Amoxicillin is an antibiotic that kills many different types of bacteria has become one of the most commonly prescribed antibiotics. While most people can take amoxicillin without incident, it is important to recognize the symptoms of amoxicillin allergies, which can be severe and deadly.
Function
Amoxicillin kills bacteria by inhibiting the bacteria's ability to build cell walls, which inhibits bacterial reproduction. Because the lifespan of an individual bacterial cell is relatively short, bacteria require high rates of reproduction to be infectious.
Features
Amoxicillin effectively kills many species of bacteria, including the beneficial bacteria that are found within the human gut. Naturally occurring bacteria are partially responsible for the water balance in the intestines. Without these bacteria (which disappear when taking amoxicillin), patients may experience diarrhea or other intestinal symptoms. Yeast infections can also occur when taking amoxicillin. When beneficial bacteria are killed, yeast cells (which are not harmed by the antibiotic) can occur.
Side effects
Amoxicillin may cause non-lethal side effects that disappear as soon as you finish taking the course of antibiotics. Things such as dizziness, nausea, jitters, skin rashes, or seizures can occur. Many times severe reactions are often preceded by less-severe reactions, it is important to inform your physician of any reactions you have to amoxicillin.
Severe allergic reactions can occur when taking amoxicillin. Some people will have difficulty breathing as the throat and airways constrict in response to amoxicillin. If not treated immediately, these reactions can result in death. Anaphylaxis can occur in approximately every one in 7,000 to 12,000 people.
Considerations
Amoxicillin is a derivative of penicillin. People allergic to penicillin will also likely demonstrate an allergy to amoxicillin. Sometimes individuals that are allergic to penicillin-derived antibiotics are related to other classes of antibiotics as well, so it is important to inform any physician of all antibiotic allergies.
Amoxicillin can make also birth control pills less effective.
Benefits
There are many benefits to using amoxicillin. Many bacterial infections are cured by taking this drug including Lyme's disease, gonorrhea, and pneumonia as well as common urinary tract infections and ear infections.
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