Patient leaflet - CO-AMOXICLAV 250/125 MG FILM-COATED TABLETS
1. what co-amoxiclav is and what it is used for
The name of the medicine is Co-amoxiclav 250 mg/125 mg Film Coated Tablets. In the rest of this leaflet the medicine will be called Co-amoxiclav.
Co-amoxiclav is an antibiotic and works by killing bacteria that cause infections. It contains two different medicines called amoxicillin and clavulanic acid. Amoxicillin belongs to a group of medicines called ‘penicillins’ that can sometimes be stopped from working (made inactive). The other active component (clavulanic acid) stops this from happening.
Co-amoxiclav is used in adults and children to treat the following infections:
- Sinus infections
- Urinary tract infections
- Skin infections
- Dental infections.
2. what you need to know before you take co-amoxiclav
Do not take Co-amoxiclav:
- if you are allergic amoxicillin, clavulanic acid, penicillin or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
- if you have ever had a severe allergic (hypersensitive) reaction to any other antibiotic. This can include a skin rash or swelling of the
face or throat.
- if you have ever had liver problems or jaundice (yellowing of the skin) when taking an antibiotic.
Do not take Co-amoxiclav if any of the above apply to you.
If you are not sure, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Co-amoxiclav
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Co-amoxiclav
- Have glandular fever
- Are being treated for liver or kidney problems
- Are not passing water regularly
If you are not sure if any of the above apply to you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Co-amoxiclav.
In some cases, your doctor may investigate the type of bacteria that is causing your infection. Depending on the results, you may be given a different strength of Co-amoxiclav or a different medicine.
Conditions you need to look out for
Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid can make some existing conditions worse, or cause serious side effects. These include allergic reactions, convulsions (fits) and inflammation of the large intestine. You must look out for certain symptoms while you are taking amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, to reduce the risk of any problems. See ‘Conditions you need to look out for’ in Section 4.
Blood and urine tests
If you are having blood tests (such as red blood cell status tests or liver function tests) or urine tests (for glucose), let the doctor or nurse _____ know that you are taking Co-amoxiclav. This is because amoxicillin/clavulanic acid can affect the results of these types of tests.
Other medicines and Co-amoxiclav
----- Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines. This includes medicines that can be bought without a prescription and herbal medicines.
If you are taking allopurinol (used for gout) with Co-amoxiclav, it may be more likely that you’ll have an allergic skin reaction.
If you are taking probenecid (used for gout), your doctor may decide to adjust your dose of Co-amoxiclav.
If medicines to help stop blood clots (such as warfarin) are taken with Co-amoxiclav then extra blood tests may be needed.
Co-amoxiclav can affect how methotrexate (a medicine used to treat cancer or rheumatic diseases) works.
Co-amoxiclav may affect how mycophenolate mofetil (a medicine used to prevent the rejection of transplanted organs) works.
Pregnancy, breast-feeding and fertility
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking any medicine.
Driving and using machines =
Co-amoxiclav can have side effects and the symptoms may make you unfit to drive. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are feeling well.
Information on Sodium Content.
This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per tablet, that is to say essentially ‘sodium-free’.
3. how to take co-amoxiclav
Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
Adults and children weighing 40 kg and over
- The usual dose 1 tablet three times a day
Children weighing less than 40 kg
Co-amoxiclav are not recommended.
Children aged 6 years or less should preferably be treated with amoxicillin/clavulanic acid oral suspension or sachets. Co-amoxiclav tablets are not recommnded.
Patients with kidney and liver problems
- If you have kidney problems the dose might be changed. A different strength or a different medicine may be chosen by your doctor.
- If you have liver problems you may have more frequent blood tests to check how your liver is working.
How to take Co-amoxiclav
- Take with a meal
- Swallow the tablets whole with a glass of water.
- Space the doses evenly during the day, at least 4 hours apart. Do not take 2 doses in 1 hour.
- Do not take Co-amoxiclav for more than two weeks. If you still feel unwell you should go back to see the doctor.
If you take more Co-amoxiclav than you should
If you take too much Co-amoxiclav, signs might include an upset stomach (feeling sick, being sick or diarrhoea) or convulsions. Talk to your doctor as soon as possible. Take the medicine carton or bottle to show the doctor.
If you forget to take Co-amoxiclav
If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. You should not take the next dose too soon, but wait around 4 hours before taking the next dose.
Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose
If you stop taking Co-amoxiclav
Keep taking Co-amoxiclav until the treatment is finished, even if you feel better. You need every dose to help fight the infection. If some bacteria survive they can cause the infection to come back.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask you doctor or pharmacist.
4. possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. The side effects below may happen with this medicine.
Conditions you need to look out for
Allergic reactions:
- Skin rash
- Inflammation of blood vessels (vasculitis) which may be visible as red or purple raised spots on the skin, but can affect other parts of the body
- Fever, joint pain, swollen glands in the neck, armpit or groin
- Swelling, sometimes of the face or throat (angioedema), causing difficulty in breathing
- Collapse
Contact a doctor immediately if you get any of these symptoms.
Stop taking Co-amoxiclav.
Inflammation of large intestine
Inflammation of the large intestine, causing watery diarrhoea usually with blood and mucus, stomach pain and/or fever.
Contact your doctor as soon as possible for advice if you get these symptoms.
Very common side effects
These may affect more than 1 in 10 people
- ----- Diarrhoea (in adults)
These may affect up to 1 in 10 people
- Thrush (candida – a yeast infection of the vagina, mouth or skin folds)
- Feeling sick (nausea), especially when taking high doses
if affected take Co-amoxiclav with a meal.
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea (in children)
Uncommon side effects
These may affect up to 1 in 100 people
- Skin rash, itching
- Raised itchy rash (hives)
- Indigestion
- Dizziness
- Headache
Uncommon side effects that may show up in your blood tests:
- Increase in some substances (enzymes) produced by the liver.
Rare side effects
These may affect up to 1 in 1000 people
- Skin rash, which may blister, and looks like small targets (central dark spots surrounded by a paler area, with a dark ring around the edge – erythema multiforme)
If you notice any of these symptoms contact a doctor urgently.
Rare side effects that may show up in your blood tests:
- Low number of cells involved in blood clotting
- Low number of white blood cells.
Frequency not known
Frequency cannot be estimated from the available data.
- Allergic reactions (see above)
- Inflammation of the large intestine (see above)
- Inflammation of the protective membrane surrounding the brain (aseptic meningitis)
- Serious skin reactions:
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– A widespread rash with blisters and peeling skin, particularly around the mouth, nose, eyes and genitals (Stevens-Johnson syndrome ), and a more severe form, causing extensive peeling of the skin (more than 30% of the body surface – toxic epidermal necrolysis )
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– Widespread red skin rash with small pus-containing blisters (bullous exfoliative dermatitis )
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– A red, scaly rash with bumps under the skin and blisters (exanthemous pustulosis )
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– Flu-like symptoms with a rash, fever, swollen glands, and abnormal blood test results (including increased white blood cells (eosinophilia) and liver enzymes) (Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS))
Contact a doctor immediately if you get any of these symptoms.
- Inflammation of the liver (hepatitis)
- Jaundice, caused by increases in the blood of bilirubin (a substance produced in the liver) which may make your skin and whites of the eyes appear yellow
- Inflammation of tubes in the kidney
- Blood takes longer to clot
- Hyperactivity
- Convulsions (in people taking high doses of Co-amoxiclav or who have kidney problems)
- Black tongue which looks hairy
Side effects that may show up in your blood or urine tests:
- Severe reduction in the number of white blood cells
- Low number of red blood cells (haemolytic anaemia)
- Crystals in urine
If you get side effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if any of the side effects become severe or troublesome , or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet.
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at or search for MHA Yellow Card on Google Play or Apple App store. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. how to store co-amoxiclav
Do not store this medicine above 25° C. Store in the original package in order to protect from moisture
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton or blister after “EXP”. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.
6. contents of the pack and other information
What Co-amoxiclav 250 mg/125 mg Film-coated Tablets contains:
- The active substances are amoxicillin and clavulanic acid
- Each tablet contains amoxicillin trihydrate equivalent to 250 mg amoxicillin and potassium clavulanate equivalent to 125 mg clavulanic acid
- The other excipients are:
Tablet core: Microcrystalline cellulose (E460), crospovidone type A (E1202), croscarmellose sodium (E468), colloidal anhydrous silica (E551), magnesium stearate (E470b).
Film-coating: Basic butylated methacrylate copolymer, titanium dioxide (E171), talc (E553b), macrogol 6000.
What Co-amoxiclav 250 mg/125 mg Film-coated Tablets looks like and contents of the pack
White to off white oval film-coated tablet with score line on both sides. The score line is only to facilitate breaking for ease of swallowing and not to divide into equal doses.
OPA/Al/PVC-Al blisters: 4/5/6/10/12/14/16/18/20/21/24/30/36/42/48/54/60/66/72/78/84/90/96/100/500 Film-coated Tablets.
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Marketing Authorisation Holder
Torrent Pharma (UK) Ltd.
3rd Floor, Nexus Building,
-
4 Gatwick Road,
Crawley,
West Sussex,
RH10 9BG,
United Kingdom
Manufacturer(s) responsible for batch release in the EEA
Pencef Pharma GmbH
Breitenbachstrasse 13–14
13509 Berlin, Germany
This medicinal product is authorised in the Member States of the EEA under the following names:
UK: Co-amoxiclav 250 mg/125 mg Film-coated Tablets
This leaflet was last revised in month 04/2021
Advice/medical education
Antibiotics are used to treat infections caused by bacteria. They have no effect against infections caused by viruses.
Sometimes an infection caused by bacteria does not respond to a course of an antibiotic. One of the commonest reasons for this to occur is because the bacteria causing the infection are resistant to the antibiotic that is being taken. This means that they can survive and even multiply despite the antibiotic.
Bacteria can become resistant to antibiotics for many reasons. Using antibiotics carefully can help to reduce the chance of bacteria becoming resistant to them.
When your doctor prescribes a course of an antibiotic it is intended to treat only your current illness. Paying attention to the following advice will help to prevent the emergence of resistant bacteria that could stop the antibiotic working.
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1. It is very important that you take the antibiotic at the right dose, at the right times and for the right number of days. Read the instructions on the label and if you do not understand anything ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain.
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2. You should not take an antibiotic unless it has been prescribed specifically for you and you should use it only to treat the infection for which it was prescribed.
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3. You should not take antibiotics that have been prescribed for other people even if they had an infection that was similar to yours.
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4. You should not give antibiotics that were prescribed for you to other people.