Patient leaflet - Co-amoxiclav 250 mg / 125 mg film-coated tablets
1. WHAT CO-AMOXICLAV 250 MG/125 MG FILM-COATED TABLETS ARE AND WHAT THEY ARE USED FOR
Co-Amoxiclav 250mg/125mg film-coated tablets are an antibiotic and work 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 250mg/125mg film-coated tablets are 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 250 MG/125 MG FILM-COATED TABLETS
Do not take Co-Amoxiclav :
- if you are allergic (hypersensitive) to 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 if you:
- 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
Co-Amoxiclav 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 Co-Amoxiclav, 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 Co-Amoxiclav can affect the results of these types of tests.
Other medicines and Co-Amoxiclav
Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are using, have recently used, or might use any other medicines.
- If you are taking allopurinol (used for gout) with your 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 your 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 and breast-feeding and fertility
If you are pregnant, or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby please ask your doctor or pharmacist
for advice before taking this medicine.
Driving and using machines
Co-Amoxiclav can have side effects and the symptoms may make you unfit to drive. Don’t drive or operate machinery unless you are feeling well.
Important information about some of the ingredients in Co-Amoxiclav
- This medicine contains 0.63mmol (24.5mg) potassium per tablet, therefore, it may not be suitable if you are on a controlled potassium diet or you have reduced kidney function. Check with your doctor if you are unsure about this.
3. HOW TO TAKE YOUR 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 is:
- 1 tablet three times a day
Children weighing less than 40 kg
Children aged 6 years or less should preferably be treated with Co- Amoxiclav oral suspension. Co-Amoxiclav tablets are not recommended.
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 your Co-Amoxiclav
Take with a meal.
- Swallow the tablets whole with a glass of water at the start of a meal or slightly before.
- Space the doses evenly during the day, at least 4 hours apart. Do not take 2 doses in 1 hour.
- Do not take your medicine for more than 2 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 about 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 product, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
4. POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
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 mouth (angioedema), causing difficulty in breathing
- collapse
- chest pain in the context of allergic reactions, which may be a symptom of allergy triggered cardiac infarction (Kounis syndrome)
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.
Acute inflammation of the pancreas (acute pancreatitis)
If you have severe and on-going pain in the stomach area this could be a sign of acute pancreatitis.
Drug-induced enterocolitis syndrome (DIES):
DIES has been reported mainly in children receiving amoxicillin/clavulanate. It is a certain kind of allergic reaction with the leading symptom of repetitive vomiting (1-4 hours after drug use). Further symptoms could comprise abdominal pain, lethargy, diarrhoea and low blood pressure.
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).
Common side effects
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 membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord (aseptic meningitis)
- Serious skin reactions:
- 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)
- widespread red skin rash with small pus-containing blisters (bullous exfoliative dermatitis)#
- a red, scaly rash with bumps under the skin and blisters (exanthemous pustulosis).
- 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)).
- a red rash commonly seen on both sides of buttocks, upper inner thighs, armpits, neck (Symmetrical Drug-Related Intertriginous and Flexural Exanthema (SDRIFE)).
Contact a doctor immediately if you get any of these symptoms.
- rash with blisters arranged in a circle with central crusting or like a string of pearls (linear IgA disease)
- 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 leading to acute kidney injury
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. Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the 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 YOUR CO-AMOXICLAV
- Keep out of the reach and sight of children.
- Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
- Do not store above 25° C. Keep the tablets in the original packaging.
- Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required.
- These measures will help to protect the environment.
6. CONTENTS OF THE PACK AND OTHER INFORMATION
What Co-Amoxiclav contains
- The active substances are: amoxicillin (as trihydrate) 250 mg; clavulanic acid (as potassium clavulanate) 125 mg.
- The other ingredients are microcrystalline cellulose (E460), sodium starch glycollate, magnesium stearate (E572), colloidal silica anhydrous.
- The film-coating contains: hypromellose (E464), titanium dioxide (E171), propylene glycol, ethylcellulose.
What Co-Amoxiclav looks like and contents of the pack
Co-Amoxiclav 250mg/125mg film-coated tablets are white capsule shaped film-coated tablets. Co-Amoxiclav comes either in a blister pack of 21 tablets or as a white plastic bottle with a white pilfer proof polypropylene screw cap with a desiccant capsule, containing 21 tablets.
Marketing Authorisation Holder and manufacturer
Hikma Farmaceutica (Portugal) S.A., Estrada do Rio da Mo, Nº8, 8A e 8B, Fervenca, 2705-906 Terrugem SNT, Portugal.
Manufacturer
Infosaúde – Instituto de Formação e Inovação em Saúde Unipessoal, Lda. Rua das Ferrarias Del Rei, n.°6, Urbanização da Fãbrica da Pólvora, Barcarena, 2730-269, Portugal
Distributed by:
Consilient Health (UK) Ltd., No.1 Church Road, Richmond upon Thames, Surrey. TW9 2QE.
This leaflet was last revised in 12/2025
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 prevent the emergence of resistant bacteria that could stop the antibiotic working.
- 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.
- 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 which it was prescribed.
- 3. You should not take antibiotics that have been prescribed for other people even if they had an infection that was similar to yours.
- 4. You should not give antibiotics that were prescribed for you to other people.
- 5. If you have any antibiotic left over when you have taken the course as directed by your doctor you should take the remainder to a pharmacy for appropriate disposal.