Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHow It WorksHow to TakeSide EffectsPrecautionsAlternativesFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
How It Works
How to Take
Side Effects
Precautions
Alternatives
Frequently Asked Questions
Amoxil (amoxicillin) is an antibiotic used to help kill bacteria that can cause infections in your body, such as asinus infection.
Sinus infections can be viral and self-limiting, which means your body can usually fight the infection off on its own and does not require antibiotics. Taking antibiotics for a viral infection won’t help your symptoms go away faster and might increase the risk of your body developingantibiotic resistance.
However, in some cases, a sinus infection can start as viral and progress to a secondary bacterial infection. If the infection is bacterial, an antibiotic like amoxicillin might be necessary to clear it.
This article will cover the use of amoxicillin for bacterial sinus infections, including how it works and what to expect when taking it.
Getty Images / laurence soulez
How Does Amoxicillin Work for a Sinus Infection?
In sinus infections,symptomscan include but are not limited to:
Bacterial vs. Viral Sinus InfectionsAntibiotics are not necessary for viral sinus infections. Typically, a viral sinus infection will resolve within 10 days.However, your healthcare provider may prescribe an antibiotic like amoxicillin if they suspect your sinus infection is bacterial. This may be the case if your symptoms have not improved on their own after 10 days, if you develop a high fever, if you develop more severe symptoms after three or four days, or if you begin to feel better and then your symptoms worsen.
Bacterial vs. Viral Sinus Infections
Antibiotics are not necessary for viral sinus infections. Typically, a viral sinus infection will resolve within 10 days.However, your healthcare provider may prescribe an antibiotic like amoxicillin if they suspect your sinus infection is bacterial. This may be the case if your symptoms have not improved on their own after 10 days, if you develop a high fever, if you develop more severe symptoms after three or four days, or if you begin to feel better and then your symptoms worsen.
Antibiotics are not necessary for viral sinus infections. Typically, a viral sinus infection will resolve within 10 days.
However, your healthcare provider may prescribe an antibiotic like amoxicillin if they suspect your sinus infection is bacterial. This may be the case if your symptoms have not improved on their own after 10 days, if you develop a high fever, if you develop more severe symptoms after three or four days, or if you begin to feel better and then your symptoms worsen.
How to Take Amoxicillin for a Sinus Infection
The dose of amoxicillin you get will depend on your age and kidney health.
For people with normal kidney function and who are over 3 months old:
The dosing for people with poor kidney function may be different, as follows:
Antibiotics can affect the natural bacteria that are found in your stomach. This can cause stomach upset, nausea, or diarrhea. If you have any stomach problems while taking amoxicillin, taking it with food can sometimes help reduce these symptoms.
How Long Will Amoxicillin Take to Work?
Amoxicillin concentrations usually will be at their highest around one hour after you take your dose, but it may take a few days to start feeling better.
It is important always to take amoxicillin for however long your healthcare provider prescribed it. Not taking your medication for as long as prescribed can lead to your body developing resistance to amoxicillin, which can make it harder to treat infections in the future.
How Long Does Amoxicillin Take to Start Working?
What Happens If I Miss a Dose?
If you forget to take a dose of your amoxicillin, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is closer to your next dose, it is best to wait for the next dose and skip the missed one. Do not take two doses of amoxicillin at the same time.
Missing one dose of amoxicillin should not affect your treatment outcome, but it’s always a good idea to follow up with your healthcare provider if you feel symptoms worsening.
What Side Effects Should I Expect?
As with other antibiotics, side effects are possible with amoxicillin. That being said, you might not experience any side effects at all with it.
Common side effects that are seen with amoxicillin include but are not limited to:
More serious side effects that can be seen with amoxicillin and warrant immediate medical attention may include:
There are a few key precautions to be aware of before starting treatment with amoxicillin:
Alternative Treatments for a Sinus Infection
Other antibiotics that may be used instead of amoxicillin include:
Summary
Amoxicillin can be used to treat bacterial sinus infections, otherwise known as sinusitis. Bacterial sinusitis can cause uncomfortable or painful pressure around your sinuses, with congestion, along with the possibility of fever and a temporary loss of smell.
Frequently Asked QuestionsBoth amoxicillin and doxycycline can be used for the treatment of sinus infections. Doxycycline is often used if you have an allergy to the penicillin-type of antibiotics (which includes amoxicillin) or if you have an allergy to cephalosporins (amoxicillin and cephalosporins have a similar chemical structure, which can cause someone to be allergic to both types of antibiotics).Your healthcare provider should give you a timeline for how long you should take your medication, which can range from five to 14 days, depending on the severity of your infection.It is always very important to complete the entire course of antibiotics prescribed, as not taking them as directed can lead to your infection returning or your body developing anantibiotic resistanceto amoxicillin in the future.
Both amoxicillin and doxycycline can be used for the treatment of sinus infections. Doxycycline is often used if you have an allergy to the penicillin-type of antibiotics (which includes amoxicillin) or if you have an allergy to cephalosporins (amoxicillin and cephalosporins have a similar chemical structure, which can cause someone to be allergic to both types of antibiotics).
Your healthcare provider should give you a timeline for how long you should take your medication, which can range from five to 14 days, depending on the severity of your infection.It is always very important to complete the entire course of antibiotics prescribed, as not taking them as directed can lead to your infection returning or your body developing anantibiotic resistanceto amoxicillin in the future.
Your healthcare provider should give you a timeline for how long you should take your medication, which can range from five to 14 days, depending on the severity of your infection.
It is always very important to complete the entire course of antibiotics prescribed, as not taking them as directed can lead to your infection returning or your body developing anantibiotic resistanceto amoxicillin in the future.
The author would like to recognize and thank Jon Candelaria for contributing to this article.
4 SourcesVerywell 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.Lambert M.IDSA releases guidelines for management of acute bacterial rhinosinusitis.American Family Physician. 2013;87(6):445-449.Food and Drug Administration.Amoxil label.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.C. diff.Ramsey A.Penicillin allergy and perioperative anaphylaxis.Frontiers in Allergy. 2022;3:903161.
4 Sources
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.Lambert M.IDSA releases guidelines for management of acute bacterial rhinosinusitis.American Family Physician. 2013;87(6):445-449.Food and Drug Administration.Amoxil label.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.C. diff.Ramsey A.Penicillin allergy and perioperative anaphylaxis.Frontiers in Allergy. 2022;3:903161.
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.
Lambert M.IDSA releases guidelines for management of acute bacterial rhinosinusitis.American Family Physician. 2013;87(6):445-449.Food and Drug Administration.Amoxil label.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.C. diff.Ramsey A.Penicillin allergy and perioperative anaphylaxis.Frontiers in Allergy. 2022;3:903161.
Lambert M.IDSA releases guidelines for management of acute bacterial rhinosinusitis.American Family Physician. 2013;87(6):445-449.
Food and Drug Administration.Amoxil label.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.C. diff.
Ramsey A.Penicillin allergy and perioperative anaphylaxis.Frontiers in Allergy. 2022;3:903161.
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