What is Augmentin (amoxicillin/clavulanate) used for?

Augmentin is a prescription oral medicine used to treat a wide variety of bacterial infections in many different parts of the body. This medicine does not treat viral infections like colds and flu.

How does Augmentin (amoxicillin/clavulanate) work?

Augmentin contains two antibiotics. The amoxicillin component prevents the bacteria from making a cell wall (protective covering) and, therefore, stops bacteria's growth. The clavulanic acid component is a beta-lactamase inhibitor - it prevents beta-lactamase-producing bacteria from destroying amoxicillin.

What are Augmentin (amoxicillin/clavulanate) doses?

Augmentin is available as tablets (250 mg/125 mg, 500 mg/125 mg, 875 mg/125 mg); chewable tablets (200 mg/28.5 mg, 400 mg/57 mg), extended release tablets (1000 mg/62.5 mg), and oral suspension (liquid) (125 mg/31.25 mg per 5 mL, 200 mg/28.5 mg per 5 mL, 250 mg/62.5 mg per5 mL, 400 mg/57 mg per 5 mL, 600 mg/42.9 mg / 5 mL).

The usual dose of Augmentin in adults is one 500-mg tablet every 12 hours or one 250-mg tablet every 8 hours. For more severe infections and infections of the respiratory tract, the dose is one 875-mg tablet of Augmentin every 12 hours or one 500-mg tablet of Augmentin every 8 hours. The length of treatment with Augmentin depends on the type of bacterial infection. Severe infections may require a longer treatment duration.

The dose in children who weigh less than 40 kg is based on body weight. Ask your child’s healthcare professional about the appropriate Augmentin dose in pediatric patients.

Note that Augmentin tablets and chewable tablets are not interchangeable. This is because the 250-mg tablet and the 250-mg chewable tablet do not contain the same amount of clavulanic acid (potassium salt). The 250-mg tablet of Augmentin contains 125 mg of clavulanic acid, whereas the 250-mg chewable tablet contains 62.5 mg of clavulanic acid.