Augmentin for sore throat

With the arrival of the autumn dampness and cold weather, the medical records of many of us are replenished with new records. Most diagnoses sound like “ARVI” or “ORZ”, and behind these words are respiratory infections (viral and bacterial). One of the leading places among colds is a sore throat with its excruciating sore throat and high fever. But the appearance of these symptoms is not accidental. Pain is the result of an inflammatory process triggered by an infection that has got into the respiratory tract, and fever is an indicator of the body's struggle against pathogens (a symptom is useful until the temperature reaches critical values, which is characteristic of angina). It is believed that "Augmentin" with angina helps to remove both unpleasant symptoms and significantly alleviate the patient's condition. But since the named drug belongs to potent antimicrobial agents (antibiotics), it should be prescribed with extreme caution.

Treatment of angina with antibiotics

Angina, also known as acute tonsillitis, is an inflammatory disease of the throat, which mainly affects the tonsils (most often, the tonsils are affected). When swallowing, the increased in size inflammatory formations become quite painful, while the diameter of the pharyngeal ring decreases, creating an obstacle to the passage of food.

But why are the tonsils inflamed? In most cases, the cause of the sore throat is an infection (streptococcal, staphylococcal, less often any other). It must be said that in more than 90% of cases a bacterial infection becomes the causative agent of the disease, and then  treatment of angina with antibiotics  can be considered justified. And since the overwhelming number of episodes of bacterial sore throat is associated with the popular coccal microflora (hemolytic streptococcus and Staphylococcus aureus, which provokes the development of purulent processes in the inflammatory tissues of the tonsils), doctors primarily turn to penicillin antibiotics.

Modern penicillins are considered one of the safest drugs, so they are prescribed to both adults and children, who experience sore throat more often due to an insufficiently formed immune system. After all, the amygdala - its important component. They delay the infection so that it cannot penetrate deeper into the respiratory tract and the digestive tract.

In the lymphoid tissue of the tonsils, lymphocytes and antibodies are formed that make pathogens inactive. But with the weakness of the immune system, the defense cells produced by it are not enough to prevent the reproduction of the infection. Further struggle leads to inflammation of the lymphoid tissue at the site of accumulation of pathogenic microorganisms, hence the pain and temperature.

It would seem that you often gargle with antiseptic solutions to remove the infection from the surface of the tonsils. But this method usually helps in the first days of the disease, until the infection multiplies. In the future, the tonsils themselves become a breeding ground for an infection that can penetrate the respiratory and digestive tracts, circulate through the lymphatic system, causing inflammation of the lymph nodes. This suggests the generalization (distribution) of the infection, which means that more serious measures are needed to eliminate it.

Antibiotics, penetrating into the blood and other body fluids, look for pathogens there and destroy them. But their effect extends only to bacteria, while they do not act on fungi, viruses, and some protozoa. Moreover, not having a selective effect, useful drugs can create an environment suitable for their reproduction, destroying also the bacteria that make up the beneficial microflora of the body.

Based on the foregoing, we can draw the following conclusions:

• "Augmentin" or other antibiotics for sore throat should be prescribed only if the bacterial nature of the pathogen is confirmed.
• Reception of antibiotics should be combined with a course of special preparations that help restore the beneficial microflora, which is also considered to be a component of our immunity.

Ideally, the type of pathogen should be determined by laboratory, which takes a long time, and the disease gets further development. Broad-spectrum antibiotics such as Augmentin, Amoxicillin, Ceftriaxone, Sumamed, Ofloxacin and others have activity against several types and strains of bacteria, which makes it possible to assist the patient in removing unpleasant and even dangerous symptoms, without waiting for test results.

But angina is terrible not only for its symptoms, but also for those complications that can occur if you do not start an effective treatment in time. This disease is one of the leaders in the number of various complications on the organs of hearing, heart, kidneys, etc.

But back to the most popular drugs, most often prescribed by doctors. Augmentin, Amoxiclav and Sumamed are a favorite trinity of drugs, to which therapists and pediatricians are especially indifferent. The first two drugs are antibiotics based on amoxicillin, which has proven itself in the treatment of respiratory bacterial infections with an insignificant incidence of side effects. And the third drug is usually prescribed to patients with individual sensitivity to penicillins (alas, this negative point is transmitted from penicillins from generation to generation).

Consider the treatment of angina with antibiotics of the penicillin series using the example of the popular drug Augmentin. But first, let us know more closely what is a drug with this name.

Indications Augmentin with tonsillitis

It must be said that a sore throat is only one of the diseases whose effective treatment is possible only with the help of antibiotics. Penicillin preparations, and in particular “Augmentin”, are often prescribed by doctors for various infectious pathologies of the respiratory tract. In addition to angina, these include sinusitis, pharyngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, etc. Prescribe the drug and with inflammation of the middle ear (otitis) of a bacterial nature. After all, the causative agent of this serious disease in most cases are also representatives of streptococci, hemophilus bacillus and some other pathogenic microorganisms sensitive to Augmentin.

But with the help of this antibiotic can be treated not only the respiratory system. Doctors have successfully used the penicillin preparation for the treatment of other parts and organs of our body: kidneys (pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis, etc.), bladder (cystitis), bones and joints (osteomyelitis), abdominal cavity (peritonitis), female genital systems, etc.

Prescribe the drug and with various skin diseases of an infectious nature, including abscesses, animal bites, inflammation of soft tissue and subcutaneous tissue. In other words, Augmentin can be prescribed for the pathology of any organ or system of the body if its bacterial nature is suspected (ideally, when confirming the presence of active microbes sensitive to amoxicillin in the body).

In angina, Augmentin is prescribed in most cases, given that almost all possible pathogens are highly sensitive to this antibiotic. The exceptions are rare cases of angina of a bacterial or fungal nature.

However, with catarrhal (superficial) sore throat, the use of antibiotics is unlikely to be justified. Here you can resort to the treatment of tonsils with antiseptics, which are not potent agents and are used externally. But the treatment of follicular or purulent tonsillitis without antibiotics is fraught with serious complications, because there is an active proliferation of bacteria, entailing severe tissue inflammation, and a likely generalization of the infection when it spreads through the body and lymph, affecting the heart, kidneys and other vital organs.

The characteristic symptoms of catarrhal sore throat are redness of the throat, hyperemia and swelling of the tonsils, pain when swallowing and temperature rise to febrile values (usually not higher than 38-38.5 degrees). But with purulent sore throats, you can see yellowish pustules or a whitish-gray patina in the throat, and the temperature can quickly rise to 39-40 degrees or more.

True, the presence of symptoms of bacterial tonsillitis is not at all a reason to take Augmentin without going to a doctor. To determine which particular drug is relevant in each particular case, this is the task of a specialist. Moreover, in case of a repeated disease, it is recommended to replace the antibiotic with another drug, preferably with a different active ingredient, in order to avoid the development of antibiotic resistance.

[1], [2], [3]

Release form

The drug Augmentin, so often prescribed for sore throat, is not accidentally considered one of the best antimicrobial drugs, because it is based on 2 highly effective active ingredients:

• Amoxicillin - a strong antibiotic with high activity against a variety of bacteria that cause serious infectious diseases and complications,
• Clavulanic acid is the most powerful inhibitor of beta-lactamase known to science, produced by some pathogenic microorganisms to deactivate beta-lactam antibiotics, which also include penicillins.

Thus, by creating this unique drug, scientists were able to achieve greater efficacy of amoxicillin against most strains of bacteria, including those that are capable of producing beta-lactamase. Augmentin, which appeared in the early 80s of the twentieth century, is the first drug in which the antibiotic was performed in combination with a beta-lactamase inhibitor (clavulanic acid). Later, other drugs with a combination came out on the market, which, however, does not detract from the value of Augmentin in the treatment of infectious diseases. And this is confirmed by many years of experience in its use.

In 1995, Augmentin was recognized as the “gold standard” among penicillin-type antibiotics and was recommended by the drug of choice for the treatment of various infections. And, despite the development of new effective drugs, even after many years in 2018, doctors prefer to resort to the help of this particular time-tested antibiotic.

Today "Augmentin" can be found on sale in various forms of release and dosages:

• pills:
  • Augmentin 875/125 (1000 mg) - a new, enhanced form of a known antibiotic with increased bactericidal action and prolonged action,
  • Augmentin 500/125 (625 mg) - standard dosage form for two to three times,
  • Augmentin 1000 / 62,5 prolonged action in a film shell.
• suspension, more precisely powder for its preparation:
  • Augmentin 200 / 28.5 mg (dosage per 5 ml of prepared suspension),
  • Augmentin 400/57 mg per 5 ml of suspension with double dosage of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid
• powder for preparing injection solution in vials containing 500 or 1000 mg of amoxicillin and respectively 100 or 200 mg of clavulanic acid (500/100 or 1000/200), which is used in case of severe or complicated course of angina.

An unusual indication of the dosage of tablets and powder is due to the fact that the preparation has 2 active components that are interconnected with each other, but only one of them has a therapeutic effect - the antibiotic amoxicillin. The first number in the name of the drug indicates the dosage of amoxicillin, so that the specialist can navigate, prescribing a specific treatment regimen and dosing regimen.

[4]

Pharmacodynamics

Appointment of any, and even more potent drug without knowing its pharmacological action has no basis and may even be dangerous. That is why an experienced doctor, like any interested person, has the opportunity to familiarize himself with such information, which is reflected in the instructions for use of the drugs attached to each package of drugs. Knowing the pharmacological action of the antibiotic, it is possible to correctly formulate the treatment of angina or other infections with maximum efficiency and minimal harm to the body.

Augmentin is a combination drug in which amoxicillin acts as a strong antimicrobial agent, and clavulanate protects the antibiotic from disintegration under the influence of beta-lactamase produced by some bacteria. Speaking about the effectiveness of "Augmentina", prescribed for angina or any other infection, implies the sensitivity of microorganisms to amoxicillin.

Staphylococcus aureus, representatives of streptococci, hemophilic bacilli and some other types of gram-positive and gram-negative aerobic and anaerobic bacteria that can provoke acute tonsillitis (sore throat) have proven to be the most sensitive to antibiotics in research. True, there is evidence of resistance to amoxicillin of individual strains of pneumococci, but these bacteria are more characteristic of pneumonia (pneumonia) than of sore throats (inflammation of the tonsils of the throat).

As for the action of an antimicrobial drug on bacteria susceptible to it, it is characterized as bactericidal, i.e. Antibiotic can cause the death of bacterial cells, destroying their protective protein coat. This action is characteristic of penicillins, including amoxicillin. Clavulanic acid has no clinically significant antibacterial action.

When prescribing the drug, it should be borne in mind that it remains inactive to methicillin-resistant bacterial strains that produce beta-lactamase. That is, there are a number of microorganisms that are not sensitive to the combination of amoxicillin with clavulanic acid.

[5], [6], [7], [8]

Pharmacokinetics

Regardless of the form of release of the drug, both of its active substances are rather rapidly absorbed into the blood from the gastrointestinal tract during internal drug intake. It is believed that the best time to take a medicine is to start a meal when the absorption of chemicals is maximum.

After absorption, amoxicillin in combination with clavulanic acid rapidly spreads to various tissues and media of the body. The situation with the distribution in the cerebrospinal fluid is slightly worse.

The active substances "Augmentina" in the treatment of angina or other infections can be determined in the composition of breast milk and penetrate the placental barrier.

Drug metabolism is carried out in the liver, and kidneys are involved in the removal of antibiotic substances, while part of clavulanic acid can also be eliminated through the intestines with feces. Correction of the dose and frequency of use is therefore required for such categories of patients as the elderly, patients with insufficiency of the liver and kidneys.

"Augmentin" for angina in adults without the above problems is usually used in the standard dosage. Children's dosage and frequency of administration of the drug depends on the age and weight of the child.

[9], [10],

Dosing and administration

"Augmentin" for angina in adult patients can be used in any form of release. Most often, pills are prescribed, and in severe cases of the disease - injections with the transition to peroral medication, as soon as the symptoms of the disease subside. Suspension may be prescribed if for some reason the patient cannot swallow the pill, but at the same time it is necessary to take into account the lower dosages of the prepared medication.

Tablets dosage 825/125 mg. It is prescribed to patients with a weight of more than 40 kg at a dosage of 1750/250 mg per day, i.e. In the amount of 2 tablets per day with an interval of not more than 12 hours.

If these tablets are used to treat children and adolescents weighing from 25 to 40 kg, then you need to adhere to such a dose, which will be 25-45 mg of amoxicillin and, accordingly, 3.6-6.4 mg of clavulanic acid per kilogram of baby weight per day.

Tablets dosage of 500/125 mg. This variant of the drug is prescribed to adult patients three times a day, 1 tablet.

In the application of such a dosage form for the treatment of children and adolescents weighing 25-45 kg, the instruction recommends adhering to the dosage rules: 20-60 mg of amoxicillin and 5-15 mg of clavulanic acid per kilogram of baby weight per day.

Due to the fact that it is not recommended to divide the “Augmentin” tablets, it is not advisable to use them in the treatment of children with a body weight less than 25 kg.

Tablets of the prolonged action of 1000 / 62,5 mg. They are prescribed to patients older than 16 years. The recommended dose of Augmentin SP for sore throat is 2 tablets twice a day.

These tablets have a fracture line to facilitate swallowing.

Powder for the preparation of oral suspension. This form of the drug can be called infant, because it is convenient to use for kids of any age and has a lower dosage compared with pills. It is intended for internal use (oral route of administration). In this case, it is recommended to take the suspension during a meal in order to reduce the likelihood of possible gastrointestinal intolerance.

For the treatment of patients weighing up to 40 kg, both types of suspension with a dosage of 200 and 400 mg of antibiotic can be used.

Calculation of safe and effective dosage is carried out based on the ratio of the recommended dose and the weight of the child:

• if the baby’s body weight is less than 4 kg, the suspension is given on the basis of a ratio of 25 mg of amoxicillin and 5 mg of clavulanic acid per kilogram of weight of a child with an interval of 12 hours,
• with a body weight of 4 to 40 kg, the drug at a dosage of 25-45 mg of amoxicillin is given twice a day every 12 hours (or 25 mg / 3.6 mg three times a day, the interval between doses will be 8 hours)

The maximum dosage in the treatment of children up to 2 years old "Augmentin 400" should not be more than 45 mg of amoxicillin per kilogram of child weight per day. For severely complicated infections, children over 2 years of age can be given no more than 70/10 mg of the drug per day per kilogram of body weight per day.

For younger children, the Augmentin 200 suspension form is recommended. At the same time it is very important that the specialist prescribed the effective dosage of the drug, and not the parents according to their experience and discretion.

Preparation of the suspension does not cause much difficulty. The powder for its preparation is in bottles, on which there is a mark to what level you need to add boiled cool water. First, it is recommended to shake the dry powder, then add water to it to the level of the bottom mark, and then shake it again to dissolve the powder. Now add water to the upper black stripe with an arrow and shake it further to evenly mix the liquid with the dissolved powder.

The volume of the suspension prepared in this way is 70 ml. With the help of the enclosed measuring cap or syringe (it is more convenient to measure small volumes used in the treatment of newborns) it measures the necessary drug rate for each age (weight). In this case, do not forget to shake the bottle before each use to raise the sediment.

If we are talking about the treatment of children under 2 years old, the finished suspension can be given to a child diluted with water 1: 1 to soften the taste of the medicine.

The important question is, how much should Augmentin drink for sore throat? Usually, the drug is prescribed to be taken within 7 days, but if necessary, the course of treatment with an antibiotic can be extended to 2 weeks, provided that the probiotics are taken in parallel.

The powder used in solutions for injection and infusion. The standard dose of the solution, injected (as an injection) for patients weighing more than 40 kg, contains 1000 mg of amoxicillin and 200 mg of clavulanic acid and is used with an interval of 8 hours. Dosage for children whose weight has not reached 40 kg is calculated by analogy with the suspension for oral use.

It is possible to apply Augmentin's solution only intravenously in the form of pricks (injection) or droppers (infusion). Intramuscular administration of the drug is unacceptable. In therapy for babies up to 3 months of age, only infusion therapy is practiced.

The injection solution is prepared by dissolving the powder in water for injection. “Augmentin 500/100 mg” is dissolved in 10 ml of water for injection, and the preparation with a dosage of 1000/200 mg - in 20 ml.

An infusion solution is prepared on the basis of the injection composition, mixing, respectively, with 50 ml (for the Augmentin dosage form 500/100 mg) or 100 ml (for the form in which the ratio of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid is indicated as 1000/200 mg) of the infusion composition. As an intravenous (infusion) solution can be water for injection, saline, solutions of Ringer and Hartman, combining a saline solution with a 0.3% solution of potassium chloride.

Freshly prepared solution for droppers is recommended to use immediately, despite the fact that it can maintain its stability for 2-3 hours. The recommended duration of infusion is 30-40 minutes.

The duration of injection treatment is determined by the doctor, but usually it does not exceed 5-7 days.

[17]

Use Augmentin with tonsillitis during pregnancy

Studies of peroral forms of the drug "Augmentin" on animals showed no signs of the terra-geneic effect of its active substances on the fetus, i.e. No negative effect on the development of the fetus. Similar studies on pregnant women with premature rupture of the membranes of the ovum showed some risk for the development of severe bowel disease in newborns - necrotizing enterocolitis, fraught with organ perforation and peritonitis. Although in this case it is difficult to establish the relationship between taking an antibiotic and the development of the disease, because preterm labor itself is already a risk factor for this disease.

Nevertheless, doctors prefer not to take risks once again and prescribe "Augmentin" to expectant mothers with extreme caution, mainly in difficult situations when there is a serious danger to the life and health of the woman, avoiding such appointments in the first trimester of pregnancy.

“Augmentin” in case of purulent tonsillitis can also be prescribed to a nursing mother, but given the fact that both active substances can penetrate into breast milk, it is recommended to refrain from breastfeeding during the period of antibiotic therapy. This will help avoid possible childhood problems, such as diarrhea, allergic reactions or the development of thrush on the baby’s mucous membranes due to the death of the beneficial protective microflora.

[11], [12]

Contraindications

During pregnancy, there are no direct contraindications to the prescription of an antibiotic, but there are separate disorders in the body in which the use of Augmentin is considered undesirable. We are talking about the increased sensitivity of the patient to amoxicillin, clavulanic acid or auxiliary substances of a certain form of the drug.

"Augmentin" in case of sore throat and other infectious diseases is not prescribed in any case, if the patient has a history of serious anaphylactic reactions while taking Augmentin or other penicillins. It is also necessary to take care of those with hypersensitivity reactions after using other beta-lactams (cephalosporins, carbapenems, etc.).

Alertness is also caused by the presence in the patient's history of jaundice episodes or abnormalities in the liver, which were caused by taking amoxicillin and clavulanic acid.

“Augmentin” in case of purulent tonsillitis in a child, according to the instructions, can be prescribed from 2 months, which does not exclude his appointment even at an earlier age, if, according to the doctor, there is a need for this. The benefit of this form of release, as a suspension, provides ample opportunities for the use of antibiotic in the treatment of children of different ages.

Relative contraindications to the use of "Augmentin" can be considered infectious mononucleosis (with the appearance of cortex-like rash), acute generalized exematous pustus (its symptom may be the development of erythema multiforme in patients receiving amoxicillin), hepatitis, which can occur with antibiotic therapy when the load on the liver increases.

Antibiotic-associated colitis is considered to be a frequent consequence of antibiotic therapy, therefore, with the appearance of diarrhea in patients, treatment should be reviewed. The fact is that severe cases of colitis caused by taking antibiotics can be a danger to the health and life of patients, therefore, the development of severe forms of the disease cannot be allowed, stopping it in the germ itself.

[13], [14]

Side effects Augmentin with tonsillitis

Instructions for any drug in addition to information about contraindications to use contains information about unpleasant symptoms and disorders in the body that may occur during treatment. The fewer side effects of the drug and the lower the frequency of their occurrence, the safer is the drug.

Augmentin is considered to be a relatively safe antibiotic that, when used correctly in people without hypersensitivity to beta-lactams, does not cause serious harm to the body. The most common health disorders during its use are (according to patients) nausea, diarrhea and vomiting, i.e. Reactions from the gastrointestinal tract, which usually happens when using high doses. To reduce the negative impact of the antibiotic on the digestive system is possible by taking oral dosage forms with meals.

Although, using "Augmentin" for sore throat, it is not necessary to exclude the fact that some of the above symptoms may be manifestations of the disease itself due to irritation of the throat mucosa.

Another of the frequently occurring side effects of the drug is thrush (mucosal candidiasis), which occurs due to the destruction of the beneficial microflora of the body by the antibiotic. To avoid this trouble, it is enough during antibiotic therapy to take special medications that normalize microflora (probiotics), for example, Linex, Enterol, Bifidumbacterin, etc.

Other unpleasant symptoms and pathologies, such as violation of the composition and characteristics of the blood, dizziness and headaches, convulsions, aseptic meningitis, jaundice, hepatitis, nephritis, antibiotic-associated colitis, skin rashes, discoloration of teeth, allergic reactions, etc.. The frequency of occurrence of many symptoms is unknown, others occur with a small frequency. But in general, in the absence of hypersensitivity to the drug and its correct reception, treatment by most patients is well tolerated, without the appearance of unpleasant sensations and health disorders.

But with the appearance of any signs of an allergic reaction, the use of the drug should be urgently stopped. The fact is that severe allergic and anaphylactic reactions are characteristic of penicillins, which can lead to the death of the patient. In no case should Augmentin be taken or administered if there is information about drug hypersensitivity reactions that have occurred before, including those associated with taking other beta-lactams.

[15], [16]

Overdose

Regardless of the method of use of the drug "Augmentin" for sore throat or any other disease in which the doctor can prescribe this antibiotic, it is necessary to strictly follow the dosages recommended for each age and weight. Otherwise, doctors do not exclude such an unpleasant phenomenon as an overdose of the drug.

A state of overdose with symptoms of the gastrointestinal tract, as well as changes in water and electrolyte balance, which can lead to the appearance of other unpleasant symptoms, such as edema, high thirst, convulsions, muscle atony, changes in heart rhythm, etc.

Cases of the development of amoxicillin crystalluria have also been noted when the antibiotic is deposited in the kidneys in the form of stones, which can cause renal failure. On this basis, seizures may occur, typical of patients with severely impaired renal function.

An identical situation can be observed in those who take high doses of the drug.

All the above symptoms are treated with appropriate drugs and methods, paying great attention to the restoration of water-salt balance in the body. In severe cases of overdose and with kidney disease, doctors may resort to hemodialysis, which allows you to quickly remove amoxicillin from the patient and reduce its negative effect on the kidneys.

[18], [19], [20], [21], [22]

Interactions with other drugs

Augmentin belongs to the category of potent drugs, so its combination with other drugs can have quite unpleasant consequences.

Thus, the combination of amoxicillin-clavulanic acid complex and probenecid, used in the treatment of gout for the removal of uric acid, can lead to the accumulation of amoxicillin in the body, which is manifested by symptoms of overdose.

Allopurinol is another anti-arthritic drug, the use of which, together with Augmentin, casts doubt on the safety of such a combination. The fact is that the combination of alopurinol with amoxicillin increases the likelihood of allergic reactions. In this case, it is recommended to reconsider the possibilities of combined treatment.

In angina in patients taking anticoagulants (warfarin, acenocoumarol), "Augmentin" should be prescribed with caution, because such a combination can affect prothrombin time (further reduce blood clotting, which increases the risk of bleeding). Therefore, monitoring of the blood condition is necessary, and, if necessary, dose adjustment of the prescribed drugs.

The combination of Augmentina as a representative of penicillins and methotrexate used in the treatment of oncological diseases, benign tumors, severe psoriasis, can lead to an increase in the blood content of the latter, which enhances its toxic effect on the patient's body.

Augmentin can reduce the predose concentration of the active metabolite of the cytostatic agent Mycophenolate Mofetil, which must be remembered while administering medications.

"Agmentin", like any other antibiotic, can have a negative effect on the intestinal microflora, where the absorption of the active components of many oral medications occurs. In this regard, we can expect a decrease in the effectiveness of oral contraceptives, which should also be considered when treating sore throats or other infectious diseases with antibiotics. In this case, it is worth considering other contraceptive options in order to reduce the risk of unwanted (especially during this period) pregnancy.

"Augmentin" for intravenous use is unacceptable to mix with aminoglycosides, because it reduces the effectiveness of the latter.

Also, the antibiotic is not recommended to be mixed with blood products and other protein-containing liquids, as well as with fat emulsions that are administered intravenously.

Storage conditions

Applying "Augmentin" for sore throat or other infectious pathologies, it is necessary to pay attention to the date of release of the drug to determine its suitability and safety. The fact is that most of the drugs after the expiration of the storage period partially or completely lose their medicinal properties, and some may even cause severe poisoning.

Ordinary tablets "Augmentin" 825/125 mg and 500/125 mg have a shelf life of 3 years. Other forms of the drug, including the composition for the preparation of suspensions used for intravenous formulations, can be stored no more than two years before the first opening of the package.

The finished oral suspension can be stored for up to 7 days, and the solution for intravenous infusions - no more than 2-3 hours. The injection solution is suitable for use for only 20 minutes, so you should not prepare it in reserve.

Store medication is recommended at room temperature up to 25 degrees. But the prepared oral suspension will need to be cooled. The optimum temperature for its storage is 2-8 degrees, which corresponds to the conditions of the refrigerator.

[23], [24], [25], [26], [27]

What to do if Augmentin does not help with angina?

The body of each person is unique, so those drugs that help some patients may not have a noticeable therapeutic effect on others. This does not mean that the prescribed drug is bad or there was a fake on the market. Sometimes another drug that is similar in composition is more preferable due to the characteristics of the patient.

So what to do if the prescribed drug does not help pacify the infection and relieve the unpleasant symptoms of angina? There is such a thing as analogs. This word is called drugs that are similar in composition or action.

Amoxicillin (analogs of Amoksil, Flemoxin Soljutab) is considered to be an incomplete analogue of Augmentina in case of angina. But without the addition of clavulanic acid, the antibiotic can be destroyed by enzymes produced by certain varieties of pathogenic microorganisms. In this case, again, we face the ineffectiveness of the drug. However, when detecting amoxicillin-sensitive strains in the body (during PRC analysis), the drug without clavulanic acid is considered even more preferable, since the risk of allergic reactions is lower in this case.

The most popular complete analogue of Augmentin is considered to be Amoxiclav. This preparation also contains the complex "amoxicillin-clavulanic acid" and differs only in auxiliary components and the taste of the suspension.

"Amoxiclav" can be found on the shelves of pharmacies in the form of tablets with a dosage of 250, 500 or 875 mg in a complex with 125 mg of clavulanic acid (with or without a film jacket), as well as instant tablets of Amoxiclav Quiktab (825/125 mg). There are 3 variants of the powder from which an oral suspension is prepared containing 125, 250 or 500 mg of amoxicillin, as well as 2 types of medicinal composition for preparing an intravenous solution of 500 and 100 mg of amoxicillin.

As we see, in the absence of the drug "Augmentin" in the pharmacy, it is possible to replace it with "Amoxiclav" in the absence of intolerance to the main and auxiliary components of the drug. Although the drugs have a similar composition, their effectiveness in different people may vary.

Analogues of Augmentin from the penicillin series with other active substances in sore throat are prescribed less frequently, since amoxicillin has the widest spectrum of action and covers almost all pathogens of tonsillitis, which makes it possible to assign it even without waiting for the results of a special analysis (and often costly analysis does not ).

In some cases, the failure of Augmentin is explained by the fact that the patient has previously taken this drug (sometimes even unreasonably), and the microorganisms have decreased sensitivity to it. In this case, it is worth resorting to antibiotics with another active ingredient. And it does not necessarily have to be a penicillin-type drug.

In the case of severe forms of angina (purulent) in the absence of the effect of taking penicillin antibiotics, cephalosporin preparations can be prescribed. Their prominent representative is considered “Ceftriaxone”, produced in the form from which an injection solution is subsequently prepared, diluting with anesthetic. An antibiotic is administered for tonsillitis intramuscularly 1 time per day. Moreover, such treatment is shown even to newborns from the first days of life with the use of minimum doses sufficient to combat infection.

In the treatment of acute tonsillitis, doctors often resort to using antimicrobial agents from a number of macrolides, which are also famous for their minimal toxic effect on the body. One of the most popular drugs for sore throat is Sumamed with the active ingredient in the form of a bacteriostatic antibiotic azithromycin, which has dosage forms that are suitable for the treatment of both adults and children (tablets and suspension).

Despite the fact that the effect of the drug is not based on the destruction of the infection, but only on reducing the number of active microbial particles, that is, inhibiting its reproduction, the wide spectrum of the antibiotic's action allows for quite quickly and effectively stopping the development of the disease and leading to quick recovery. In case of hypersensitivity to penicillins and other beta-lactams, such treatment will be the most appropriate and safe.

Drug reviews

No matter how much the manufacturer praises his drug, and whatever its developers may argue, there are practically no drugs in the world that people would only respond to positively. Another thing is that some drugs, including Augmentin, have more positive reviews than negative ones, because they have helped the majority of patients quickly cure the infection and avoid unpleasant and dangerous complications.

Reviews show that most Augmentin analogs are not more or less effective. It all depends on the pathogen, the characteristics of the patient and those antimicrobials that the patient had previously taken. But, according to most doctors, the composition of the drug "Augmentin" is the most balanced, so the drug itself is prescribed more often than others.

High efficacy, affordable price and variety of medicinal forms of the drug, which allow using it to treat patients of any age, starting from the smallest, make Augmentin for angina with the drug of choice of many doctors. If there is a need to replace the drug, a specialist should again be prescribed, taking into account all the circumstances of the disease and the patient's history. Only in this case, the doctor can take responsibility for the outcome of treatment.

[28], [29], [30]