Augmentin instructions for use during pregnancy

Composition and dosage form

The active substances of Augmentin are amoxicillin and clavulanic acid.
Dispensed in the form of tablets of 0.5 g of antibiotic and 0.125 g of acid or a suspension of 0.4 g of amoxicillin and 5.7 mg of acid. The suspension is prepared from a white powder with a specific odor. The bottle contains the amount of powder needed to prepare 70 ml of suspension. Tablets of 14 pieces per package.

Augmentin during pregnancy: composition and features of use of the drug

The drug is a combined antibacterial agent with systemic effects.

Composition of Augmentin

The therapeutic effect of the drug is provided by its active components - amoxicillin and clavulanic acid. Their content varies depending on the form of release of the drug:

Amoxicillin - 250, 500 or 875 mg.
Clavulanic acid – 31, 62 or 125 mg.

The use of amoxicillin is effective, but there is a rapid development of resistance to it in pathological microorganisms. In order to eliminate the problem of stability, clavulanic acid is included. The auxiliary components include anhydrous colloidal silicon, magnesium stearate, cellulose, and sodium starch glycolate.

Release form of the drug Augmentin

Augmentin is available both in tablet form and in powder form.

Medicine tablets contain 250/125 mg and 500/125 mg of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid, respectively. The long-acting drug contains 875/125 active ingredients.
Powder for the preparation of suspension (oral administration) - in one measuring spoon, 125/31 mg or 250/62 mg of active ingredients.
Powder for injection of the substance - 0.6 g of the drug contains 0.5/0.1 g of the active substance or 1.2 g containing 1/0.2 g of effective components.

Pharmacokinetics and pharmacological action of Augmentin

This drug is a synthetic antimicrobial drug of the penicillin series, active against a wide range of bacteria. The medication has a destructive effect against both a number of gram-positive (including Staphylococcus aureus) and gram-negative bacteria, as well as chlamydia and treponema.

Important! The active components of Augmentin do not accumulate in tissues, but penetrate the placental barrier. They do not have a teratogenic effect.

Medicinal properties

Augmentin contains an antibiotic of semi-synthetic origin, which inhibits the synthesis of protein molecules necessary for the construction of cell walls of pathogenic microorganisms. This causes the cell wall to weaken and they die.

The acid in the drug is similar in chemical structure to penicillin. It prevents the inactivating effect of bacteria on amoxicillin. When clavulanic acid was taken alone, no pharmacological activity was observed as an antibacterial agent.

Antibacterial activity is manifested against staphylococci, streptococci, enterococci, gram-positive and gram-negative anaerobic bacteria.

The drug is absorbed quickly when taken orally and is excreted by the urinary system in an inactive form. The main organ of excretion is the kidneys. In patients with kidney and/or liver disease, slow metabolism and elimination of the drug is observed, therefore use with caution is necessary.

The decision about whether to take the drug during pregnancy should be made exclusively by a doctor! Don't self-medicate!

How to use it correctly

Each form has its own method of application and dosage. Before using the medicine, you need to find out exactly what dosage Augmentin was purchased in. Tablets and powder are available in different dosages.

It is worth noting that the medicine is sold only by prescription and the doctor selects the dosage. A special formula is used for this. Calculations are made taking into account the patient’s age, weight, kidney and liver condition.

In order for the components of the medicine to be better absorbed, it is necessary to use the drug before meals. Therapy should not last more than 2 weeks. The exception is cases when the attending physician sees the need to continue taking the drug (such situations rarely arise).

Pills

All people over 12 years of age and weighing more than 40 kg can use this drug in tablet form, one piece 2 or 3 times a day.

The drug must be used for at least 5 days, and the course of treatment should not exceed 2 weeks.

Augmentin works best if the dosage is calculated based on body weight and individual characteristics of the person. The product should be used according to the instructions only as a last resort, when the doctor has not given recommendations.

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Powder

Children under 12 years of age can only use the powder form.
It can also be used by adults. The manufacturer recommends using the suspension 2-3 times a day. There are different doses for each age and body weight. There are the following gradations by age and weight:

up to 1 year with a weight of 2-5 kg;
1-5 years with a weight of 6-18 kg;
6-9 years old with a weight of 19-28 kg;
9-12 years old with a weight of 29-39 kg.

When using the drug, it is necessary to use special devices for the most accurate dosing. You can use a syringe or measuring spoon. The powder must be diluted with clean boiled water. The most important thing is to choose the exact amount of medicine, especially when it comes to treating infants. Any deviation from the doses prescribed by the doctor leads to serious consequences and complications.

Indications for use

The use of Augmentin is prescribed for the following pathologies provoked by sensitive pathogenic microorganisms:

acute bacterial sinusitis;
inflammation of the middle ear in the acute phase;
exacerbation of chronic bronchitis;
pneumonia;
inflammation of the bladder, pyelonephritis.

Prescribed for infections of the skin and soft tissues, abscesses. Taking Augmentin is recommended as part of a complex treatment for infections of joints and bone tissue.

Contraindications

An antibiotic is prescribed to the expectant mother only if the benefits of treatment significantly outweigh the possible risks to the fetus. The drug is necessarily indicated for such serious inflammatory processes as pneumonia, pleurisy, purulent otitis media. It is simply impossible to cope with such pathologies without strong medications.

Indications for the use of Augmentin during pregnancy also include the following ailments:

infectious processes in the ENT organs (sinusitis, sinusitis, frontal sinusitis);
pneumonia, exacerbation of chronic bronchitis, lung abscess, bronchopneumonia);
infectious skin lesions;
inflammatory processes in the organs of the genitourinary system (pyelonephritis, cystitis, adnexitis);
intestinal infection (dysentery, salmonellosis);
inflammatory processes in the gallbladder.

In the first trimester, taking the antibiotic Augmentin is strictly prohibited. At this time, the formation of all the internal organs and systems of the baby occurs, and therefore you should refrain from treatment with strong drugs. The medicine is prescribed only after the 12th week of pregnancy.

The manufacturer warns that Augmentin is not suitable for treatment during pregnancy if the patient has a history of intolerance to penicillins, their derivatives and cephalosporins. Impaired functioning of the liver and kidneys, jaundice are also contraindications.

Contraindications are allergic reactions to the components, with caution in case of liver dysfunction. If kidney function is impaired, the dose must be adjusted.

As for side effects, there are quite a lot of them, which is why you should treat the product with the utmost caution. There is a risk of impaired liver function and bile flow. There are different forms of eating disorders, especially if the medication was taken before meals rather than after. Quite rarely - allergic reactions, in particular angioedema, rashes, anaphylactic shock.

Safety during pregnancy

The manufacturer studied how Augmentin affects the development of the fetus and the condition of the mother during pregnancy . Animal studies have shown that the drug does not have a toxic or teratogenic effect on the fetus. The use of Augmentin during pregnancy may be associated with a risk of developing enterocolitis in infants.

During pregnancy in the 1st trimester, taking Augmentin is contraindicated .
This applies to all medications, including other antibiotics. The decision to take Augmentin by a woman in the first trimester of pregnancy can only be made by the attending physician - in this case, the medicine should be taken only under his supervision in a hospital setting.

Augmentin in early pregnancy

Many women doubt whether it is possible to take antibiotics in the early stages of pregnancy, citing the fact that the young body is still so small that its capabilities still differ very little from the same bacteria. Unfortunately, they are right here - the child will indeed be in great danger of simply being poisoned by the medicine that his mother took without thinking.

Doctors point out that no antibiotics can be recommended for use in the first trimester, and even if a woman is very seriously ill, the risk of use is so great that a positive decision is, in fact, a decision to terminate the pregnancy.

Despite the fact that Augmentin is considered one of the safest antibiotics, the general rule also applies to it. Possible side effects are numerous and serious enough to be neglected, and all the caution with which doctors prescribe it even in the second and third trimester, in itself indicates the inadmissibility of taking this medicine in the early stages. Even if there is a certain threat to the health of the expectant mother, you will have to look for some other way to overcome the disease, or at least try to wait until the second trimester, when you can gradually begin to be treated with antibiotics.

When is medication prescribed during pregnancy?

Before taking Augmentin during pregnancy, it is necessary to undergo testing in a bacteriological laboratory - it is the results of bacteriological culture that indicate the absence or presence of infection, as well as its sensitivity to the components of Augmentin.

During pregnancy, the decision to prescribe Augmentin can be made by a doctor if the infectious etiology of the following diseases is confirmed:

inflammation of the respiratory system;
lesions of the nasopharynx and oropharynx;
erosion and inflammation of the mucous membranes and skin;
damage to the urinary system;
inflammation of the pelvic organs;
blood poisoning;
exacerbation of sinusitis.

For the purpose of prevention, the medicine is not prescribed, as it may provoke resistance in the future.

Speaking about specific diseases, Augmentin helps to cope with sore throat, bronchitis, and pharyngitis during pregnancy. Since chronic diseases can worsen during pregnancy, Augmentin is recommended for cystitis, sinusitis, pyelonephritis, aggravated as a result of increased stress on the reproductive system.

When is Augmentin prescribed?

The medicine is used to treat diagnosed bacterial infections. Augmentin is also suitable for disease prevention. The most common indication for use is acute respiratory tract infection.

The drug can also be used to treat infections:

genitourinary system;
skin;
bone tissue;
blood.

If we talk about specific diseases, the medication is prescribed for bacterial:

bronchitis;
pneumonia;
urethritis;
cystitis;
osteomyelitis.

In some cases, Augmentin is used to prevent the onset of the disease after surgery. You can’t just use the medicine like that. Only a specialist can select the dosage adequately.

The drug can be used to treat scarlet fever in people of any age. In most cases, it acts as the main drug in the treatment of any disease. If we are talking about severe acute diseases, then Augmentin can be combined with other medications.

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How to take the pills

The specific dosage depends on the severity of the disease, duration of pregnancy and duration of treatment. The doctor determines what dosage to take Augmentin during pregnancy, depending on the results of bacteriological culture, the amount of infection detected and its sensitivity to the drug.

In tablet form, they are prescribed in the following dosages:

1 tablet three times a day after meals for mild to moderate pathology;
2 tablets with the same frequency of administration for severe pathology.

No more than 1.2 g of amoxicillin can be consumed at one time.

Augmentin: instructions for using the drug during pregnancy

Despite the wide range of microorganisms susceptible to the components of Augmentin, before starting drug therapy, it is advisable to find out how resistant the microbes that provoked the disease in the pregnant woman are to the drug.

Indications for use of Augmentin during pregnancy

For the purpose of treating pregnant women, the drug can be prescribed if:

Bacterial lesions of the upper respiratory tract and nasopharynx - sinusitis, pneumonia, bronchitis, sore throat.
If otitis occurs.
Cystitis was diagnosed.
There are infectious diseases of the skin or mucous membranes.

In addition to the actual diagnosis, before prescribing Augmentin, the doctor must determine the bacterial nature of the infectious lesion.

Augmentin during pregnancy: dosage of the drug

The dosage and frequency of taking the drug, depending on the severity of the woman’s condition, as well as the form of the medication, is prescribed by the doctor in each case individually. It would also be a good idea to conduct allergy tests for the components of Augmentin. Based on the standard treatment regimen, the amount of the drug can be determined as:

If tablets are prescribed, they are taken 1 piece at a time. (375 mg) twice a day or once at a dosage of 625 mg (500 mg + 125 mg) after meals. In case of more severe lesions, the dosage may be doubled.
For suspension therapy, the dosage is 10-15 ml per day, divided into 2 or 3 doses, respectively (concentration of active components 400 mg + 57 mg).
When therapy is administered intravenously, the dosage is prescribed by the doctor.

Reception and preparation of suspension

Augmentin in the form of a suspension should be taken orally during meals to prevent possible intolerance from the gastrointestinal tract.

Preparation of the suspension:

check the integrity of the cap of the bottle with powder;
turn the bottle over and shake to loosen the contents;
open the cap, pour in boiled still water - its level should coincide with the red stripe on the bottle;
close the cap, shake the bottle until a suspension with a homogeneous consistency is obtained;
open the lid and add more water to the level of the black strip, shake again;
leave to stand for 5 minutes until completely dissolved.

Before each dose, shake the suspension thoroughly. Pregnant women are advised to drink Augmentin in the form of a suspension three times a day until the manifestations of the disease disappear and under the supervision of a doctor. In case of severe disease, it is recommended to switch to the tablet form.

Side effects

Antibiotics are one of the most powerful medications that often cause side effects. According to reviews, Augmentin can provoke the development of an allergic reaction in the form of skin rash, itching, and urticaria. The drug also affects the state of the nervous system. Patients note that sometimes after taking the medicine, headaches and dizziness appear, sleep is disturbed, and increases excitability. This condition is dangerous for pregnant women.

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To reduce the manifestation of a negative reaction from the gastrointestinal tract (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea), experts recommend taking an antibiotic before meals. If side effects occur, the patient should inform the attending physician, who will adjust the dosage.

Adverse reactions

Despite the high safety profile of the drug, during pregnancy the body may be more sensitive to its action and react with undesirable effects.

While taking Augmentin during pregnancy, the following undesirable reactions may develop:

mycotic lesions of mucous membranes and skin;
dizziness, digestive disorders;
increased levels of liver transaminases in laboratory determination;
skin rashes.

The last symptom indicates the presence of an allergic reaction - this is a direct indication for immediate discontinuation of the drug.

Headaches, dizziness, itching, urticaria, and jaundice are less common. With the same frequency: diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, hyperactivity of the limbs and convulsions, reversible forms of leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, agranulocytosis, anemia.

If you detect any unwanted reactions, especially during pregnancy, you should immediately stop taking Augmentin and consult a doctor for advice. He will reduce the dosage or select another medicine.

Side effects and contraindications for use

Augmentin is well tolerated, but some pathological conditions are a contraindication to its use. Among them are:

liver dysfunction (jaundice, hepatitis, damage due to taking antibacterial agents);
hypersensitivity to the components of the drug;
children under 12 years of age (applies only to tablets).

Side effects may occur during treatment. This may occur due to improper use of the drug or individual characteristics. Side effects can occur in all systems of the body. Most often there are:

liver intoxication;
allergy;
dizziness;
headache;
diarrhea;
nausea.

If side effects occur, dose adjustment or discontinuation of the drug is required.

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When is taking Augmentin dangerous for a pregnant woman?

During pregnancy, Augmentin should not be taken if bearing a child is difficult and the pregnancy is in danger of natural termination. When the mother's body is weakened during pregnancy, taking Augmentin can provoke a loss of strength and a general deterioration in well-being.

If it is necessary to eliminate infectious pathologies during a difficult pregnancy, first of all, immunostimulating and immunomodulating agents are recommended, which are approved during pregnancy according to the annotation.

You should stop taking Augmentin during pregnancy if it is accompanied by:

the appearance of adverse reactions;
deterioration of health;
detection of fetal pathologies during routine monitoring of its condition;
lack of therapeutic effect.

In any case, you should let your doctor know about this and not take Augmentin until the end of pregnancy. The doctor will select other medications and identify the cause of intolerance or lack of effectiveness.

Is there a danger?

Many expectant mothers who have been prescribed antibiotic therapy are beginning to worry about such treatment. Indeed, there is a practice of using penicillin, but will Augmentin help? This drug is not a hindrance to pregnancy if it is prescribed by an experienced doctor.

Many experts consider a semi-synthetic antibiotic to be the most harmless for pregnant women. The drug passed all the necessary studies, during which it was established that the drug does not have any toxic or teratogenic effects. This means that the expectant mother can take Augmentin during pregnancy (2nd trimester) without fear - the drug will not cause abnormalities or malformations of the fetus.

At the same time, the manufacturer warns that the active ingredients of the drug can penetrate the placental barrier and in certain situations have a negative effect. For example, in case of premature rupture of the membranes, Augmentin may be prescribed to prevent infection of the baby, which increases the risk of inflammation of the walls of the small and large intestines in the newborn. Therefore, antibiotics should only be used after consulting a doctor.