amoxicillin trihydrate
Consumer Medicine Information
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some common questions about Noumed Amoxicillin capsules.
It does not contain all the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you taking this medicine against the benefits they expect it will have for you.
If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet with the medicine. You may need to read it again.
What this medicine is used for
The name of your medicine is Noumed Amoxicillin. It contains the active ingredient amoxicillin trihydrate.
Amoxicillin is an antibiotic that belongs to a group of medicines called penicillins. These antibiotics work by killing the bacteria that cause infections.
Noumed Amoxicillin is used to treat infections in different parts of the body caused by bacteria. These may be infections of the chest (pneumonia), tonsils (tonsillitis), sinuses (sinusitis), urinary and genital tract, skin and fleshy tissues.
It is also used to prevent infections before, during and after surgery.
Noumed Amoxicillin will not work against infections caused by viruses such as colds or the flu.
Your doctor may have prescribed this medicine for another reason.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why this medicine has been prescribed for you.
This medicine is available only with a doctor’s prescription.
Noumed Amoxicillin is not addictive.
Before you take this medicine
When you must not take it
Noumed Amoxicillin must not be taken if you have an allergy to:
- amoxicillin
- any β-lactam antibiotics (e.g. penicillins, cephalosporins, carbapenem or monobactam)
- any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet.
Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include:
- shortness of breath
- wheezing or difficulty breathing
- swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body
- rash, itching or hives on the skin
Do not take this medicine after the expiry date printed on the pack or if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering. If it has expired or is damaged, return it to your pharmacist for disposal.
If you are not sure whether you should start taking this medicine, talk to your doctor.
Before you start to take it
Tell your doctor if:
- you have ever had any allergies to any antibiotics, and other medicines, foods, preservatives or dyes.
- you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant.
Your doctor will discuss the possible risks and benefits of using this medicine during pregnancy.
- you are breast-feeding or intend to breast-feed.
Noumed Amoxicillin passes into breast milk. Your doctor will discuss the risks and benefits of taking this medicine when breastfeeding.
- Tell your doctor if you have or have had any of the following medical conditions:
- glandular fever (mononucleosis)
- blood disorders
- diabetes
- seizures history
- stomach or bowel problems
- liver or kidney problems
- asthma
- history of allergic problems, including hayfever.
If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell them before you take this medicine.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including medicines that you buy without a prescription from the pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines may interfere with this medicine. These include:
- medicines used to treat gout (e.g. probenecid or allopurinol)
- digoxin, a medicine used to treat heart failure
- other antibiotics (e.g. tetracyclines)
- anticoagulants (used to prevent blood clots) such as warfarin
- methotrexate, a medicine used to treat arthritis and some types of cancers
- oral contraceptives (birth control pills)
These medicines may be affected by Noumed Amoxicillin, or may affect how well it works. Your child may need different amounts of the medicine, or may need to take different medicines. Your doctor or pharmacist will advise you.
Talk to your doctor about the need for an additional method of contraception while taking Noumed Amoxicillin. Some antibiotics may decrease the effectiveness of some birth control pills.
Your doctor or pharmacist may have more information on medicines to be careful with or to avoid while taking Noumed Amoxicillin.
How to take this medicine
Follow all directions given to you by your doctor or pharmacist carefully. They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.
If you do not understand the instructions on the pack, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.
How much to take
Your doctor will tell you the dose of Noumed Amoxicillin you will need to use each day. This depends on the condition being treated and whether any other medicines are being used.
In adults the usual dosage is 250-500mg three times daily.
In children, the usual dosage is 125-250mg three times daily and may vary depending on the weight of your child.
How to take it
Take the capsules with a glass of water.
When to take it
In order for Noumed Amoxicillin to be most effective, it should be taken at regular times through the day. For example, if you are taking it three times a day, take a dose every 8 hours.
Your doctor or pharmacist can advise you on a dosing schedule if you are unsure.
Noumed Amoxicillin can be taken with or without food.
How long to take it
Continue taking Noumed Amoxicillin until you finish the capsules or for as long as your doctor recommends.
Keep taking this medicine for the full course of treatment, even if you begin to feel better after a few days. If you do not complete the full course prescribed by your doctor, the infection may not clear completely or your symptoms may return.
Check with your doctor if you are not sure how long you should be taking Noumed Amoxicillin.
If you forget to take it
If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose when you are meant to. Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember, and then go back to taking your medicine as you would normally.
Do not give a double dose to make up for the dose that was missed.
If you have trouble remembering to give the doses, ask your pharmacist for some hints.
If you take too much (overdose)
Immediately telephone your doctor or the Poisons Information Centre (telephone 13 11 26) for advice, or go to Accident and Emergency at the nearest hospital, if you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much Noumed Amoxicillin.
Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. You may need urgent medical attention.
If you take too much Noumed Amoxicillin, you may experience symptoms such as diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting or stomach cramps.
While you are taking this medicine
Things you must do
Tell your doctor if, for any reason, you have not given the medicine exactly as directed.
If the symptoms of your infection do not improve within a few days, or if they become worse, tell your doctor.
If you get severe diarrhoea tell your doctor or pharmacist immediately.
Do this even if it occurs several weeks after Noumed Amoxicillin has been stopped.
Diarrhoea may mean that you have a serious condition affecting your bowel. You may need urgent medical care.
Do not take any diarrhoea medicine without first checking with your doctor.
If you get a sore white mouth or tongue while taking or soon after stopping Noumed Amoxicillin, tell your doctor. Also tell your doctor if you get vaginal itching or discharge. This may mean you have a fungal infection called thrush. Sometimes the use of Noumed Amoxicillin allows fungi to grow and the above symptoms to occur. Noumed Amoxicillin does not work against fungi.
Tell your doctor if you become pregnant while taking Noumed Amoxicillin.
If you have to test your urine for sugar while you are using Noumed Amoxicillin, make sure your doctor knows which type of test you use. Noumed Amoxicillin may affect the results of some of these tests.
If you are about to be started on any new medicine, tell your doctor and pharmacist that you are taking Noumed Amoxicillin.
Tell all the doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating you that you are taking Noumed Amoxicillin.
Things you must not do
Do not stop taking your medicine because you are feeling better, unless advised by your doctor. If you do not complete the full course prescribed by your doctor, all of the bacteria causing your infection may not be killed. These bacteria may continue to grow and multiply so that your infection may not clear completely or it may return.
Do not give Noumed Amoxicillin to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you.
Do not give Noumed Amoxicillin to treat any other complaints unless your doctor tells you to.
Things to be careful of
Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how Noumed Amoxicillin affects you.
Noumed Amoxicillin may cause tiredness or dizziness in some people.
Make sure you know how you react to Noumed Amoxicillin before you drive a car, operate machinery or do anything else that may be dangerous if you are affected.
Side effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking Noumed Amoxicillin.
All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical treatment if you get some of the side effects.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following and they worry you:
- soreness of the tongue or mouth
- oral thrush – white, furry, sore tongue and mouth
- vaginal thrush – sore and itchy vagina or discharge
- diarrhoea (several loose bowel movements per day), indigestion, feeling sick or being sick
- discoloration of the teeth. Usually the discoloration can be removed by teeth brushing
- headache, tiredness.
These side effects are usually mild.
Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following:
- signs of anaemia such as looking pale, short of breath when exercising, dizziness
- signs of frequent infections such as fever, sever chills, sore throat or mouth ulcers
- itching, rash
- unusual bleeding or bruising
- yellowing of the skin or eyes
- dark urine or pale stools
- difficulty or pain on passing urine
These are serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention. Serious side effects are rare.
If any of the following occur, stop taking Noumed Amoxicillin and tell your doctor immediately or go to the Accident and Emergency department of your nearest hospital:
- wheezing, swelling of the lips/mouth, difficulty in breathing
- any skin rash, itching or hives or blistering or peeling of the skin
- severe abdominal cramps or stomach cramps
- watery and severe diarrhoea, which may also be bloody.
These are very serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation. Serious side effects are rare.
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. Tell your doctor if you notice anything else that is making you feel unwell.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you do not understand anything in this list.
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects. You may not experience any of them.
After giving this medicine
Storage
Keep your capsules in the pack until it is time to take them. If you take the capsules out of the pack they may not keep well.
Keep your capsules in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 25°C.
Do not store Noumed Amoxicillin in the bathroom or near a sink. Do not leave it on a window sill or in the car. Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.
Keep it where children cannot reach it. A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.
Disposal
If your doctor tells you to stop taking this medicine or the expiry date has passed, ask your pharmacist what to do with any medicine that is left over.
Product description
What it looks like
Noumed Amoxicillin Capsules – opaque yellow hard gelatin capsules.
Available in blisters packs of 20 capsules.
Ingredients
Noumed Amoxicillin Capsules contain either 250mg or 500mg of amoxicillin (as trihydrate).
The capsules also contain:
- magnesium stearate
- microcrystalline cellulose
- gelatin
- iron oxide yellow C177492
- titanium dioxide.
Australian Registration Numbers
- Noumed Amoxicillin 250 mg: AUST R 298258
- Noumed Amoxicillin 500 mg: AUST R 298259
Sponsor
Avallon Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd
Level 5, 7 Eden Park Drive
Macquarie Park NSW 2113
This leaflet was prepared in April 2020.
Published by MIMS July 2020