Amoxicillin for Tonsillitis - Benefits, Price, Side Effects, Dosage Guide

Table of Contents

What is Amoxicillin?

Amoxicillin is an antibiotic which means it can fight off harmful bacteria that causes infections in the body. Hence, doctors prescribe this medicine for various bacterial infections such as bronchitis, pneumonia, skin infections and urinary tract infections.

Also, ENT doctors recommend taking this medicine for treating various infections that can occur in the ear, nose, throat or respiratory tract- bronchitis, pneumonia, otitis media, sinusitis, etc.

Benefits of Amoxicillin

The Amoxicillin 500 mg Tablet primarily cures various bacterial infections-

Tonsillitis
Bronchitis
Sinusitis
Lyme disease
Urinary Tract Infection
Dental abscesses
Pharyngitis
Skin infection
Pneumonia
Chlamydia
Arthritis
Carditis

Price of Amoxicillin

The price of one box of Amoxicillin 500 mg Tablets starts with Rs. 210 and extends to Rs. 890 in the Indian marketplace. In other words, the average Indian price of one box of Amoxicillin 500 mg Tablet is Rs 550/-.

Dosage of Amoxicillin for Tonsillitis

Amoxicillin is available in two forms- oral suspension and regular tablet. Most importantly, take the exact amount mentioned in the prescription. Follow a timetable for taking the medicine throughout the course.

Depending on the form of Amoxicillin one is using, the medicine can be taken with or without food.

For oral suspension- Shake the bottle before use. Then, pour some into the dosing syringe, measuring spoon or cup that comes up with the medicine. For kids, mix it with water, baby formula, fruit juice, milk. Make sure you drink the whole mixture all at once.
For oral tablets- Swallow the whole tablet without crushing, chewing or breaking it. In the initial 10 days of the course, take 775 mg of the medicine orally within 1 hour of having the meal.

Side effects of Amoxicillin

Any allopathic medicine is a mixture of chemical compounds. Amoxicillin is also an allopathic medicine Hence, it can cause some mild to severe side effects. Until now, people have reported the following side effects when there was an overdose of Amoxicillin-

Abdominal pain
Bloating
Blood in the urine
Chest pain
Chills
Cough
Dark urine
Diarrhea with blood
Difficulty breathing
Difficulty in swallowing food
Dizziness
Periods heavier than normal
Nosebleeds
Yellowing of the eyes
White patches on throat or mouth
Agitation

Uses	Tonsillitis, Bronchitis, Sinusitis, Lyme disease, Urinary Tract Infection, Dental abscesses, Pharyngitis, Skin infection, Pneumonia, Chlamydia, Arthritis, Carditis
Price	The average Indian price of one box of Amoxicillin 500 mg Tablet is Rs 550/-
Side Effects	Abdominal pain, Bloating, Blood in the urine, Chest pain, Chills, Cough, Dark urine, Diarrhea with blood, Difficulty breathing, Difficulty in swallowing food, Dizziness, Periods heavier than normal, Nosebleeds Yellowing of the eyes, white patches on throat or mouth, Agitation
Interactions	Medicines such as Amiloride, Doxycycline, Guar gum, Tetracycline, Warfarin, Amiloride, Anisindione, Dicumarol

Substitutes of Amoxicillin

In case someone is unable to find Amoxicillin meanwhile the symptoms of tonsillitis are getting worse, they can take the following substitutes of Amoxicillin 500 mg-

Augmentin
Azithromycin
Cleocin
Levaquin
Bactrim
Cipro
Cleocin
Penicillin
Keflex

Interaction of Amoxicillin

The medicine- Amoxicillin 500 mg Tablet- can interact with the following medicines taken for other health condition-

Amiloride
Doxycycline
Guar gum
Tetracycline
Warfarin
Amiloride
Anisindione
Dicumarol

Not only medicines but Amoxicillin can also make the symptoms of the following worse-

Colitis
Diabetes
Mononucleosis
Renal dysfunction
Hemodialysis

Warnings of Amoxicillin

It is a general precaution that you should not take any allopathic medicine without consulting the doctor.

A person can buy Amoxicillin 500 mg Tablet with only a valid prescription at the pharmacist or medical center.

Some of the things you should let the doctor know before taking this medicine are that if you-

Have a low level of potassium or magnesium
Suffering from nausea, diarrhea or excessive sweating after taking the medicine
Are allergic to drugs such as clarithromycin, erythromycin, and telithromycin
Have previously suffered from mononucleosis
Have any issues in the kidneys, muscles, liver or heart
Are pregnant or lactating

Breast-feeding

Unless absolutely necessary, this medicine is not recommended for lactating women. If breastfeeding mothers take this medicine, then the baby should be monitored for any side effects.

Pregnancy

Pregnant women should discuss the risks and benefits of the medicine before taking this antibiotic.

Diarrhea

Antibiotic therapy leads to bacterial growth that can lead to diarrhea. This can be due to overdosage hence, adjust the appropriate dosage and find a suitable alternative.

Driving or operating heavy machinery

This medicine can cause extreme drowsiness or dizziness in patients. Immediately after taking Amoxicillin 500 mg Tablet or its substitutes, do not drive or operate any heavy machinery.

Resistance to drug

Taking this medicine without any symptoms of bacterial infection is not at all recommended. If you take Amoxicillin 500 mg Tablet irrationally, it might lead to toxicity.

Conclusion

In some cases, Amoxicillin may not be effective in curing recurrent episodes of tonsillitis. Such circumstances require permanent solutions such as removing the tonsils surgically. This is known as tonsillectomy. At Pristyn Care, our ENT doctors are highly trained in providing tonsillectomies. Book an appointment today to know more.