What does amoxicillin do?

Amoxicillin is a common antibiotic doctors use to treat infections caused by bacteria.

It comes in various forms, including:

• capsules
• tablets (chewable and regular)
• oral suspension (liquid)

Amoxicillin is not available over the counter and requires a prescription from a healthcare professional. It’s a generic drug but also comes in brand-name versions, such as Amoxil and Moxatag.

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What does amoxicillin do for your body?

Amoxicillin kills bacteria in your body that cause certain infections.

Amoxicillin belongs to a group of drugs known as penicillin antibiotics. They work by binding to proteins that are important for building and maintaining the cell walls of the bacteria. This prevents the cells from forming a stable cell wall and kills the bacteria.

By killing the bacteria, amoxicillin helps your body’s immune system fight infection. Most forms of amoxicillin start working to kill bacteria as soon as you take them.

What infections does amoxicillin treat?

Amoxicillin is used to treat a number of bacterial infections, including:

• ear, nose, and throat infections, such as strep throat, tonsilitis, and sinus infection
• genitourinary tract infections, such as UTIs
• skin infections
• Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), a kind of bacteria that can infect your digestive tract and cause ulcers
• lower respiratory tract infections, such as pneumonia and bronchitis
• tooth infection

The dosage of amoxicillin you take will depend on the type of infection being treated. You’ll typically take one dose of amoxicillin every 8 to 12 hours.

Amoxicillin is usually taken for 10 to 14 days. Certain kinds of infections only require a single dose of amoxicillin, while others require longer treatment periods. For more details, see this amoxicillin dosage article.

Note that amoxicillin only treats infections caused by bacteria. It is not effective for treating infections caused by viruses.

What side effects does amoxicillin cause?

Amoxicillin may cause side effects. Keep in mind that side effects of amoxicillin may depend on your age, health history, and other medications you may be taking.

Some of the more commonly reported side effects of amoxicillin may include:

• rash
• nausea
• vomiting
• diarrhea

People taking amoxicillin for H. pylori infection may experience more common side effects, including:

• diarrhea
• headache
• altered sense of taste

These side effects are different as amoxicillin is typically combined with clarithromycin and lansoprazole when used to treat H. pylori infection.

Amoxicillin may also cause certain serious side effects, including:

• developing drug-resistant bacteria (bacteria that no longer respond to the treatment)
• severe skin reactions
• severe diarrhea caused by Clostridioides difficile (C. diff)
• severe allergic reaction

If you experience any serious side effects from amoxicillin, let your doctor know right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency or your side effects feel life threatening, call 911 or a local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.

For more details, see this amoxicillin side effects article.

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Summary

Amoxicillin is an antibiotic that kills bacteria in the body that cause infections such as UTIs and respiratory and sinus infections. It does this by weakening the cell walls of the bacteria, causing them to die. Amoxicillin is not effective for infections caused by viruses.

Your dosage of amoxicillin will depend on the condition being treated. Amoxicillin may also cause certain side effects, like nausea and diarrhea.

If you have more questions about amoxicillin’s uses, side effects, dosage, or how it works, ask your doctor or pharmacist. They can help provide you with more personalized information.