Amoxicillin

Penicillin antibacterial

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

Also known as amoxycillin.

Dosage – Amoxicillin

Bacterial infections

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

Birth (at term) – 1 month

Birth (at term) – 1 week, IV 25–50 mg/kg every 12 hours (100 mg/kg every 12 hours can be used in serious infections such as meningitis).

1 week – 1 month, IV 25–50 mg/kg every 8 hours (100 mg/kg every 12 hours or 50 mg/kg every 6 hours can be used in serious infections such as meningitis).

Birth (at term) – 1 month, oral 7.5–25 mg/kg every 8 hours.

1 month – 18 years

Oral, 15–25 mg/kg (maximum 500 mg) every 8 hours. For severe infections, up to 30 mg/kg (maximum 1 g) every 8 hours can be used.

IV, 25 mg/kg (maximum 1 g) every 8 hours. For severe infections, 50 mg/kg (maximum 2 g) every 4–6 hours can be used.

Acute otitis media

>1 month, oral 15 mg/kg (maximum 500 mg) 3 times daily or 30 mg/kg (maximum 1 g) twice daily for 5 days. Doses up to 45 mg/kg (maximum 1 g) twice daily can be used in those at high risk of penicillin-resistant pneumococci (eg Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander populations, recurrent acute otitis media).

Helicobacter pylori eradication

Seek paediatric gastroenterologist advice.

1 month – 18 years, oral 25 mg/kg (maximum 1 g) twice daily (with a PPI and another antibacterial).

Endocarditis prophylaxis (high-risk)

1 month – 18 years, oral/IV/IM 50 mg/kg (maximum 2 g) as a single dose 30–60 minutes before procedure. Use IV/IM if unable to give orally.

Administration advice

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

Off-label use

Product information does not include doses for H. pylori eradication.

Practice points

• consider dosage adjustment in renal impairment

• oral amoxicillin twice daily for acute otitis media appears to be as effective as the same total daily dose given three times a day

Products

Search for Amoxicillin on the PBS

• tab, 1000 mg (scored), 14, Maxamox^a, PBS‑R¹/PBS‑A²

• cap, 250 mg, 20, Alphamox, Amiloxyn, Amoxil^a, PBS/PBS‑A[40]³

• cap, 500 mg, 20, Alphamox, Amiloxyn, Amoxil^a, PBS/PBS‑A[40]^3,4

• oral liquid, 25 mg/mL (powder), 100 mL, Amoxil^a, PBS

• oral liquid, 50 mg/mL (powder), 100 mL, Amoxil Forte^a, PBS

• oral liquid, 100 mg/mL (powder), 20 mL, Amoxil Paediatric Drops, PBS/PBS‑A⁵

• oral liquid, 100 mg/mL (powder), 100 mL, Maxamox, PBS

• inj, 1 g (powder), 10, Amoxil, Ibiamox

• inj, 1 g (powder), 5, Fisamox

¹ acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis

² community-acquired pneumonia

³ infections requiring prolonged oral antibiotic, see PBS

⁴ specific infections, see PBS

⁵ infections when other oral formulations are unsuitable

^a generic brands available