Humans are certainly not the only living organism living in this world. Beside animals, small organisms such as bacteria do live with humans, in fact, in humans. Do you know that only 1% of bacteria on the earth do cause diseases in humans? The countless number of bacterial infections do cause many symptoms in humans. These symptoms might seem similar in different medical conditions. There are more than 100 antibiotics available to treat bacterial infection. This big number of antibiotics availability should make a person be careful to not use antibiotics without a doctor’s prescription. Hence, it is important to get medical advice when a person suspects themselves with infection. This helps the person get the right treatment. Common antibiotics such as Augmentin 625 mg should only be used with doctor’s prescriptions.
Augmentin contains two active ingredients, amoxicillin and clavulanic acid. This combination makes Augmentin a strong antibiotic as it helps to eradicate many infections compared to amoxicillin alone. Augmentin is also considered as a broad-spectrum antibiotic. Augmentin is classified under penicillin drug class. The way Augmentin works is by inhibiting the ability of the bacteria from forming walls that cover the bacteria from antibiotics. This means Augmentin destroys the ability of the bacteria to protect itself from the action of antibiotics.
Augmentin is used to treat many different types of bacterial infections including pneumonia, sinus infections, skin infections, bone and joint infections, urinary tract infections, genital infections and many more infections. Although Augmentin is deemed to be one of the powerful antibiotics available, it should not be used without prescription from doctors. It is important to use antibiotics as directed by doctors to avoid antibiotics resistance. Antibiotics resistance can be a big issue in the future and will need other antibiotics which can be either difficult or expensive to take and treat the diseases. Furthermore, antibiotic resistance leads to more days in hospital and increased mortality. Receiving antibiotics through doctor prescription is a sign that the doctor has already evaluated thorough health conditions and making sure the use or need for the antibiotics is met.
Is Augmentin 3 times a day? This is not an easy answer because this will depend on the dosage and indications. For example, the dose for Augmentin in children under the age of 12 or weighing less than 40 kg are calculated based on the dosage according to the respective body weight. It is recommended that children take Augmentin up to 80 mg per day and is divided into three doses which means taking Augmentin in an 8 hours interval per day. This makes 3 times a day of Augmentin. Another example for adults and children over 12 years with severe infections is one tablet every 12 hours which is 2 times a day. It is true that commonly Augmentin is taken 3 times a day but bear in mind the number may differ according to doctor’s instruction.
Medicine does provide a lot of benefits but comes with possible side effects that should be taken note with. Common side effects include upset stomach, diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting. If these side effects persist or become worse, do tell your doctor immediately and not immediately stop taking antibiotics unless you are told to do so by your doctor. If there are serious side effects such as allergic reaction, liver problems marked by yellowing skin or dark urine, spontaneous bleeding/bruising or extreme tiredness after taking Augmentin, patients need to get themselves to the emergency room immediately.
Apart from taking medicine according to dose and the number of times taking it in a day, there are other precautions that need to be paid close attention to such as what to avoid when taking Augmentin. Certain medicines may actually cause drug interaction when taken with Augmentin together. Medicine such as allopurinol and blood thinners is best avoided unless your doctor says otherwise. In general, when taking antibiotics including Augmentin, certain food and drink such as grapefruit and alcohol should be avoided as these may cause the antibiotics to not work properly or increase side effects. If you are taking supplements such as vitamins or herbs, you should let your doctor know before taking this Augmentin. If you already have other medical conditions such as allergic reaction towards antibiotics before, liver problems and kidney issues, remember to let your healthcare provider know before taking Augmentin. In short, if you are unsure if medical conditions you have and any food, drink, medicine or supplements you are taking will have effect with antibiotics such as Augmentin, it is best to let your doctors know and have discussion about it.
It can be concluded that Augmentin is a strong antibiotic that is typically taken for 3 times a day but may differ according to doctor’s advice. Do take antibiotics as instructed by doctors and make sure to finish the full antibiotic course. If there is any discomfort or unwanted symptoms after taking Augmentin, do let the healthcare provider know.
