Amoxiclav in pregnancy

Amoxiclav is often prescribed to women with serious bacterial infections during pregnancy. But can antibiotics be taken in this case and will it harm the baby? To understand these issues, you need to know some of the features of this drug.

Can Amoxiclav be used during pregnancy?

Any woman knows that taking medications during pregnancy can harm her unborn baby. Pregnant women are always hesitant about whether they should take any medications or not while in this condition. In general, women are advised to avoid medications during the early days of pregnancy, even some relatively mild painkillers such as aspirin or ibuprofen. Antibiotics are not usually 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 during pregnancy, while others are not. Safety depends on various factors, including the type of antibiotic, how far into pregnancy you are taking the antibiotic, how much you take, what possible effects it may have on pregnancy, and how long the course of treatment lasts.

The question of whether a course of antibiotics should be given to a pregnant woman is a dilemma. In appropriate circumstances, such as treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria to prevent ascending infection and adverse pregnancy outcomes associated with pyelonephritis, antibacterial therapy can be effective and life-saving. As with all drugs, the potential benefit must be weighed against the risk to the fetus. Some antibiotics are known to be teratogenic and should be avoided entirely during pregnancy. These include Streptomycin and Kanamycin (which can cause hearing loss) and Tetracycline (which can cause weakening, hypoplasia, and discoloration of long bones and teeth). Amoxiclav can be given to pregnant women but should only be prescribed during pregnancy when the need for it can be clearly defined.

Penicillins, along with Cephalosporins, may be used in pregnancy if considered appropriate. Exposure to Amoxiclav at any stage of pregnancy is not generally considered a medical basis for termination of pregnancy or any additional fetal monitoring. Available data do not provide any convincing evidence of an increased risk of congenital malformations or fetal loss following maternal exposure to therapeutic doses of Amoxiclav. There are limited data suggesting a possible association between Amoxiclav exposure during pregnancy and adverse neonatal outcomes such as cerebral palsy and necrotizing enterocolitis, however the results are inconclusive.

However, other risk factors may be present in individual cases that may independently increase the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Therefore, antibiotics should be avoided in the first trimester unless necessary.

Indications Amoxiclav

It is very important to use any antibiotic during pregnancy, including Amoxiclav, only as directed by your doctor. Indications for the antibiotic include 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 can also be safely used when planning a pregnancy if necessary, since there is no proven teratogenic effect of this drug. However, untreated infections at the stage of pregnancy planning can later become a problem that will be difficult to solve.

Amoxiclav is used as one of the antibiotics of choice for E. coli during pregnancy. This drug effectively inhibits the synthesis of lipids in the bacterial membrane, which leads to its death. Since E. coli in infants can cause urinary tract infections, respiratory tract infections, this pathology must be treated before the child is born.

Amoxiclav for cystitis during pregnancy is the drug of first choice, since it is very safe and effective. Often the cause of cystitis in the mother is E. coli, which is susceptible to the action of this antibiotic.

Monural and Amoxiclav are used together when there is a suspicion of pyelonephritis. These drugs can be used during pregnancy, and in combination they lead to the death of the pathogen and prevent complications and the development of secondary pyelonephritis in pregnant women.

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Release form

The form of the drug is convenient for taking at any body weight of the pregnant woman. Amoxiclav tablets during pregnancy are convenient to dose, since there are forms of 500, 625, 875 and 1000 milligrams. Method of administration and dosage, given that a pregnant woman can gain weight, it is better to calculate the mother's body weight. The average dose is 30 milligrams per kilogram of body weight. The daily dose should be divided into three times.

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Pharmacodynamics

The pharmacodynamics of the drug is in the dual composition of the drug. Amoxiclav is a combination drug containing a broad-spectrum beta-lactam antibiotic amoxicillin and a beta-lactamase inhibitor clavulanic acid. Together, these substances contribute to the destruction of the wall of most Gram-positive bacteria, and some Gram-negative ones.

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Pharmacokinetics

The pharmacokinetics of this antibiotic prove that the drug is very accessible after administration. Amoxiclav can easily dissolve in all body fluids, which allows it to act quickly and effectively. After taking this antibiotic, its concentration increases, and it becomes available for action within the first hour. The drug binds poorly to blood proteins, so its effect does not exceed eight hours. This requires three times a day to use the drug.

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Dosing and administration

Amoxiclav intravenously in a drip during pregnancy can begin to act faster, which can be important in severe bacterial infections that need to be treated in a hospital. The intravenous method of treatment leads to a faster increase in the level of the drug in the blood, and this in turn leads to a quick action.

Use during pregnancy is safe and permitted if the benefit and necessity of the drug outweigh the risk. No harmful effects have been reported in animal studies of pregnancy.

Amoxiclav should not be used in early pregnancy if possible. This is the period of fetal development and therefore the highest risk for iatrogenic teratogenicity. Many studies have shown that Amoxiclav does not carry an increased risk of fetal harm during the first trimester of pregnancy. One study that used Amoxiclav in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy found no evidence of any harmful effects on the fetus.

The effects of Amoxiclav use during pregnancy have not been proven, but there is some suggestion of an increased risk of necrotizing enterocolitis in neonates if Amoxiclav is given prophylactically to women with premature rupture of membranes.

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Contraindications

Contraindications for use are severe reactions of intolerance to this drug. Women who are allergic to penicillins should avoid using Amoxiclav. The drug is also contraindicated for women who have hepatitis or drug-induced liver damage after taking Amoxiclav.

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Side effects Amoxiclav

Side effects are most often manifested as a decrease in non-pathogenic bacteria and the proliferation of fungal infections with the development of lesions of the mucous membranes, skin and intestines. There may be inhibitory effects on the hematopoietic system, and immune reactions such as angioedema are also manifested.

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Overdose

Overdose may cause nausea, vomiting, fluid imbalances, and may also affect the fetus more likely than the correct dosage. Potential risks may depend on the dose of the medication and the conditions in which it is used. Therefore, it is important that you always follow the dosage recommended by your doctor, as incorrect dosage or overdose can lead to serious complications.

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Interactions with other drugs

Interactions with other drugs that can be taken during pregnancy have no clinical significance. If Amoxiclav is used outside of pregnancy, its effectiveness may decrease due to interactions with cytostatics.

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Storage conditions

The storage conditions of the drug and the expiration date are no different from those of other drugs. It should be stored in a cool, dark place. Do not use after the expiration date. The diluted injection drug cannot be stored for more than a day.

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Reviews and analogues

Reviews from taking the drug are only positive, regarding pregnancy and possible consequences. The effectiveness of the drug in the correct dose is high.

Analogues of this antibiotic are the complex drug Augmentin, which has a similar composition. Also, the usual Ampicillin, which is not protected by clavulanate, can be considered an analogue. This can affect the effectiveness of the drug and its dosage. The doctor decides whether to use Amoxicillin or Amoxiclav. 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 issue of antibacterial therapy is decided strictly individually.

The use of antibiotics during pregnancy is sometimes extremely necessary. But, despite this, there are groups of antibiotics that have no proven negative effect on the fetus, so they are used during pregnancy. Amoxiclav is included in the group of such medications, so it can be used if necessary.