduced urine output, crystalluria (including acute renal injury) has been observed very rarely, predominantly with parenteral therapy. During the administration of high doses of amoxicillin, it is advisable to maintain adequate fluid intake and urinary output in order to reduce the possibility of amoxicillin crystalluria. In patients with bladder catheters, a regular check of patency should be maintained (see sections 4.8 and 4.9).

Anticoagulants

Prolongation of prothrombin time has been reported rarely in patients receiving amoxicillin. Appropriate monitoring should be undertaken when anticoagulants are prescribed concomitantly. Adjustments in the dose of oral anticoagulants may be necessary to maintain the desired level of anticoagulation (see sections 4.5 and 4.8).

Interference with diagnostic tests

Elevated serum and urinary levels of amoxicillin are likely to affect certain laboratory tests. Due to the high urinary concentrations of amoxicillin, false positive readings are common with chemical methods.

It is recommended that when testing for the presence of glucose in urine during amoxicillin treatment, enzymatic glucose oxidase methods should be used.

The presence of amoxicillin may distort assay results for oestriol in pregnant women.

4.5. Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction

Oral anticoagulants

Oral anticoagulants and penicillin antibiotics have been widely used in practice without reports of interaction. However, in the literature there are cases of increased international normalised ratio in patients maintained on acenocoumarol or warfarin and prescribed a course of amoxicillin. If co-administration is necessary, the prothrombin time or international normalised ratio should be carefully monitored with the addition or withdrawal of amoxicillin. Moreover, adjustments in the dose of oral anticoagulants may be necessary (see sections 4.4 and 4.8).

Probenecid

Concomitant use of probenecid is not recommended. Probenecid decreases the renal tubular secretion of amoxicillin. Concomitant use of probenecid may result in increased and prolonged blood levels of amoxicillin

Allopurinol

Concurrent administration of allopurinol during treatment with amoxicillin can increase the likelihood of allergic skin reactions.

Tetracyclines

Tetracyclines and other bacteriostatic drugs may interfere with the bactericidal effects of amoxicillin.

Methotrexate

Penicillins may reduce the excretion of methotrexate causing a potential increase in toxicity.

4.6. Fertility, pregnancy and lactation

Pregnancy:

Animal studies do not indicate direct or indirect harmful effects with respect to reproductive toxicity. Limited data on the use of amoxicillin during pregnancy in humans do not indicate an increased risk of congenital malformations. Amoxicillin may be used in pregnancy when the potential benefits outweigh the potential risks associated with treatment.

Breast-feeding:

Amoxicillin is excreted into breast milk in small quantities with the possible risk of sensitisation. Consequently, diarrhoea and fungus infection of the mucous membranes are possible in the breast-fed infant, so that breast-feeding might have to be discontinued. Amoxicillin should only be used during breast-feeding after benefit/risk assessment by the physician in charge.

Fertility:

There are no data on the effects of amoxicillin on fertility in humans. Reproductive studies in animals have shown no effects on fertility.

4.7. Effects on ability to drive and use machines

No studies on the effects on the ability to drive and use machines have been performed. However, undesirable effects may occur (e.g. allergic reactions, dizziness, convulsions), which may influence the ability to drive and use machines (see section 4.8).

4.8. Undesirable effects

The most commonly reported adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are diarrhoea, nausea and skin rash.

The ADRs derived from clinical studies and post-marketing surveillance with amoxicillin, presented by MedDRA System Organ Class are listed below.

The following terminologies have been used in order to classify the occurrence of undesirable effects:

Very common (≥1/10),

Common (≥1/100 to <1/10),

Uncommon (≥1/1000 to <1/100),

Rare (≥1/10,000 to <1/1,000),

Very rare (<1/10,000),

Not known (cannot be estimated from the available data)

Infections and infestations

Very rare

Mucocutaneous candidiasis

Blood and lymphatic system disorders

Very rare

Reversible leucopenia (including severe neutropenia or agranulocytosis), reversible thrombocytopenia and haemolytic anaemia.

Prolongation of bleeding time and prothrombin time (see section 4.4).

Immune system disorders

Very rare

Severe allergic reactions, including angioneurotic oedema, anaphylaxis, serum sickness and hypersensitivity vasculitis (see section 4.4).

Not known

Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction (see section 4.4).

Nervous system disorders

Very rare

Hyperkinesia, dizziness, convulsions (see section 4.4).

Not known

Aseptic meningitis

Gastrointestinal disorders

Clinical Trial Data

*Common

Diarrhoea and nausea

*Uncommon

Vomiting

Post-marketing Data

Very rare

Antibiotic associated colitis (including pseudomembraneous colitis and haemorrhagic colitis see section 4.4).

Black hairy tongue

Not known

Drug-induced enterocolitis syndrome

Hepatobiliary disorders

Very rare

Hepatitis and cholestatic jaundice. A moderate rise in AST and/or ALT.

Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders

Clinical Trial Data

*Common

Skin rash

*Uncommon

Urticaria and pruritus

Post-marketing Data

Very rare

Skin reactions such as erythema multiforme, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, bullous and exfoliative dermatitis, acute generalised exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP) (see section 4.4), and drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS). symmetrical drug-related intertriginous and flexural exanthema (SDRIFE) (baboon syndrome) (see also Immune system disorders)

Not known

Linear IgA disease

Renal and urinary tract disorders

Very rare

Interstitial nephritis

Not known

Crystalluria (including acute renal injury)

Cardiac disorders

Not known

Kounis syndrome

* The incidence of these AEs was derived from clinical studies involving a total of approximately 6,000 adult and paediatric patients taking amoxicillin.

Reporting of suspected adverse reactions

Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.

4.9. Overdose

Symptoms and signs of overdose

Gastrointestinal symptoms (such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea) and disturbances of the fluid and electrolyte balances may be evident. Amoxicillin crystalluria, in some cases leading to renal failure, has been observed. Convulsions may occur in patients with impaired renal function or in those receiving high doses (see sections 4.4 and 4.8).

Treatment of intoxication

Gastrointestinal symptoms may be treated symptomatically, with attention to the water/electrolyte balance.

Amoxicillin can be removed from the circulation by haemodialysis.

Amoxicillin crystalluria, in some cases leading to renal failure, has been observed (see section 4.4).