Amoxicillin with clavulanic acid

Penicillin antibacterial

For more detailed drug information, see Amoxicillin with clavulanic acid in the AMH.

Dosage – Amoxicillin with clavulanic acid

Doses are based on the amoxicillin component.

Oral products contain amoxicillin:clavulanic acid in ratios of 4:1 or 7:1 and cannot be interchanged as the dose of clavulanic acid would be incorrect.

Length of course depends on the infection and its response to treatment.

Bacterial infections

25 mg/mL amoxicillin oral liquid (4:1)

Birth (at term) – 1 month, oral 15 mg/kg every 12 hours.

1 month – 12 years, oral 7.5–15 mg/kg (maximum 500 mg) every 8 hours.

80 mg/mL amoxicillin oral liquid (7:1)

2 months – 12 years, oral 22.5 mg/kg (maximum 875 mg) every 12 hours; increase to every 8 hours in severe infections.

Tablet

>40 kg, oral 500–875 mg every 12 hours; increase to every 8 hours in severe infections.

IV

Change to oral route when possible.

Birth (at term) – 3 months

<4 kg, IV infusion 25 mg/kg every 12 hours.

>4 kg, IV infusion 25 mg/kg every 8 hours.

3 months – 18 years

<40 kg, IV 25 mg/kg (maximum 1 g) every 8 hours; increase to every 6 hours in severe infections.

>40 kg, IV 1 g every 8 hours; increase to every 6 hours in severe infections. Up to 2 g every 6–8 hours can be used.

Administration advice

Take with food.

For information about parenteral administration, see the Royal Children's Hospital Paediatric Injectable Guidelines.

Practice points

• use the 80 mg/mL amoxicillin oral liquid or 875 mg amoxicillin tablet when high doses are needed to reduce risk of clavulanic acid-associated diarrhoea

• consider dosage reduction in renal impairment – see product information

• there is minimal published evidence about using amoxicillin with clavulanic acid in neonates

Products

Search for Amoxicillin with clavulanic acid on the PBS

• tab, amoxicillin 500 mg, clavulanic acid 125 mg, 10, Augmentin Duo^a, PBS‑R¹/PBS‑A[20]^2,3

• tab, amoxicillin 500 mg, clavulanic acid 125 mg (scored), 10, AlphaClav Duo, Curam Duo 500/125, PBS‑R¹/PBS‑A[20]^2,3

• tab, amoxicillin 875 mg, clavulanic acid 125 mg (scored), 10, AlphaClav Duo Forte, Augmentin Duo Forte, Curam Duo Forte 875/125^a, PBS‑R¹/PBS‑A[20]^3,4

• oral liquid, amoxicillin 25 mg/mL, clavulanic acid 6.25 mg/mL (powder), 75 mL, Curam 125/31.25, PBS‑R¹

• oral liquid, amoxicillin 80 mg/mL, clavulanic acid 11.4 mg/mL (powder), 60 mL, Augmentin Duo 400, Curam Duo 400/57, PBS‑R¹

• inj, amoxicillin 500 mg, clavulanic acid 100 mg (powder), 10, Amoxiclav

• inj, amoxicillin 1 g, clavulanic acid 200 mg (powder), 10, Amoxiclav, Curam

• inj, amoxicillin 2 g, clavulanic acid 200 mg (powder), 10, Amoxiclav, Curam

¹ infections where resistance to amoxicillin is suspected or proven

² male with acute cystitis

³ infections requiring prolonged oral antibiotic, see PBS

⁴ specific infections, see PBS

^a generic brands available