Aclav Tablet

Penicillin antibiotic with a beta-lactamase inhibitor (co-amoxiclav) for infections where resistant bacteria are likely:

• Sinusitis, middle-ear infections, tonsillitis
• Bronchitis and community-acquired pneumonia
• Urinary tract infections, kidney infections
• Skin and soft-tissue infections, animal and human bites, dental abscess
• Bone and joint infections
• Intra-abdominal infections (injection)

Adults: 625 mg (500/125) three times daily, or 1 g (875/125) twice daily, for 5–14 days.

Children: dose by amoxicillin content: 20–45 mg/kg/day in 2–3 divided doses (up to 90 mg/kg/day high-dose formulations for ear infections), as prescribed.

Injection (IV): 1.2 g every 8 hours.

• Take at the start of a meal to reduce stomach upset and improve absorption.
• Reduce the dose in severe kidney impairment.

• Allergy to penicillins; severe allergy to cephalosporins
• Previous jaundice or liver problems with co-amoxiclav

Very common/common: diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, thrush (mouth or vagina).

Less common: indigestion, headache, dizziness, rash, itching, raised liver enzymes.

Rare but serious: cholestatic jaundice/hepatitis (may appear weeks after stopping, more common in older men and long courses), severe allergy, severe skin reactions, C. difficile colitis, kidney inflammation, seizures (high doses/kidney failure).

• Report yellow skin/eyes, dark urine or pale stools.
• Use with caution in liver disease; monitor liver tests on long courses.
• Avoid in infectious mononucleosis (rash).

Can be used in pregnancy when needed (avoid in suspected preterm rupture of membranes due to a small risk of bowel inflammation in the newborn). Compatible with breastfeeding — watch the baby for diarrhoea or thrush.

• Methotrexate (toxicity)
• Warfarin (bleeding risk)
• Allopurinol (rash)
• Probenecid (raises amoxicillin levels)
• Mycophenolate (reduced levels)

Stomach upset, fluid/electrolyte disturbance; crystals in urine; seizures in kidney failure. Seek medical care.

Store below 25°C, dry. Reconstituted suspension: refrigerate and use within 7 days.