Active ingredient
- amoxicillin trihydrate
- potassium clavulanate
Legal Category
POM: Prescription only medicine
POM: Prescription only medicine
The Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) is the leaflet included in the pack with a medicine. It is written for patients and gives information about taking or using a medicine. It is possible that the leaflet in your medicine pack may differ from this version because it may have been updated since your medicine was packaged.
Below is a text only representation of the Patient Information Leaflet. The original leaflet can be viewed using the link above.
The text only version may be available in large print, Braille or audio CD. For further information call emc accessibility on 0800 198 5000. The product code(s) for this leaflet is: PL 14894/0017 .
Co-amoxiclav 500mg /125 mg film-coated Tablets
Package Leaflet: Information for the patient
Co-amoxiclav 500mg/125 mg Film-coated Tablets
(amoxicillin and clavulanic acid)
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine because it contains important information for you.
What is in this leaflet
1. What Co-amoxiclav film-coated tablets are and what are they used for
2. What you need to know before you take Co-amoxiclav film-coated tablets
3. How to take Co-amoxiclav film-coated tablets
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Co-amoxiclav film-coated tablets
6. Contents of the pack and other information
1. What Co-amoxiclav film-coated tablets are and what are they used for
Co-amoxiclav is an antibiotic and works by killing bacteria that cause infections. It contains two different medicines called amoxicillin and clavulanic acid. Amoxicillin belongs to a group of medicines called ‘penicillins” that can sometimes be stopped from working (made inactive). The other active component (clavulanic acid) stops this from happening.
Co-amoxiclav film-coated tablets are used in adults and children to treat the following infections:
2. What you need to know before you take Co-amoxiclav film-coated tablets
Do not take Co-amoxiclav film-coated tablets
Do not take Co-amoxiclav film-coated tablets if any of the above apply to you. If you are not sure, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Co-amoxiclav film-coated tablets.
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking this medicine if you:
If you are not sure if any of the above applies to you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Co-amoxiclav film-coated tablets.
In some cases, your doctor may investigate the type of bacteria that is causing your infection. Depending on the results, you may be given a different strength of Co-amoxiclav film-coated tablets or a different medicine.
Conditions you need to look out for
Co-amoxiclav film-coated tablets can make some existing conditions worse, or cause serious side effects. These include allergic reactions, convulsions (fits) and inflammation of the large intestine. You must look out for certain symptoms while you are taking Co-amoxiclav film-coated tablets, to reduce the risk of any problems. See Section 4.
Blood and urine tests
If you are having blood tests (such as red blood cell status tests or liver function tests) or urine tests (for glucose), let the doctor or nurse know that you are taking Co-amoxiclav film-coated tablets. This is because Co-amoxiclav film-coated tablets can affect the results of these types of tests.
Other medicines and Co-amoxiclav film-coated tablets
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken, or might take any other medicines. This includes medicines taken without a prescription.
If you are taking allopurinol (used for gout) with Co-amoxiclav film-coated tablets, it may be more likely that you’ll have an allergic skin reaction.
If you are taking probenecid (used for gout), your doctor may decide to adjust your dose of Co-amoxiclav film-coated tablets.
If medicines to help stop blood clots (such as warfarin) are taken with Co-amoxiclav film-coated tablets then extra blood tests may be needed.
Co-amoxiclav film-coated tablets can affect how methotrexate (a medicine used to treat cancer or rheumatic diseases) works.
Co-amoxiclav film-coated tablets may affect how mycophenolate mofetil (a medicine used to prevent the rejection of transplanted organs) works.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
If you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant, or are planning to have a baby, or if you are breast-feeding, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking any medicine.
Driving and using machines
Co-amoxiclav film-coated tablets can have side effects and the symptoms may make you unfit to drive. Don’t drive or operate machinery unless you are feeling well.
3. How to take Co-amoxiclav film-coated tablets
Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you to. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
Adults and children weighing 40 kg and over
The usual dose is
Children weighing less than 40 kg
Children aged 6 years or less should preferably be treated with amoxicillin/clavulanic acid oral suspension or sachets.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice when giving Co-amoxiclav film-coated tablets to children weighing less than 40 kg. The tablets are not suitable for children weighing less than 25 kg.
Patients with kidney and liver problems
How to take Co-amoxiclav film-coated tablets
If you take more Co-amoxiclav film-coated tablets than you should,
If you take too much Co-amoxiclav film-coated tablets, signs might include an upset stomach (feeling sick, being sick or diarrhoea) or convulsions. Talk to your doctor as soon as possible. Take the medicine carton to show the doctor.
If you forget to take Co-amoxiclav film-coated tablets
If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. You should not take the next dose too soon, but wait about 4 hours before taking the next dose. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
If you stop taking Co-amoxiclav film-coated tablets
Keep taking Co-amoxiclav film-coated tablets until the treatment is finished, even if you feel better. You need every dose to help fight the infection. If some bacteria survive they can cause the infection to come back.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
4. Possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Serious side effects
If any of these serious side effects happen, stop taking the medicine and tell your doctor immediately or go to the emergency room at your nearest hospital.
Allergic reactions:
The following serious side effects have also been reported:
Other side effects
If you get any of these side effects, talk to your doctor as soon as possible.
Very common: may affect more than 1 in 10 people
Common: may affect up to 1 in 10 people
- if affected take Co-amoxiclav film-coated tablets before food
Uncommon: may affect up to 1 in 100 people
Side effects that may show up in your blood tests:
Rare: may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people
Side effects that may show up in your blood tests:
Not known: frequency cannot be estimated from the available data
Side effects that may show up in your blood or urine tests:
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. How to store Co-amoxiclav film-coated tablets
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton and foil after 'EXP'. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
Store in the original package in order to protect from light.
Do not store above 25°C.
The tablets should be used within 30 days of opening of the pouch.
Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.
6. Contents of the pack and other information
What Co-amoxiclav film-coated tablets contain
The active substances are amoxicillin and clavulanic acid. One film-coated tablet contains 573.96 mg amoxicillin trihydrate equivalent to 500 mg amoxicillin and 297.81 mg potassium clavulanate equivalent to 125 mg clavulanic acid.
The other ingredients are Cellulose microcrystalline, Sodium starch glycolate, Silica colloidal anhydrous, Povidone, Eudragit E100, Magnesium stearate, Hypromellose, Titanium dioxide (E171), Macrogol 400, Talc.
What Co-amoxiclav film-coated tablets look like and contents of the pack
Co-amoxiclav are white to off-white film-coated oval shaped tablets debossed with RX713 on one side and plain on the other side.
Pack sizes of 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, 20, 21, 24, 30, 40 or 50 film-coated tablets packed in PVC/PVdC/Alu blister pack in pouch (Polyester film/Aluminium foil/Polyester film/Polyethylene) with 1g sachet containing desiccant.
Do not eat the desiccant sachet contained inside the pouch.
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Marketing Authorisation Holder
Manufacturer
This leaflet was last revised in April 2018.
Advice/medical education
Antibiotics are used to treat infections caused by bacteria. They have no effect against infections caused by viruses.
Sometimes an infection caused by bacteria does not respond to a course of an antibiotic. One of the commonest reasons for this to occur is because the bacteria causing the infection are resistant to the antibiotic that is being taken. This means that they can survive and even multiply despite the antibiotic.
Bacteria can become resistant to antibiotics for many reasons. Using antibiotics carefully can help to reduce the chance of bacteria becoming resistant to them.
When your doctor prescribes a course of an antibiotic it is intended to treat only your current illness. Paying attention to the following advice will help prevent the emergence of resistant bacteria that could stop the antibiotic working.
1. It is very important that you take the antibiotic at the right dose, at the right times and for the right number of days. Read the instructions on the label and if you do not understand anything ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain.
2. You should not take an antibiotic unless it has been prescribed specifically for you and you should use it only to treat the infection for which it was prescribed.
3. You should not take antibiotics that have been prescribed for other people even if they had an infection that was similar to yours.
4. You should not give antibiotics that were prescribed for you to other people.
5. If you have any antibiotic left over when you have taken the course as directed by your doctor you should take the remainder to a pharmacy for appropriate disposal.
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