Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhich Is More Effective?AmoxicillinAugmentinDrug InteractionsAntibiotic Resistance
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Which Is More Effective?
Amoxicillin
Augmentin
Drug Interactions
Antibiotic Resistance
Amoxicillin and Augmentin (a combination of amoxicillin and clavulanate or clavulanic acid) are both antibiotics commonly prescribed to treat bacterial infections, but they are not the same medication. The important difference is that Augmentin contains a second active ingredient that makes it more effective against antibiotic-resistant infections.
This means Augmentin is a better choice for some infections, while amoxicillin is better for treating others, and either can be used in some cases. The antibiotic a healthcare provider prescribes will depend on the type of bacteria and illness being treated (like aurinary tract infection, for example).
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Augmentin has a slight edge over amoxicillin because it contains clavulanate to help fight antibiotic-resistant infections. But that doesn’t necessarily mean it is always the most effective treatment for your condition.
Your healthcare provider will determine the most effective course of treatment for you based on your symptoms, diagnosis, and health history. They will prescribe the best medicine for treating the specific bacteria causing your illness.
Amoxicillin is often the first antibiotic prescribed forcommon bacterial infections. It accounted for 49.8 million prescriptions written for outpatients in the United States in 2022, leading the list ahead ofAzithromycinand Augmentin, the third-most common antibiotic agent with 28.7 million prescriptions.
Uses
Amoxicillin is prescribed for bacteria that cause illnesses such as pneumonia and bronchitis. It can also treat ear, nose, and throat infections, includingtonsillitis, which are common in children.This antibiotic is also the first drug of choice for:
Amoxicillin andpenicillintreat many of the same bacteria, but amoxicillin is often the medication of choice for streptococcal pharyngitis (strep throat) because it is just as effective as penicillin but tastes better, which can increase adherence to a medication schedule (especially in children).
Side Effects
The side effects of amoxicillin tend to be relatively mild. This is another reason it’s often prescribed for kids. The most common ones include:
Nausea andvomitingcan occur but are much more common with Augmentin.
Allergic ReactionBefore prescribing amoxicillin, a healthcare provider needs to know any history of allergy to antibiotics like penicillin. Symptoms of anallergic reactionto amoxicillin include rash, itching, swelling of the face, tongue, and/or throat, trouble breathing, and dizziness. These can become life-threateninganaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction requiring immediate care for which you should call 911.
Allergic Reaction
Before prescribing amoxicillin, a healthcare provider needs to know any history of allergy to antibiotics like penicillin. Symptoms of anallergic reactionto amoxicillin include rash, itching, swelling of the face, tongue, and/or throat, trouble breathing, and dizziness. These can become life-threateninganaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction requiring immediate care for which you should call 911.
Augmentin is amoxicillin combined with abeta-lactamaseinhibitor called clavulanate. Clavulanate blocks the enzymes that contribute to antibiotic resistance.
The addition of a beta-lactamase blocker to amoxicillin allows Augmentin to overcome resistance to harder-to-treat bacteria, potentially treating more infections. This is why Augmentin is referred to as a broad-spectrum antibiotic.
Augmentin can treat the same bacteria as amoxicillin but also is effective against certain harder-to-treat infections, including:
It should be noted there are a few infections for which amoxicillin and Augmentin are prescribed equally:Pyelonephritis(kidney infections)Erysipelas, a type of skin infectionChronic strep “carriers”
It should be noted there are a few infections for which amoxicillin and Augmentin are prescribed equally:
The most common side effect of Augmentin is diarrhea. Some people may also experience:
Augmentin has been associated withliver damage(and rarely liver failure), which occurs more often than it does with amoxicillin alone.This may be especially concerning in people with liver disease, such ashepatitis. Amoxicillin also may affect certain urine tests for glucose.
Certain medications have the potential to interact with antibiotics. For example, people who take the anticoagulant drug warfarin may need to have their dosage reduced when taking Augmentin or amoxicillin.Other drugs that may interact with Augmentin include:
People takingmethotrexate(typically for rheumatoid arthritis, but also for other conditions) may find amoxicillin interferes with absorption of the drug. And it’s widely known that amoxicillin may limit the effectiveness of birth control pills, making another method necessary while taking the antibiotic.
Tell your healthcare provider about any vitamins and other supplements you take, too. It will help to ensure that they prescribe the mosteffective antibiotic, in the right dose, for your condition.
If antibiotic resistance happens with a broad-spectrum antibiotic like Augmentin, you will be at greater risk of having multiple types of drug resistance. With a “narrow-spectrum” antibiotic like amoxicillin, the consequence may be less severe.
Resistance develops when an antibiotic you are using is unable to fully eradicate a bacteria in your body.This often occurs when you stop treatment before you are supposed to. When this happens, a few mutated bacteria may survive.
Some of these may be naturally resistant to the antibiotic you were taking. Because you didn’t “hit the infection hard enough,” these survivors now have the opportunity to multiply and become the dominant strain. As such, the next time you develop an infection, the antibiotic will not work anywhere near as well.
Verywell / JR Bee
How to Avoid Antibiotic ResistanceAlways take an antibiotic as prescribed.Complete the entire course even if you feel better.Do not save antibiotics for future use.Do not use someone else’s antibiotics.Do not take antibiotics for a viral infection.Avoid overuse. Take an antibiotic only if your healthcare provider deems it necessary.
How to Avoid Antibiotic Resistance
Always take an antibiotic as prescribed.Complete the entire course even if you feel better.Do not save antibiotics for future use.Do not use someone else’s antibiotics.Do not take antibiotics for a viral infection.Avoid overuse. Take an antibiotic only if your healthcare provider deems it necessary.
Summary
Amoxicillin and Augmentin are commonly prescribed antibiotics. Each is good at treating certain kinds of infections. A few infections can be treated with either drug.Whether you’re prescribed amoxicillin, Augmentin, or another antibiotic, it’s not so much the “strength” of the drug you should be concerned about. It’s also about the safety, efficacy, and appropriateness of treatment. With any antibiotic, it is important to take it as prescribed and finish the complete course even if you feel better.
Amoxicillin and Augmentin are commonly prescribed antibiotics. Each is good at treating certain kinds of infections. A few infections can be treated with either drug.
Whether you’re prescribed amoxicillin, Augmentin, or another antibiotic, it’s not so much the “strength” of the drug you should be concerned about. It’s also about the safety, efficacy, and appropriateness of treatment. With any antibiotic, it is important to take it as prescribed and finish the complete course even if you feel better.
A Word From VerywellAugmentin and amoxicillin are both antibiotics with the same active ingredient: amoxicillin. The only difference is that Augmentin contains an additional component to essentially boost the effectiveness, which is necessary for certain infections that show resistance to amoxicillin. It’s important to always take antibiotics prescribed to you for their entire course, even if you feel better, so as to not create more drug resistance.—LINDSAY COOK, PHARMD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
A Word From Verywell
Augmentin and amoxicillin are both antibiotics with the same active ingredient: amoxicillin. The only difference is that Augmentin contains an additional component to essentially boost the effectiveness, which is necessary for certain infections that show resistance to amoxicillin. It’s important to always take antibiotics prescribed to you for their entire course, even if you feel better, so as to not create more drug resistance.—LINDSAY COOK, PHARMD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
Augmentin and amoxicillin are both antibiotics with the same active ingredient: amoxicillin. The only difference is that Augmentin contains an additional component to essentially boost the effectiveness, which is necessary for certain infections that show resistance to amoxicillin. It’s important to always take antibiotics prescribed to you for their entire course, even if you feel better, so as to not create more drug resistance.
—LINDSAY COOK, PHARMD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
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Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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Amoxil, Moxatag (amoxicillin) dosing, indications, interactions, adverse effects, and more.Augmentin, Augmentin XR (amoxicillin/clavulanate) dosing, indications, interactions, adverse effects, and more.
Amoxil, Moxatag (amoxicillin) dosing, indications, interactions, adverse effects, and more.
Augmentin, Augmentin XR (amoxicillin/clavulanate) dosing, indications, interactions, adverse effects, and more.
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