drug-medicine : amoxil paediatric suspension

PATIENT INFORMATION LEAFLET

Amoxil® Paediatric Suspension

amoxicillin

PLEASE READ THIS LEAFLET BEFORE GIVING YOUR CHILD THIS MEDICINE.

Always follow your doctor’s advice. If there is anything you do not understand, or if you have any questions, please ask your doctor or pharmacist (chemist).

Information for parents and carers of children

Your child’s Amoxil comes in a bottle containing 20 ml of an off-white liquid mixture, called a suspension. It also contains a dropper for giving this medicine to your child.

Amoxil Paediatric Suspension contains 125 mg of the active ingredient amoxicillin in each 1.25 ml dose. The other ingredients in the suspension are: sodium benzoate (E211), sodium carboxymethylcellulose (E466), quinoline yellow (E104), peach, strawberry and lemon dry flavours and sucrose (0.6 g per 1.25 ml dose). Each 1.25 ml dose of Amoxil paediatric suspension contains 0.4 mg of sodium.

What is Amoxil?

Amoxil is an antibiotic for treating infections. It belongs to a group of antibiotics called “penicillins”. Amoxil works by killing the bacteria that can cause infections.

Why has your doctor prescribed your child Amoxil?

Amoxil can treat a wide range of infections including those of the chest (bronchitis or pneumonia), tonsils (tonsillitis), ears (otitis media), sinuses (sinusitis), the bladder or the urethra (the tube which carries urine from the bladder), kidneys, the female reproductive system including infections caused by difficulties during childbirth (puerperal sepsis and septic abortion), abdomen (intra-abdominal sepsis and peritonitis), heart (endocarditis), blood (septicaemia), skin, bone, teeth and gums (abscesses). Amoxil can also be used to treat gonorrhoea (a sexually transmitted infection), infections associated with pregnancy and typhoid and paratyphoid (fevers caused by a group of bacteria called Salmonella).

Before giving your child this medicine

Let your doctor know if any of the following apply:

Your child has ever had a skin rash or swelling of the face or neck when taking any antibiotic.
You know that your child is allergic to penicillin (or any other antibiotic).
Your child has, or you think they may have, glandular fever.
Your child has been treated for kidney problems.
Your child is being treated with any medicine (such as warfarin) to prevent blood clots.
Your child is taking allopurinol for conditions such as gout which can be caused by uric acid build-up.
Your child has an inherited reaction to fruit sugar (fructose), poor absorption of glucose/galactose (malabsorption syndrome) or an inherited intolerance of sucrose and isomaltose – because this medicine contains 0.6 g sucrose per each 1.25 ml dose.

If any of the above apply to your child, your doctor may decide that your child needs a different dose of Amoxil or a different medicine instead of Amoxil.

This medicine contains sodium benzoate. Sodium benzoate is a derivative of benzoic acid which may irritate the skin, eyes and mucous membranes. It may increase the risk of jaundice in newborn babies.

How to give Amoxil Paediatric Suspension to your child

Amoxil Paediatric Suspension is recommended for children under six months old. The dose that your doctor tells you to give will depend on the type of infection your child has. Your doctor’s instructions should be on the bottle. Read them carefully. If you have any questions talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

The usual dose is 1.25 ml to be given three times a day. The dose can be doubled if the infection is more severe.

How to give this medicine:

1. Shake the bottle.
2. Unscrew the cap to remove the dropper from the bottle.
3. Squeeze the rubber bulb tightly.
4. Still squeezing the rubber bulb, push the dropper into the medicine in the bottle.
5. Stop squeezing the bulb. The dropper will fill above the line marked on it.
6. Take out the dropper. Squeeze the bulb gently until the medicine is exactly in line with the line which marks the dose.
7. Put the medicine on to your child’s tongue by squeezing the bulb until all the medicine in the dropper has been pushed out. Do not put it on the front of the tongue or it might dribble out of the mouth.
8. Wash out the dropper with water. Shake to remove any drops of water. Replace it in the bottle and screw the cap on tightly.

When should I give my child Amoxil Suspension?

Try to give this medicine as part of the daily routine – for example at mealtimes. You may give Amoxil before, with or after food, unless the label advises a specific time. It is not normally necessary to arrange to give a dose in the middle of the night – unless your doctor has told you to do so.

But remember, whenever you give your child the medicine, space the doses as evenly as possible throughout the day.

Try not to give your child more than one dose every four hours and never give two doses within about an hour or so.

Keep giving your child the medicine until it is finished, even if he or she seems to be better.

Your child needs every dose to help fight off the infection. If you stop giving your child this medicine before the end of the course, some bacteria may survive and cause the infection to come back.

If your child is still unwell after taking all the medicine, go and see your doctor.

Never take more than the recommended dose each day.

What if I forget to give a dose?

If you forget to give a dose don’t worry – just give it as soon as you remember. But don’t give your child the next dose too soon. Try to wait about four hours before giving the next dose. Always try to keep the doses evenly spaced.

What if my child has taken too much medicine?

If your child has taken too much medicine, contact your doctor or local hospital casualty department at once. Show the doctor the bottle of suspension.

Information on possible side effects

As with all medicines, some people may experience side effects with Amoxil.

The more common side effects of Amoxil that have been reported in more than 1 in 100 people taking it include:

Nausea (feeling of sickness) or diarrhoea.
Skin rash

Uncommon side effects that have been reported in between 1 in 100 and 1 in 1,000 people taking Amoxil include:

Vomiting
Allergic skin reactions with itching e.g. 'hives' or 'nettle' rash. If you or your child start to itch or get a rash, STOP taking Amoxil and tell your doctor at once.

Rare side effects that have been reported in between 1 in 1,000 and 1 in 10,000 people. There are no rare side effects documented for Amoxil.

Very rare side effects that have been reported in less than 1 in 10,000 people taking Amoxil include:

Hypersensitivity or severe allergic reaction including swollen face or breathing problems. Tell your doctor straight away if you notice any of these symptoms and STOP taking Amoxil.
Thrush (a yeast infection of the vagina, mouth or skin folds). You can get treatment for thrush from your doctor or pharmacist.
Tooth discolouration. The colour usually returns to normal with brushing.
Inflammation of the kidney. Tell your doctor that you or your child are taking Amoxil if you or your child are having urine tests because Amoxil may affect the results
Excessive body movements (hyperkinesia), dizziness or convulsions. People who are on high doses of Amoxil or whose kidneys do not work properly may experience convulsions.
Reduction (reversible) in blood cell counts including anaemia (a reduction in the body's red blood cells or haemoglobin which may be characterised by feeling weak or light-headed) or a longer time taken for blood to clot. Tell your doctor that you or your child are taking Amoxil if you or your child are having blood tests.
Crystalluria, forming of crystals in the urine.

See your doctor straight away if you or your child experience any of the following very rare side effects:

Severe diarrhoea with bleeding
Notice your urine becoming darker or your faeces (otherwise known as poo) becoming paler
Notice your skin or the white of your eyes turning yellow.
Convulsions
Difficulty or discomfort in passing urine or have cloudy urine.

If your child gets any other problems while taking this medicine tell your doctor or pharmacist.

Storing Amoxil

Don’t use this medicine if the expiry date printed on the bottle has passed.

Keep the medicine in its original bottle. Do not store above 25°C. This medicine should not be used beyond 14 days from when it was prescribed. Keep all medicines well out of the reach of children – it’s best to lock it in a cupboard or medicine cabinet.

If your doctor tells you to stop giving this medicine to your child, or if for any other reason you have some medicine left over, please return it to the pharmacist.

Remember, this medicine is just for your child. Do not give it to anyone else. It may not be suitable for them, even if their symptoms seem to be the same as your childs.

Medicine: amoxil paediatric suspension