This article describes dosages of amoxicillin oral forms, their strengths, and details on how to take them. You’ll also find information on cost saving and coupon options for amoxicillin.
Amoxicillin oral forms are generic medications. They don’t come in a brand-name version. Amoxicillin comes only in oral forms, which this article discusses.
If you want to know more about amoxicillin oral forms, see this overview article. It covers the drug’s uses, side effects, ways to save on cost, and more.
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Forms and strengths of amoxicillin
Amoxicillin oral forms come as follows:
- Chewable tablet, which you’ll chew and swallow. It’s available in strengths of:
- 125 milligrams (mg)
- 250 mg
- Oral tablet, which you’ll swallow. It’s available in strengths of:
- 500 mg
- 875 mg
- Oral capsule, which you’ll swallow. It’s available in strengths of:
- 250 mg
- 500 mg
- Powder for suspension, which is made into a liquid solution* you’ll swallow. It’s available in strengths of:
- 200 mg per 5 milliliters (mg/mL)
- 250 mg/5 mL
- 400 mg/5 mL
* If you’re using a powder form of the drug, a pharmacist will prepare this liquid solution.
Dosage of amoxicillin
This article describes the usual recommended dosages for amoxicillin oral forms. The drugmaker provides these dosages.
The form of amoxicillin you’ll use depends on certain factors. These include the dosage you’re prescribed and whether you’re able to swallow certain forms of the drug. Your doctor can recommend the form of amoxicillin that may be best for your specific situation.
If your doctor prescribes this medication, they’ll explain the dosage and form that’s best for you. Do not change your dosage of amoxicillin without your doctor’s recommendation.
Usual recommended dosages of amoxicillin in adults
The information below describes dosages that are commonly prescribed for adults. That said, always take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you.
Dosage for strep throat
Doctors may prescribe amoxicillin to treat strep throat. You’ll likely take amoxicillin for at least 10 days. In some instances, your doctor may prescribe the drug for up to several weeks.
The table below shows the recommended dosages for adults ages 18 to 64 years, as well as children ages 3 months and older who weigh at least 40 kilograms (about 88 pounds).
| Condition | Recommended dosage |
| mild or moderate strep throat | • 250 (milligrams) mg every 8 hours, or • 500 mg every 12 hours |
| severe strep throat | • 500 mg every 8 hours, or • 875 mg every 12 hours |
For older adults (ages 65 years and older) and people of any age with kidney problems, doctors may prescribe a different dosage. Older adults may have certain conditions that affect how their body processes the drug, such as kidney problems. Their risk of side effects also may be higher. If you’re in this age group or have kidney problems, your doctor may monitor you closely if you take amoxicillin.
Dosage for urinary tract infection (UTI)
Doctors may prescribe amoxicillin to treat UTIs. The table below shows the recommended dosages for adults ages 18 to 64 years, as well as children ages 3 months and older who weigh at least 40 kg (about 88 lb).
| Condition | Recommended dosage |
| mild or moderate UTI | • 250 mg every 8 hours, or • 500 mg every 12 hours |
| severe UTI | • 500 mg every 8 hours, or • 875 mg every 12 hours |
For older adults (ages 65 years and older) and people of any age with kidney problems, doctors may prescribe a different dosage. Older adults may have certain conditions that affect how their body processes the drug, such as kidney problems. Their risk of side effects also may be higher. If you’re in this age group or have kidney problems, your doctor may monitor you closely if you take amoxicillin.
Dosage for ear infection
Doctors may prescribe amoxicillin to treat ear infections in adults. The table below shows the recommended dosages for adults ages 18 to 64 years, as well as children ages 3 months and older who weigh at least 40 kg (about 88 lb).
| Condition | Recommended dosage |
| mild or moderate ear infection | • 250 mg every 8 hours, or • 500 mg every 12 hours |
| severe ear infection | • 500 mg every 8 hours, or • 875 mg every 12 hours |
For older adults (ages 65 years and older) and people of any age with kidney problems, doctors may prescribe a different dosage. Older adults may have certain conditions that affect how their body processes the drug, such as kidney problems. Their risk of side effects also may be higher. If you’re in this age group or have kidney problems, your doctor may monitor you closely if you take amoxicillin.
Dosage for other conditions
The dosage chart below shows recommended dosages to treat other conditions in adults ages 18 to 64 years, as well as children ages 3 months and older who weigh at least 40 kg (about 88 lb). For some conditions, doctors prescribe amoxicillin in combination with other medications.
| Condition | Recommended dosage |
| nose, throat, or skin infection | mild or moderate infection: • 250 mg every 8 hours, or • 500 mg every 12 hours severe infection: • 500 mg every 8 hours, or • 875 mg every 12 hours |
| lower respiratory tract infection | • 500 mg every 8 hours, or • 875 mg every 12 hours |
| gonorrhea | • 3 grams (g) as a single dose |
| duodenal ulcer with Helicobacter pylori* infection (in adults only) | • dual therapy:† 1 g 3 times per day for 14 days, or • triple therapy:‡ 1 g 2 times per day for 14 days |
* Helicobacter pylori bacteria is sometimes referred to as H. pylori.
† Dual therapy means you’ll take two medications. You’ll take 1 g of amoxicillin in combination with 30 g of lansoprazole. You’ll take the combination of both medications three times per day for 14 days.
‡ Triple therapy means you’ll take three medications. You’ll take 1 g of amoxicillin in combination with 500 mg of clarithromycin and 30 mg of lansoprazole. You’ll take the combination of all three medications two times per day for 14 days.
For older adults (ages 65 years and older) and people of any age with kidney problems, doctors may prescribe a different dosage. Older adults may have certain conditions that affect how their body processes the drug, such as kidney problems. Their risk of side effects also may be higher. If you’re in this age group or have kidney problems, your doctor may monitor you closely if you take amoxicillin.
Pediatric dosages of amoxicillin
The information below describes recommended dosages commonly prescribed for children.
Pediatric dosage for strep throat
Doctors may prescribe amoxicillin to treat strep throat in children ages 3 months to 17 years. The pediatric amoxicillin dosage chart below shows the recommended dosages. For children who weigh less than 40 kg (about 88 lb), dosages are based on the child’s body weight.
Children usually take amoxicillin for at least 10 days. In certain cases, a child’s doctor may prescribe the drug for up to several weeks. Be sure to always follow the dosage that your child’s doctor prescribes.
| Age | Body weight in kilograms (kg)* | Approximate body weight in pounds (lb) | Recommended dosage |
| ages 3 months to 17 years | less than 40 kg | less than 88 lb | mild or moderate infection: • 25 mg/kg/day† divided into 2 daily doses (one dose every 12 hours), or • 20 mg/kg/day† divided into 3 daily doses (one dose every 8 hours) severe infection: • 45 mg/kg/day divided into 2 daily doses (one dose every 12 hours), or • 40 mg/kg/day divided into 3 daily doses (one dose every 8 hours) |
| ages 3 months to 17 years | more than 40 kg | more than 88 lb | mild or moderate infection: • 250 mg every 8 hours, or • 500 mg every 12 hours severe infection: • 500 mg every 8 hours, or • 875 mg every 12 hours |
* For reference, 1 kg is about 2.2 lb.
† This means mg per kg per day.
For example, assume a doctor prescribes amoxicillin for a child aged 4 years weighing 20 kg (about 44 lb). Further, the doctor prescribes a dose of 25 mg/kg/day. For a mild or moderate infection, the child’s dosage would be 500 mg divided into two daily doses.
For children up to 2 months of age, your child’s doctor can tell you about the recommended dosage. The maximum dosage for this age group is 30 mg/kg/day. This dosage will be divided into two daily doses (one dose every 12 hours).
Pediatric dosage for urinary tract infection (UTI)
Doctors may prescribe amoxicillin to treat UTIs in children ages 3 months to 17 years. The table below shows the recommended dosages. For children who weigh less than 40 kg (about 88 lb), dosages are based on the child’s body weight.
| Age | Body weight in kg* | Approximate body weight in lb | Recommended dosage |
| ages 3 months to 17 years | less than 40 kg | less than 88 lb | mild or moderate infection: • 25 mg/kg/day† divided into 2 daily doses (one dose every 12 hours), or • 20 mg/kg/day† divided into 3 daily doses (one dose every 8 hours) severe infection: • 45 mg/kg/day divided into 2 daily doses (one dose every 12 hours), or • 40 mg/kg/day divided into 3 daily doses (one dose every 8 hours) |
| ages 3 months to 17 years | more than 40 kg | more than 88 lb | mild or moderate infection: • 250 mg every 8 hours, or • 500 mg every 12 hours severe infection: • 500 mg every 8 hours, or • 875 mg every 12 hours |
* For reference, 1 kg is about 2.2 lb.
† This means mg per kg per day.
For example, assume a doctor prescribes amoxicillin for a child age 4 years weighing 20 kg (about 44 lb). Further, the doctor prescribes a dose of 20 mg/kg/day. For a mild to moderate infection, the child’s dosage would be 400 mg divided into three daily doses.
For children up to 2 months of age, your child’s doctor can tell you about the recommended dosage. The maximum dosage for this age group is 30 mg/kg/day. This dosage will be divided into two daily doses (one dose every 12 hours).
Pediatric dosage for ear infection
Doctors may prescribe amoxicillin to treat ear infections in children ages 3 months to 17 years. The table below shows the recommended dosages. For children who weigh less than 40 kg (about 88 lb), dosages are based on the child’s body weight.
| Age | Body weight in kg* | Approximate body weight in lb | Recommended dosage |
| ages 3 months to 17 years | less than 40 kg | less than 88 lb | mild or moderate infection: • 25 mg/kg/day† divided into 2 daily doses (one dose every 12 hours), or • 20 mg/kg/day† divided into 3 daily doses (one dose every 8 hours) severe infection: • 45 mg/kg/day divided into 2 daily doses (one dose every 12 hours), or • 40 mg/kg/day divided into 3 daily doses (one dose every 8 hours) |
| ages 3 months to 17 years | more than 40 kg | more than 88 lb | mild or moderate infection: • 250 mg every 8 hours, or • 500 mg every 12 hours severe infection: • 500 mg every 8 hours, or • 875 mg every 12 hours |
* For reference, 1 kg is about 2.2 lb.
† This means mg per kg per day.
For example, assume a doctor prescribes amoxicillin for a child age 10 years weighing 45 kg (about 99 lb). The doctor prescribes a dosage of 250 mg to be taken every 8 hours, for a mild or moderate ear infection.
For children up to 2 months of age, your child’s doctor can tell you about the recommended dosage. The maximum dosage for this age group is 30 mg/kg/day. This dosage will be divided into two daily doses (one dose every 12 hours).
Pediatric dosage for other conditions
Doctors may prescribe amoxicillin to treat other conditions in children. The dosage chart below shows the recommended dosages. For children who weigh less than 40 kg (about 88 lb), dosages are based on the child’s body weight.
| Condition | Age | Body weight in kg* | Approximate body weight in lb | Recommended dosage |
| nose or throat infection | 3 months to 17 years | less than 40 kg | less than 88 lb | mild or moderate infection: • 25 mg/kg/day† divided into 2 daily doses (one dose every 12 hours), or • 20 mg/kg/day† divided into 3 daily doses (one dose every 8 hours) severe infection: • 45 mg/kg/day divided into 2 daily doses (one dose every 12 hours), or • 40 mg/kg/day divided into 3 daily doses (one dose every 8 hours) |
| nose or throat infection | 3 months to 17 years | more than 40 kg | more than 88 lb | mild or moderate infection: • 250 mg every 8 hours, or • 500 mg every 12 hours severe infection: • 500 mg every 8 hours, or • 875 mg every 12 hours |
| skin infection | 3 months to 17 years | less than 40 kg | less than 88 lb | mild or moderate infection: • 25 mg/kg/day† divided into 2 daily doses (one dose every 12 hours), or • 20 mg/kg/day† divided into 3 daily doses (one dose every 8 hours) severe infection: • 45 mg/kg/day divided into 2 daily doses (one dose every 12 hours), or • 40 mg/kg/day divided into 3 daily doses (one dose every 8 hours) |
| skin infection | 3 months to 17 years | more than 40 kg | more than 88 lb | mild or moderate infection: • 250 mg every 8 hours, or • 500 mg every 12 hours severe infection: • 500 mg every 8 hours, or • 875 mg every 12 hours |
| lower respiratory tract infection | 3 months to 17 years | less than 40 kg | less than 88 lb | • 45 mg per kg per day (mg/kg/day) divided into 2 daily doses (one dose every 12 hours), or • 40 mg/kg/day divided into 3 daily doses (one dose every 8 hours) |
| lower respiratory tract infection | 3 months to 17 years | more than 40 kg | more than 88 lb | • 500 mg every 8 hours, or • 875 mg every 12 hours |
| gonorrhea | prepubescent† | less than 40 kg | less than 88 lb | • 50 mg per kg (mg/kg) administered with 25 mg/kg of probenecid‡ as a single dose |
| gonorrhea | prepubescent† | more than 40 kg | more than 88 lb | • 3 g as a single dose |
* For reference, 1 kg is about 2.2 lb.
† “Prepubescent” means immediately before puberty. Typically, puberty begins between ages 8 and 14 years. If your child is age 8 years or older, your doctor may ask about signs of puberty before prescribing amoxicillin.
‡ Probenecid is not approved for use in children younger than age 2 years. So, amoxicillin together with probenecid may not be used in this age group.
For example, assume a doctor prescribes amoxicillin for a child to treat a mild or moderate skin infection. The child is age 10 years and weighs 45 kg (about 99 lb). The doctor prescribes a dosage of 500 mg to be taken every 12 hours.
For children up to 2 months of age, your child’s doctor can tell you more about the recommended dosage. The maximum dosage for this age group is 30 mg/kg/day. This dosage will be divided into two daily doses (one dose every 12 hours).
Dosage adjustments for amoxicillin
Your doctor will prescribe a dosage of amoxicillin oral forms based on several factors. These include:
- the specific condition being treated and how severe it is
- your age
- other health conditions you may have
If you have kidney problems or are age 65 years or older, your doctor may adjust your dosage of amoxicillin. They may also monitor you closely while you take amoxicillin.
If your condition is severe, your doctor likely will prescribe the typical recommended dosage for severe conditions. Talk with your doctor for more information about amoxicillin dosages for severe infections.
Missed dose of amoxicillin
Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you miss a dose of amoxicillin. They may advise you to take the missed dose. Or they may advise you to skip the missed dose and take your next dose as scheduled.
For tips on how to plan your doses of amoxicillin and avoid missing a dose, read this article. You could also try:
- downloading a reminder app on your phone
- setting an alarm
- putting a note where you’ll see it, such as on your calendar, bathroom mirror, or bedside table
How amoxicillin is taken
Amoxicillin chewable tablets should be chewed and then swallowed. All other oral forms of amoxicillin should be swallowed.
Your doctor can tell you how many pills or how much solution to take for your dose. For most conditions, you’ll take a dose two or three times per day.
You can take amoxicillin with or without food.
Your doctor may advise that you take this medication around the same time each day. Doing so keeps a consistent amount of the drug in your body. In turn, this can help the drug work more effectively.
It’s recommended to avoid chewing, splitting, or crushing amoxicillin capsules and tablets. You’ll swallow these forms of amoxicillin whole. If it’s hard for you to swallow capsules or tablets, this article suggests ways to swallow either form. You might find chewable tablets or the liquid solution easier to take.
Also, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can offer recommendations for taking your medication.
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You can also refer to this in-depth article for details about the cost of amoxicillin treatment.
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