Treatment of infection: Amoxicillin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic indicated for the treatment of commonly- occurring bacterial infections such as:

• Acute bacterial sinusitis

• Acute otitis media

• Acute streptococcal tonsillitis and pharyngitis

• Acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis (AECB)/acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD)

• Community acquired pneumonia

• Acute cystitis

• Asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnancy

• Acute pyelonephritis

• Typhoid and paratyphoid fever

• Dental abscess with spreading cellulitis

• Prosthetic joint infections

• Helicobacter pylori eradication

• Lyme disease

Amoxil is also indicated for the prophylaxis of endocarditis.

Consideration should be given to official guidance on the appropriate use of antibacterial agents.

Posology

The dose of Amoxil that is selected to treat an individual infection should take into account:

• The expected pathogens and their likely susceptibility to antibacterial agents (see section 4.4)

• The severity and the site of the infection

• The age, weight and renal function of the patient; as shown below

The duration of therapy should be determined by the type of infection and the response of the patient and should generally be as short as possible. Some infections require longer periods of treatment (see section 4.4 regarding prolonged therapy).

Adults and children ≥ 40 kg

Children <40 kg

Elderly

No dose adjustment is considered necessary.

Renal impairment

In patients receiving haemodialysis

Amoxicillin may be removed from the circulation by haemodialysis.

In patients receiving peritoneal dialysis

Amoxicillin maximum 500 mg/day.

Hepatic impairment

Dose with caution and monitor hepatic function at regular intervals (see sections 4.4 and 4.8).

Method of administration

Amoxil capsules are for oral use.

Absorption of Amoxil capsules is unimpaired by food.

Therapy can be started parenterally according to the dosing recommendations of the intravenous formulation and continued with an oral preparation.

Swallow with water without opening capsule.

Capsules are not suitable for the treatment of patients who cannot swallow capsules due to the risk of going down the wrong way.

Other presentations are available, depending on the dosage, including oral presentations that can be used especially in patients who cannot swallow capsules.

Hypersensitivity to the active substance, to any of the penicillins or to any of the excipients listed in section 6.1.

History of a severe immediate hypersensitivity reaction (e.g. anaphylaxis) to another beta- lactam agent (e.g. a cephalosporin, carbapenem or monobactam).

Hypersensitivity reactions

Before initiating therapy with amoxicillin, careful enquiry should be made concerning previous hypersensitivity reactions to penicillins, cephalosporins or other beta-lactam agents (see sections 4.3 and 4.8).

Serious and occasionally fatal hypersensitivity reactions (including anaphylactoid and severe cutaneous adverse reactions) have been reported in patients receiving beta-lactam antibiotics (see section 4.3). These reactions are more likely to occur in individuals with a history of penicillin hypersensitivity and in atopic individuals. Hypersensitivity reactions can also progress to Kounis syndrome, a serious allergic reaction that can result in myocardial infarction. Presenting symptoms of such reactions can include chest pain occurring in association with an allergic reaction to amoxicillin (see section 4.8). If an allergic reaction occurs, amoxicillin therapy must be discontinued and appropriate alternative therapy instituted.

Drug-induced enterocolitis syndrome (DIES) has been reported mainly in children receiving amoxicillin (see section 4.8). DIES is an allergic reaction with the leading symptom of protracted vomiting (1-4 hours after drug <intake> <administration> <use>) in the absence of allergic skin or respiratory symptoms. Further symptoms could comprise abdominal pain, diarrhoea, hypotension or leucocytosis with neutrophilia. There have been severe cases including progression to shock.

Non-susceptible microorganisms

Amoxicillin is not suitable for the treatment of some types of infection unless the pathogen is already documented and known to be susceptible or there is a very high likelihood that the pathogen would be suitable for treatment with amoxicillin (see section 5.1). This particularly applies when considering the treatment of patients with urinary tract infections and severe infections of the ear, nose and throat.

Convulsions

Convulsions may occur in patients with impaired renal function or in those receiving high doses or in patients with predisposing factors (e.g. history of seizures, treated epilepsy or meningeal disorders (see section 4.8).

Renal impairment

In patients with renal impairment, the dose should be adjusted according to the degree of impairment (see section 4.2).

Skin reactions

The occurrence at the treatment initiation of a feverish generalised erythema associated with pustula may be a symptom of acute generalised exanthemous pustulosis (AGEP, see section 4.8). This reaction requires amoxicillin discontinuation and contra-indicates any subsequent administration.

Amoxicillin should be avoided if infectious mononucleosis is suspected since the occurrence of a morbilliform rash has been associated with this condition following the use of amoxicillin.

Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction

The Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction has been seen following amoxicillin treatment of Lyme disease (see section 4.8). It results directly from the bactericidal activity of amoxicillin on the causative bacteria of Lyme disease, the spirochaete Borrelia burgdorferi. Patients should be reassured that this is a common and usually self-limiting consequence of antibiotic treatment of Lyme disease.

Overgrowth of non-susceptible microorganisms

Prolonged use may occasionally result in overgrowth of non-susceptible organisms.

Antibiotic-associated colitis has been reported with nearly all antibacterial agents and may range in severity from mild to life threatening (see section 4.8). Therefore, it is important to consider this diagnosis in patients who present with diarrhoea during, or subsequent to, the administration of any antibiotics.

Should antibiotic-associated colitis occur, amoxicillin should immediately be discontinued, a physician consulted and an appropriate therapy initiated. Anti- peristaltic medicinal products are contra-indicated in this situation.

Prolonged therapy

Periodic assessment of organ system functions; including renal, hepatic and haematopoietic function is advisable during prolonged therapy. Elevated liver enzymes and changes in blood counts have been reported (see section 4.8).

Anticoagulants

Prolongation of prothrombin time has been reported rarely in patients receiving amoxicillin. Appropriate monitoring should be undertaken when anticoagulants are prescribed concomitantly. Adjustments in the dose of oral anticoagulants may be necessary to maintain the desired level of anticoagulation (see sections 4.5 and 4.8).

Crystalluria

In patients with reduced urine output, crystalluria (including acute renal injury) has been observed very rarely, predominantly with parenteral therapy. During the administration of high doses of amoxicillin, it is advisable to maintain adequate fluid intake and urinary output in order to reduce the possibility of amoxicillin crystalluria. In patients with bladder catheters, a regular check of patency should be maintained (see sections 4.8 and 4.9).

Interference with diagnostic tests

Elevated serum and urinary levels of amoxicillin are likely to affect certain laboratory tests. Due to the high urinary concentrations of amoxicillin, false positive readings are common with chemical methods.

It is recommended that when testing for the presence of glucose in urine during amoxicillin treatment, enzymatic glucose oxidase methods should be used.

The presence of amoxicillin may distort assay results for oestriol in pregnant women.

Oral anticoagulants

Oral anticoagulants and penicillin antibiotics have been widely used in practice without reports of interaction. However, in the literature there are rare cases of increased international normalised ratio in patients maintained on acenocoumarol or warfarin and prescribed a course of amoxicillin. If co-administration is necessary, the prothrombin time or international normalised ratio should be carefully monitored with the addition or withdrawal of amoxicillin. Moreover, adjustments in the dose of oral anticoagulants may be necessary (see sections 4.4 and 4.8).

Probenecid

Concomitant use of probenecid is not recommended. Probenecid decreases the renal tubular secretion of amoxicillin. Concomitant use of probenecid may result in increased and prolonged blood levels of amoxicillin

Allopurinol

Concurrent administration of allopurinol during treatment with amoxicillin can increase the likelihood of allergic skin reactions.

Tetracyclines

Tetracyclines and other bacteriostatic drugs may interfere with the bactericidal effects of amoxicillin.

Methotrexate

Penicillins may reduce the excretion of methotrexate causing a potential increase in toxicity.

Pregnancy

Animal studies do not indicate direct or indirect harmful effects with respect to reproductive toxicity. Limited data on the use of amoxicillin during pregnancy in humans do not indicate an increased risk of congenital malformations. Amoxicillin may be used in pregnancy when the potential benefits outweigh the potential risks associated with treatment.

Breastfeeding

Amoxicillin is excreted into breast milk in small quantities with the possible risk of sensitisation. Consequently, diarrhoea and fungus infection of the mucous membranes are possible in the breast-fed infant, so that breast-feeding might have to be discontinued.

Amoxicillin should only be used during breast-feeding after benefit/risk assessment by the physician in charge.

Fertility

There are no data on the effects of amoxicillin on fertility in humans. Reproductive studies in animals have shown no effects on fertility.

No studies on the effects on the ability to drive and use machines have been performed. However, undesirable effects may occur (e.g. allergic reactions, dizziness, convulsions), which may influence the ability to drive and use machines (see section 4.8).

The most commonly reported adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are diarrhoea, nausea and skin rash.

The ADRs derived from clinical studies and post-marketing surveillance with amoxicillin, presented by MedDRA System Organ Class are listed below.

The following terminologies have been used in order to classy the occurrence of undesirable effects:

Very common (≥ 1/10),

Common (≥ 1/100to<1/10),

Uncommon (≥ 1/1000 to <1/100),

Rare (≥ 1/10,000 to <1/1,000),

Very rare (<1/10,000),

Not known (cannot be estimated from the available data)

Reporting of suspected adverse reactions:

Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard.

Gastrointestinal symptoms (such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea) and disturbance of the fluid and electrolyte balances may be evident. Amoxicillin crystalluria, in some cases leading to renal failure, has been observed. Convulsions may occur in patients with impaired renal function or in those receiving high doses (see sections 4.4 and 4.8).

Treatment of intoxication

Gastrointestinal symptoms may be treated symptomatically, with attention to the water/electrolyte balance.

Amoxicillin can be removed from the circulation by haemodialysis.

Pharmacotherapeutic group: penicillins with extended spectrum; ATC code: J01CA04.

Mechanism of action

Amoxicillin is a semisynthetic penicillin (beta-lactam antibiotic) that inhibits one or more enzymes (often referred to as penicillin-binding proteins, PBPs) in the biosynthetic pathway of bacterial peptidoglycan, which is an integral structural component of the bacterial cell wall. Inhibition of peptidoglycan synthesis leads to weakening of the cell wall, which is usually followed by cell lysis and death.

Amoxicillin is susceptible to degradation by beta-lactamases produced by resistant bacteria and therefore the spectrum of activity of amoxicillin alone does not include organisms which produce these enzymes.

Pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic relationship

The time above the minimum inhibitory concentration (T>MIC) is considered to be the major determinant of efficacy for amoxicillin.

Mechanisms of resistance

The main mechanisms of resistance to amoxicillin are

A) Inactivation by bacterial beta-lactamases.

B) Alteration of PBPs, which reduce the affinity of the antibacterial agent for the target.

Impermeability of bacteria or efflux pump mechanisms may cause or contribute to bacterial resistance, particularly in Gram-negative bacteria.

Breakpoints

MIC breakpoints for amoxicillin are those of the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) version 11.0.

The prevalence of resistance may vary geographically and with time for selected species, and local information on resistance is desirable, particularly when treating severe infections. As necessary, expert advice should be sought when the local prevalence of resistance is such that the utility of the agent in at least some types of infections is questionable.

Absorption

Amoxicillin fully dissociates in aqueous solution at physiological pH. It is rapidly and well absorbed by the oral route of administration.

Following oral administration, amoxicillin is approximately 70% bioavailable. The time to peak plasma concentration (T_max) is approximately one hour.

The pharmacokinetic results for a study, in which an amoxicillin dose of 250 mg three times daily was administered in the fasting state to groups of healthy volunteers are presented below.

In the range 250 to 3000 mg the bioavailability is linear in proportion to dose (measured as C_max and AUC). The absorption is not influenced by simultaneous food intake.

Haemodialysis can be used for elimination of amoxicillin.

Distribution

About 18% of total plasma amoxicillin is bound to protein and the apparent volume of distribution is around 0.3 to 0.4 l/kg.

Following intravenous administration, amoxicillin has been found in gall bladder, abdominal tissue, skin, fat, muscle tissues, synovial and peritoneal fluids, bile and pus. Amoxicillin does not adequately distribute into the cerebrospinal fluid.

From animal studies there is no evidence for significant tissue retention of drug-derived material. Amoxicillin, like most penicillins, can be detected in breast milk (see section 4.6).

Amoxicillin has been shown to cross the placental barrier (see section 4.6).

Biotransformation

Amoxicillin is partly excreted in the urine as the inactive penicilloic acid in quantities equivalent to up to 10 to 25% of the initial dose.

Elimination

The major route of elimination for amoxicillin is via the kidney.

Amoxicillin has a mean elimination half-life of approximately one hour and a mean total clearance of approximately 25 l/hour in healthy subjects. Approximately 60 to 70% of the amoxicillin is excreted unchanged in urine during the first 6 hours after administration of a single 250 mg or 500 mg dose of amoxicillin. Various studies have found the urinary excretion to be 50-85% for amoxicillin over a 24 hour period.

Concomitant use of probenecid delays amoxicillin excretion (see section 4.5).

Age

The elimination half-life of amoxicillin is similar for children aged around 3 months to 2 years and older children and adults. For very young children (including preterm newborns) in the first week of life the interval of administration should not exceed twice daily administration due to immaturity of the renal pathway of elimination. Because elderly patients are more likely to have decreased renal function, care should be taken in dose selection, and it may be useful to monitor renal function.

Gender

Following oral administration of amoxicillin/ to healthy males and female subjects, gender has no significant impact on the pharmacokinetics of amoxicillin.

Renal impairment

The total serum clearance of amoxicillin decreases proportionately with decreasing renal function (see sections 4.2 and 4.4).

Hepatic impairment

Hepatically impaired patients should be dosed with caution and hepatic function monitored at regular intervals.

Not applicable

Magnesium Stearate BP

Capsule Shell:

Gelatin EP

E172 (Ferric Oxide)

E127 (Erythrosine BS)

Titanium dioxide E171

None known

3 years

Store below 25° C.

Blister packages of PVDC (60gsm) coated PVC (250µ m)/aluminium blisters in the following pack sizes: 12, 15 and 21 capsules.

Blister packages of PVC (250µ m)/aluminium blisters in the following pack sizes: 12, 15 and 21 capsules.

Polypropylene tubular container with an open end equipped to accept a polyethylene closure, with a tamper-evident tear strip, and is of the appropriate size to accommodate 4, 100, 500 and 1000 capsules.

No special instructions.