While most bacteria are harmless, or even beneficial, some can cause illness, and when that occurs, the infection is typically treated with antibiotics. Amoxicillin and clavulanate is one antibiotic combination that works well on certain types of bacteria, destroying the pathogens by preventing them from producing cell walls. As with any medication, however, the amoxicillin and clavulanate preparation has the potential to interact with some drugs.
What Is Amoxicillin and Clavulanate?
The amoxicillin and clavulanate combination antibiotic belongs in the class of medicines called penicillins or beta-lactamase inhibitors. The drug, sold in the United States under the brand name Amoclan or Augmentin, is effective at killing just certain kinds of bacteria, so you should take it only when your doctor prescribes it.
Drug-Drug Interactions
One issue to consider when taking medications is the possibility that one medication you are taking will interact with another, resulting in a drug-drug interaction. Drug-drug interactions can inhibit the absorption or decrease the effectiveness of one or both of the medications. Drug interactions can also increase the possibility of serious side effects, such as liver damage or neurological problems. Drug-drug interactions can be life threatening and can occur even between over-the-counter medications.
With Anti-Anxiety Medications
According to Drugs.com, there are 63 different medications that can interact with the combination of amoxicillin and clavulanate, including three medications that can cause severe drug-drug interactions. But none of the drugs that interact with amoxicillin and clavulanate are compounds typically used to treat anxiety. Most of these drug-drug interactions occur with immunosuppressing medications such as methotrexate, as well as with other antibiotics and synthetic sex hormones.
Considerations
Although there are no documented drug-drug interactions between anti-anxiety medications and amoxicillin/clavulanate, you should still tell your doctor about any psychiatric medications you are taking if you are prescribed antibiotics. Do not take medications prescribed to someone else, and do not take medications previously prescribed to you for another condition, as these actions may lead to serious side effects. To help prevent dangerous drug interactions, always tell your doctor and your pharmacist about every medication you take, including over-the-counter drugs and supplements.
