Augmentin how to prepare a suspension

Augmentin is a penicillin-based antibiotic that fights most infections and is approved for use by both adults and children. However, with the selection of the correct dosage of the Augmentin 400 suspension for children, as it turned out, those young parents who act without the recommendations of a pediatrician or try to replace with this remedy what was prescribed by a doctor have many problems. It is precisely from such mistakes that numerous negative reviews about the drug are born. How to understand all the intricacies and not harm yourself and your child?

"Augmentin": general characteristics of the drug

The main components of Augmentin, regardless of its release form, are the antibiotic amoxicillin and the lactamase liquidator clavullinic acid. The main burden lies on amoxicillin: it is thanks to it that the drug has an antibacterial effect against almost any infection. However, it has a significant drawback - most pathogenic microorganisms quickly get used to it and stop responding, as a result of which an additional component is needed that will destroy the resistance of viruses. This component is clavullinic acid.

• Amoxicillin belongs to the group of penicillins and is in most cases well tolerated, as a result of which it can be used in therapy in young children and pregnant women, but has a number of side effects. In addition, it is not approved for use in patients with phenylketonuria, renal failure and liver dysfunction.

The main indications for taking Augmentin suspension are:

• Infectious diseases of the respiratory tract in any form, including relapse of chronic conditions;
• Infectious diseases of the genitourinary system;
• Skin diseases caused by infection;
• Osteomyelitis;
• Prevention of infections after surgery.

For administration, the Augmentin suspension is prepared according to the following algorithm:

• The powder is poured into a bottle, after which it is poured with warm (not hot!) water, which must be boiled before;
• The bottle is shaken to dissolve the granules as much as possible and left for 4-5 minutes. until the particles of the substance are completely dissolved. If this does not happen, the container must be shaken again and set aside;
• Add water up to the marks on the inside of the bottle;
• After this, the suspension is ready for use. It can be kept refrigerated, if not frozen, for 7 days, but it is recommended to use it sooner. It is prohibited to use the suspension on day 8, even if visually it has not changed its properties;
• Before use, the bottle of liquid is shaken and the required volume is poured into a measuring spoon or drawn up with a syringe. Be sure to wash any item thoroughly after use, avoiding the accumulation of drug particles on the surface;
• If necessary, it is allowed to dilute the liquid with warm boiled water in equal proportions, but the child will have to drink an increased volume, and not half of it;

The approximate price of the Augmentin 400 suspension ranges from 380-460 rubles.

Indications for use

• Allergic reaction or hypersensitivity to amoxicillin, clavulanic acid or antibiotics from the penicillin or cephalosporin group;
• Development of jaundice and liver dysfunction in the past during the use of drugs containing amoxicillin and clavulanic acid.

Suspensions 200/28.5 and 400/57:

• Phenylketonuria;
• Creatinine clearance less than 30 ml/min;
• Age less than 3 months.

Tablets of all dosages (250/125, 500/125 and 875/125):

• Age under 12 years or body weight less than 40 kg;
• Creatinine clearance less than 30 ml/min (only for tablets 875/125).

Dosage of Augmentin 400 suspension for children: instructions for independent calculation

The main difficulty is that, since there are 2 active ingredients in the drug, the concentration of each of them is indicated on the packaging. Thus, the following options for powdered “Augmentin” are available in pharmacies:

• 125 mg + 31.35 mg;
• 200 mg + 28.5 mg;
• 400 mg + 57 mg.

Each proportion is aimed at 5 (!) ml of the finished suspension. In doctor's prescriptions and the usual mention of the drug, "Agumentin" is called by a larger number - 125, 200 or 400. Therefore, the dosage for children and adults is calculated based on the concentration of the antibiotic, not clavulinic acid. Thus, “Agumentin 125” and “Agumentin 200” are not interchangeable due to the non-identical ratio of active components. For proper treatment, you need to choose exactly the option that was prescribed by the doctor.

• Augmentin 400 is intended for adults and children over 12 years of age and weighing over 40 kg, but the use of the drug in this concentration of active ingredients in children under 2 years of age is prohibited. Augmentin 125 is recommended for them.
• Calculation of the individual dosage of the drug is carried out using body weight, age and complexity of the disease. Clavulinic acid is not taken into account in the calculation and is focused only on amoxicillin.
• The amount of Augmentin 400 for children under 12 years of age should be selected so that for each kg of body weight there is no more than 45 mg of amoxicillin. The minimum dosage is 25 mg per 1 kg of weight.
• The choice of value within the specified framework is made taking into account the sensitivity of the body and/or the degree of the disease. Thus, the minimum values ​​are suitable for the treatment of skin infections, tonsillitis in the chronic stage and giving relapses; the maximum ones are aimed at exacerbations of any infectious diseases, as well as for the treatment of pneumonia, bronchitis, etc. It is important to understand that the above algorithms are a calculation of a general (not one-time!) dosage. In addition to this, there are also nuances in constructing a therapy schedule using Augmentin: it also depends on the concentration of the active substance and the age of the child.
• Children under 12 years of age are given Augmentin 400 no more than 2 times a day, keeping a 12-hour break between doses.

Thus, if a child aged 7 years and weighing 26 kg needs 45 mg of Augmentin 400 per kg of weight for the treatment of otitis, then the total dosage will be 1170 mg, divided into 2 doses - 585 mg each. Taking into account the fact that 5 ml of the finished suspension will contain only 400 mg, you will need to make 7.3 ml per dose, or 14.6 ml per day. Accurately calculating the dosage of Augmentin 400 for children according to the instructions is not easy due to several mathematical operations that are easy to get confused. To facilitate this process, the manufacturer offers average values, but they are not suitable for every organism and can only serve as a hint for those who are trying to understand whether they calculated everything correctly on their own.

• Children from 1 year and weighing from 10 to 18 kg can use no more than 5 ml of the finished suspension;
• Children over 6 years old and weighing 19 kg or more are allowed 7.5 ml of suspension;
• For children over 10 years old and weighing more than 29 kg, 10 ml of suspension is used for treatment.

The values ​​are indicated for a single dose (for a daily dose, multiply by 2), but they do not take into account the severity of the disease.

Forms of release, varieties and names of Augmentin

Augmentin;

Augmentin EU;

Augmentin SR.

All three of these varieties of Augmentin are commercial versions of the same antibiotic with exactly the same effects, indications and rules of use.

The only difference between the commercial varieties of Augmentin is the dosage of the active substance and the release form (tablets, suspension, powder for preparing a solution for injection).

These differences make it possible to select the optimal drug option for each specific case. For example, if for some reason an adult is unable to swallow Augmentin tablets, he can use Augmentin EC suspension, etc.

Usually, all varieties of the drug are simply called “Augmentin”, and to clarify what exactly is meant, they simply add the name of the dosage form and dosage, for example, Augmentin suspension 200, Augmentin tablets 875, etc.

Varieties of Augmentin are available in the following dosage forms: 1. Augmentin:

• Tablets for oral administration;
• Powder for the preparation of suspension for oral administration;
• Powder for the preparation of solution for injection.

Augmentin EU:

• Powder for the preparation of suspension for oral administration.

Augmentin SR:

• Extended-release, extended-release tablets.

In everyday life, to denote varieties and different forms of Augmentin, shortened versions are usually used, consisting of the word “Augmentin” and an indication of the dosage form or dosage, for example, Augmentin suspension, Augmentin 400, etc.

Augmentin suspension: consumer reviews

As with all antibiotics, the attitude of patients (especially young parents) to Augmentin is extremely controversial: no one doubts that this medication should be used only in cases of extreme necessity, but sometimes even this need does not cover the shortcomings of the drug.

Inna : We use Augmentin only for bronchitis, which cannot be dealt with in any less painful ways, and we make it a component of complex therapy. We take Augmentin suspension for 4 days, once a day, 5 ml (for a 3.5 year old child). After the antibiotic, we begin to restore the microflora (it is important not to do this at the same time as the antibiotic.

Olga : The pediatrician forced me to buy Augmentin when my son (6 years old) and I came to her for a certificate and some prescription to cure tonsillitis. She prescribed us 5 ml of suspension daily for a week. I trusted the specialist and tried to strictly follow the instructions: after the first dose, my son complained of nausea, but I didn’t attach any importance to this - he had a fever, so I attributed everything to it. But at night, after the second dose, the child became more nauseous and vomited. However, I only suspected problems with Augmentin the next day, when the vomiting became constant (we continued to drink the suspension). I had to cancel the treatment and visit the doctor again. It turned out that this is a fairly common adverse reaction.

In what cases is Augmentin prescribed?

Augmentin is widely used in the practice of doctors of many specialties. This drug is effective against the following infections, provided that the causative agents of these diseases are sensitive to Augmentin:

• infections of the upper and lower respiratory tract: acute bronchitis, tracheitis, tracheobronchitis, pneumonia, lung abscess, pleural empyema;
• infections of the ENT organs: sinusitis, tonsillitis, otitis;
• infections of the genitourinary organs: cystitis, urethritis, pyelonephritis, prostatitis, gonorrhea; in women also cervicitis (inflammation of the cervical canal), salpingitis (infection of the fallopian tubes), salpingo-oophoritis (infection of the fallopian tubes and ovaries), endometritis (inflammation of the inner lining of the uterus), bacterial vaginitis, postpartum sepsis, infectious complications after abortion;
• biliary tract infections: cholangitis (inflammation of the bile ducts), cholecystitis;
• intestinal tract infections: dysentery, salmonellosis;
• infections of the skin and soft tissues: erysipelas (skin infection by streptococcus), wound phlegmon (purulent tissue destruction), abscess, secondary infected dermatoses;
• bone infections: osteomyelitis (purulent destruction of bone tissue).
• endocarditis – infection of the inner lining of the heart;
• meningitis - inflammation of the meninges;
• prevention of infectious complications in surgery.

The widespread use of Augmentin is explained by its distribution in all tissues of the body after the drug enters the blood. The drug is excreted by the kidneys, so in case of renal failure, the dosage of Augmentin is selected individually.

Side effects of Augmentin

They appear rarely and are often reversible. When taking Augmentin, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain may occur. It is extremely rare for older people to develop hepatitis and jaundice due to stagnation of bile in the biliary tract. These changes are reversible and stop after discontinuation of the drug. Allergic reactions are also possible: urticaria, Quincke's edema, rarely anaphylactic shock. Cases of the development of candidiasis - fungal infection of the mucous membranes and dysbacteriosis - have been described. Sometimes headaches and dizziness may occur.

Directions for use and dosage

The dosage of Augmentin is selected individually, taking into account the characteristics of the body, age and manifestations of the disease.

In order to reduce the risk of negative effects on the gastrointestinal tract, it is recommended to use the medicine at the beginning of meals. The minimum course of treatment is 5 days.

The drug cannot be taken for more than 14 days without a second examination by the attending physician.

If necessary, two-stage treatment is possible: parenteral administration of the drug (injections) followed by a transition to taking a suspension.

Adults and children over 12 years of age, as well as patients who weigh more than 40 kg, are recommended to take 11 ml of the drug at a dosage of 400 mg + 57 mg 5 ml.

For patients aged 3 months to 12 years who weigh less than 40 kg, the dosage is calculated individually.

There are several options for using the medicine:

1. The daily dosage of the medication can be divided into three doses and distributed throughout the day; Augmentin can be taken every 8 hours for a dose of 125 mg/31.25 mg.
2. The medication can be taken at a dose of 200 mg/28.5 mg and 400 mg/57 mg twice a day every 12 hours.

Augmentin dosage table (calculation is based on the amoxicillin component)