Medical expert of the article
New publications
Preparations
Amoxiclav during pregnancy
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
Amoxiclav during pregnancy is often prescribed for women with a serious bacterial infection. But is it possible to take antibiotics in such a case and will it not hurt the baby. To understand these issues, you need to know some features of the action of this drug.
Is it possible to have Amoxiclav during pregnancy?
Any woman knows that taking medicines during pregnancy can harm her future baby. Pregnant women always doubt whether they should take any medication or not while in this condition. In general, women are advised to avoid medication in the early days of pregnancy, even some relatively mild pain killers, such as aspirin or ibuprofen. Antibiotics are usually not prescribed during pregnancy. Antibiotics are prescribed to pregnant women only when the potential benefits outweigh the possible risks. However, some antibiotics are safe to take them during pregnancy, while others are not. Safety depends on various factors, including the type of antibiotic, the duration of pregnancy on which you take the antibiotic, how much you take, what consequences it can have in pregnancy and how long the course of treatment lasts.
The question of whether to prescribe a course of antibiotics to a pregnant woman is a dilemma. In appropriate circumstances, such as treating asymptomatic bacteriuria to prevent ascending infection and adverse pregnancy outcomes associated with pyelonephritis, antibiotic therapy can be effective and rescue. As with the use of other drugs, potential benefits need to be assessed with a risk to the fetus. It is known that some antibiotics are teratogenic, and they should be avoided completely during pregnancy. These include Streptomycin and Kanamycin (which can cause hearing loss) and Tetracycline (which can lead to weakening, hypoplasia and discoloration of long bones and teeth). Amoxiclav can be taken by pregnant women, but it should be prescribed only during pregnancy, when it is necessary to clearly define the need for admission.
Penicillins, along with Cephalosporins, can be used in pregnancy if they are considered appropriate. The effects of Amoxiclav in any stage of pregnancy are usually not considered a medical basis for termination of pregnancy or any additional monitoring of the fetus. The available data do not provide any conclusive evidence of an increased risk of congenital malformations or fetal loss after maternal exposure to therapeutic doses of Amoxiclav. There is limited evidence of a possible association between the effects of Amoxiclav during pregnancy and adverse neonatal outcomes, such as cerebral palsy and necrotizing enterocolitis, but the results are not proven.
However, other risk factors may be present in individual cases, which may independently increase the risk of an adverse outcome of pregnancy. Therefore, in the first trimester, if there is no need to avoid antibiotics better.
Indications Amoxiclav
It is very important to use any antibiotic during pregnancy, including Amoxiclav, only for the doctor's prescription. Indications for antibiotic use are the treatment of confirmed infection (urinary tract infections, pyelonephritis, appendicitis, cholecystitis, chorioamnionitis), prevention of ascending infection (asymptomatic bacteriuria) and prevention of early neonatal sepsis. Amoxiclav is also commonly used to treat bacterial infections, such as sinusitis, pneumonia and bronchitis, which can be harmful to the baby if left untreated.
Amoxiclav during pregnancy planning can also be safely used if necessary, since there is no proven teratogenic effect of this drug. But untreated infections at the planning stage of pregnancy in the future can be a problem that will be difficult to solve.
Amoxiclav with E. Coli during pregnancy is used as one of the antibiotics of choice. This drug effectively inhibits the synthesis of lipids of the bacterium membrane, which leads to its death. Since E. Coli in infants can cause infections of the urinary tract, respiratory tract, it is necessary to treat this pathology even before the birth of the child.
Amoxiclav in cystitis during pregnancy is the first choice, because it is very safe and effective. Often the cause of cystitis in the mother is the E. Coli, which is susceptible to the action of this antibiotic.
Monural and Amoxiclavus are used together when there is a suspicion of pyelonephritis. These drugs can be used in pregnancy, and in combination they lead to the death of the pathogen and prevent complications and the development of secondary pyelonephritis in pregnant women.
Release form
The form of the drug is convenient for taking any body weight of a pregnant woman. Amoxiclav tablets during pregnancy are convenient to dose, because there are forms of 500, 625, 875 and 1000 milligrams. The way of application and dose, considering that a pregnant woman can gain weight, it is better to count on the weight of the body of the mother. The average dose is 30 milligrams per kilogram of body weight. The intake of a daily dose should be divided into three times.
Pharmacodynamics
Pharmacodynamics of the drug is a double drug composition. Amoxiclav is a combined preparation containing a beta-lactam broad-spectrum antibiotic amoxicillin and an inhibitor of clavulanic acid beta-lactamase. Together, these substances contribute to the destruction of the wall of most Gram-positive bacteria, and some Gram-negative bacteria.
Pharmacokinetics
The pharmacokinetics of this antibiotic proves that the drug is very affordable after administration. Amoksiklav easily can be dissolved in all liquid media of the body, which allows you to quickly and effectively operate. After taking this antibiotic, its concentration rises, and it becomes available for action during the first hour. The drug binds poorly to blood proteins, so its effect does not exceed eight hours. This requires a triple application of the drug throughout the day.
Dosing and administration
Amoxiclav intravenously in a dropper during pregnancy can begin to act faster, which can be important for severe bacterial infections that need to be treated in a hospital. An intravenous method of treatment leads to a more rapid increase in the level of the drug in the blood, and this in turn to a rapid action.
Use during pregnancy is safe and permitted if the benefit and need for the drug is greater than the risk. Harmful effects were not recorded during pregnancy on animals.
Amoxiclav in the early stages of pregnancy, if possible, should not be used. This is the period of development of the fetal structure and, therefore, this is the highest risk for iatrogenic teratogenicity. Many studies have shown that Amoxiclav during pregnancy in 1 trimester does not carry an increased risk of damage to the fetus. One study, in which Amoxiclav was administered during pregnancy in the 2nd and 3rd trimester, showed no evidence of any harmful effects on the fetus.
The effects of Amoxiclav during pregnancy are not proven, but there are suggestions of an increased risk of necrotizing enterocolitis in newborns if Amoxiclav is prophylactically given to women with premature rupture of membranes.
Side effects Amoxiclav
Side effects are more often manifested, as a decrease in non-pathogenic bacteria and reproduction of fungal infection with the development of lesions of mucous membranes, skin and intestines. There may be inhibitory effects on the hematopoiesis system, as well as immune responses such as angioedema.
[18]
Overdose
Overdose can be manifested by nausea, vomiting, disturbances in water metabolism, and also influence on the fetus with a greater probability than the correct dosage. Possible risks may depend on the dose of the drug and the conditions in which it is used. Therefore, it is important that you follow the dosage recommended by your doctor, as an incorrect dosage or overdose can lead to serious complications.
Reviews and Analogues
Feedback from the drug is only positive, with regard to pregnancy and possible consequences. The effectiveness of the drug in the correct dose is high.
Analogues of this antibiotic is the complex drug Augmentin, which has a similar composition. Also an analogue can be considered ordinary Ampicillin, which is not protected by clavulanate. This can affect the effectiveness of the drug and its dosage. Applying Amoxicillin or Amoxiclav is decided by the doctor. On the one hand, Amoxiclav is protected from the action of bacterial defense mechanisms, but on the other hand, clavulanate can cause stool disorders in the mother. Amoxicillin is less effective against some bacteria, but it has less effect on the intestines. Therefore, the question of antibiotic therapy is decided strictly individually.
The use of antibiotics in pregnancy is sometimes extremely necessary. But, despite this, there are groups of antibiotics that do not have proven bad effects on the fetus, so they are used in pregnancy. Amoxiclav is included in the group of such medicines, so it can be used if necessary.
Attention!
To simplify the perception of information, this instruction for use of the drug "Amoxiclav during pregnancy" translated and presented in a special form on the basis of the official instructions for medical use of the drug. Before use read the annotation that came directly to medicines.
Description provided for informational purposes and is not a guide to self-healing. The need for this drug, the purpose of the treatment regimen, methods and dose of the drug is determined solely by the attending physician. Self-medication is dangerous for your health.