PATIENT INFORMATION LEAFLET

Information for parents and carers of children.

Your child’s Augmentin comes in a bottle containing 100 ml of an off-white liquid mixture called a suspension.

The active ingredient in this medicine is amoxicillin. This is the new name for amoxycillin. The ingredient itself has not changed.

WHAT IS AUGMENTIN?

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

BEFORE GIVING YOUR CHILD AUGMENTIN

HOW TO GIVE AUGMENTIN TO YOUR CHILD

Augmentin 125/31 SF Suspension is recommended for children under six years. The usual dose is one spoonful (5 ml) of medicine three times a day for children between the ages of one and six years. For children under one, the dose is worked out using the child’s weight. For example, if your child weighed 7.5 kg, they would need 2 ml of the medicine three times a day. Your doctor will tell you how much medicine your child should take each day. The doctor’s instructions are also on the label of the bottle, so read it carefully. Shake the bottle well before giving each dose. If you have any questions about Augmentin talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

For the best results, give your child Augmentin just before meals.

Try to give this medicine as part of the daily routine – for example at mealtimes.

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

 

Try not to give your child more than one dose every four hours and never give two doses within one 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.

It’s now much easier to give medicines to children thanks to a new syringe designed for infants. It will help you give your child the right dose. Or the chemist may give you a spoon. If the chemist has given you a syringe, follow these simple rules.

• 1 Shake the bottle well before removing the cap. Then put the rubber bung in the bottle.
• 2 Squeeze the syringe tip into the bung. Use the syringe to measure out the right dose.
• 3 Put the syringe tip into your baby’s mouth and drip the medicine in gently. Don’t hurry your child, allow time for him or her to swallow the medicine slowly.
• 4 After each dose, sterilise the syringe as you would do for the baby’s bottle. When you have finished, put the bottle and syringe somewhere safe, out of the reach of children.

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

You should not give your child this product beyond two weeks without seeing your doctor again first.

Never give more than the recommended dose each day.

INFORMATION ON POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS

This medicine can sometimes give your child an upset stomach or diarrhoea. If this happens, the symptoms are usually mild and you may prevent them by giving your child each dose just before meals.

Some people get a rash when they take antibiotics. If your child starts to itch or gets a rash, stop giving Augmentin and tell your doctor at once. Other side effects include swollen face and breathing problems. But these are extremely rare. Tell your doctor straight away if you notice these symptoms.

Some children may get thrush (a yeast infection of the mouth, vagina or skin folds) during treatment or soon after. You can get treatments for thrush from your doctor or pharmacist.

Rarely, some children may get slight yellow/brown staining of the teeth. Such staining usually disappears shortly after treatment if teeth are brushed regularly.

Very rarely, some people experience hyperactivity, dizziness, headache and convulsions. These symptoms are reversible.

Very rarely, this medicine may form crystals in the urine (usually only visible under a microscope) which may be characterised by cloudy urine or by difficulty/discomfort in passing urine. You should drink plenty of fluids (such as water and non-alcoholic and non-caffeine containing drinks) to reduce the chance of these symptoms.

Remind your doctor if your child is having blood tests, because Augmentin sometimes causes short-term changes in blood cell counts.

As with most medicines, Augmentin can sometimes cause rare and serious reactions. See your doctor straight away if:

• your child gets severe diarrhoea with bleeding;
• you notice your child’s urine becoming darker or faeces (otherwise known as poo) becoming paler;

or

• you notice your child’s skin or the whites of your child’s eyes turning yellow.

Some of these reactions can be delayed for several weeks after finishing the treatment.

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

STORING AUGMENTIN

• Don’t use this medicine if the expiry date printed on the label has passed. If any medicine is left after seven days return it to your pharmacist.
• Store the medicine in a refrigerator (but do not freeze it). Keep all medicines well out of the reach of children.

If your doctor asks you to stop giving this medicine, or if for any other reason there is 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 child’s.

Put this leaflet somewhere safe until your child has finished taking all the medicine.