Amoxicillin (Amoxil) Nursing Considerations

Hey guys, let’s talk about amoxicillin also known as Amoxil. This is an oral medication that comes in a pill or capsule form, like seen here in the picture, and also a suspension and powder for injection and infusion. Remember that the therapeutic class is what the drug does in the body. And the pharmacologic class is the actual chemical effect. Amoxicillin therapeutic class is an anti-infective and ulcer an anti-ulcer agent while the pharmacologic class is an aminopenicillin. So how does amoxicillin work? Well, it inhibits the synthesis of the bacterial cell wall, which leads to cell death. We use amoxicillin for skin and respiratory infections, sinusitis, endocarditis prophylaxis, and also Lyme disease. Some common side effects that we see with amoxicillin are nausea, diarrhea, which is thought to be because good bacteria is decreased along with the bad bacteria, as well as skin rash.

Okay. Let’s look at a few nursing considerations with amoxicillin, assess your patient for rash and anaphylaxis. Guys, this medication is contraindicated in patients who have a penicillin allergy. Amoxicillin may cause seizures. Amoxicillin is excreted by the kidney, so renal labs should be monitored. Teach your patient they should report diarrhea, bloody stools, and also a rash. So as a nurse, you’re going to see just how many people are allergic to penicillin or they’ve been told so, and this really changes the antibiotics that can be prescribed. So be sure to keep this in mind with amoxicillin, I probably see one out of four patients each day who say they have an allergy to amoxicillin. That’s it for amoxicillin or Amoxil. Now go out and be your best self today. And as always happy nursing.