If you are being treated for pneumonia, a sinus infection, bronchitis or an ear infection, you may have been prescribed the antibiotic Augmentin. Augmentin is a combination of two different medications: amoxicillin and clavulanate potassium. Amoxicillin is a member of the penicillin family of antibiotics. Some bacteria secrete an enzyme called beta-lactamase. This enzyme breaks down amoxicillin and makes it ineffective. The clavulanate inhibits beta-lactamase. In this way it helps, or augments, the amoxicillin to make it more effective.
Diarrhea
According to drug manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline, 9 percent of people who take Augmentin experience diarrhea. Diarrhea usually ends when you stop taking the antibiotic. If you experience watery or bloody stools while taking Augmentin or up to two months later, contact your doctor right away. This is a sign of a serious side effect known as pseudomembranous colitis.
Nausea
Nausea occurs in 3 percent of people who take Augmentin. Taking Augmentin with food sometimes prevents nausea.
Skin Rashes and Itching
Three percent of people who take Augmentin experience skin rashes or itching. Because this is one of the signs of an allergic reaction, report any rash or itching that occurs while taking Augmentin or any other medication to your doctor.
Vomiting
Vomiting is a rare side effect of Augmentin. occurring in about 1 percent of the people who take it. Vomiting can prevent your body from absorbing the medication. Let your doctor know if Augmentin causes vomiting.
Yeast Infections
Antibiotics such as Augmentin kill off the "good" bacteria in your system that keep yeast infections at bay. Yeast infections, especially vaginal yeast infections, are reported by 1 percent of people who take Augmentin. If you are susceptible to yeast infections, discuss with your doctor possible ways to prevent them while taking Augmentin. Some people find that eating yogurt while taking Augmentin prevents yeast infections.
Anaphylactic Reactions
An anaphylactic reaction is a serious allergic reaction characterized by shortness of breath and swelling of tissues in the mouth and throat. Anaphylactic reactions are more common in people who have a history of allergies to other medications, especially penicillin and cephalosporin antibiotics. Don't take Augmentin if you have a history of penicillin allergy. An anaphylactic reaction is a medical emergency; go to the nearest emergency room right away.
References
- Basic and Clinical Pharmacology; Bertram Katzung; 2007
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