When the antibiotic known as Amoxicillin was discovered and developed by Beecham Research Laboratories in 1972 it was an instant success. With very few side effects, it proved to be very good for the treatment of bacterial infections. It is particularly adept at treating anaerobic infections, which are the stubborn kind that can grow without the aid of oxygen. Before long it was being widely prescribed for conditions that ranged from ear infections, to bladder infections to strep throat.
In addition to treating these common ailments there are also some other uses of Amoxicillin that are not so common.
Amoxicillin has a very interesting history. It was developed as a synthetic improvement to Penicillin after scientists discovered that it had many flaws that could be improved upon. For example, Penicillin does not absorb well into the intestinal tract, resulting in a 70 percent loss when taken orally. It can also be broken down by certain bacteria such as staphylococci allowing it to develop a resistance.
To remedy the problems associated with Penicillin the scientists at Beecham Labs went to work on producing a wonder drug that had its strengths, but without any of the weaknesses. The result is an antibiotic that covers a broad spectrum of bacterial infections. Today, Amoxicillin has become the most commonly used antibiotic in the World. But some of the things that it can be used for may surprise you.
If you remember back in 2001 during the time just after our country was attacked by terrorists you will recall that there was an anthrax scare going around the United States. A U.S. Post Office and several politicians received envelopes laced with traces of this deadly disease and the idea of a biological attack started a nationwide panic.
Hysteria swept across the Country in 2001 and everyone soon wanted to know how they could prevent anthrax from infecting their bodies if they happened to be a victim of a biological weapon attack. The big questions at the time were how to avoid getting this disease and how to cure it if you happened to be so unfortunate to actually get it.
The public soon discovered that there are basically 3 different antibiotics used for the prevention of anthrax infections. There is Ciprofloxacin, Doxycycline and Amoxicillin. Ciprofloxacin is the most widely used antibiotic for treating this disease, and then there is Doxycycline which is also commonly used. But these two drugs can cause problems for women who are pregnant, so the only one left for them would be Amoxicillin.
There have been no conclusive studies performed on the effects that Ciprofloxacin has on pregnant women and their babies. But there have been several studies of this subject using Doxycycline and the evidence shows that problems can occur with the teeth and bones of some fetuses. So, a study on Doxycyclene that yielded negative results for pregnant women and their fetuses and no accepted studies at all on Ciproflaxin for this issue narrowed the list down to one from the three available anthrax antibiotics that can be safely taken by pregnant women.
Studies of pregnant women who used Amoxicillin have yielded no negative results for the women and their babies. While the drug will cross the placenta it is still considered to be safe for use during a pregnancy. Because of these findings doctors are much more likely to prescribe it to pregnant women who would like treatment for the prevention of an anthrax infection. Not exactly your everyday use for this versatile antibiotic, but a very useful one nonetheless
Amoxicillin is also used to treat pregnant women who have Chlamydia.
Amoxicillin is one of the most widely prescribed antibiotics to our best friends and household cats too. Just like us, dogs and cats can get bacterial infections that can be deadly if left untreated. For example, pets that are owned by people who live in rural areas can be victims of a coyote attack or attacks from other wild animals when they wander outside in the back yard. If a pet is lucky enough to survive an attack by a wild animal they will more than likely have wounds that can get infected. Veterinarians who treat such wounds will need to prescribe an antibiotic to the wounded pet, and the most commonly used one is Amoxicillin.
Pet medicine is usually administered orally in a pill form that is basically the same one people take but with a smaller dose inside. The normal dose of Amoxicillin for dogs and cats is 5 to 10 milligrams per pound, taken every 12 to 24 hours.
The best way to administer a dose of Amoxicillin to a dog is to put the pill inside a small snack and give it to them. With cats, you can open the pills up and pour the contents into their food and then mix it in.
While the side effects that are associated with Amoxicillin use and people are relatively mild and uncommon they can be serious in some rare cases. Most mild reactions involve nausea and diarrhea. In rare cases people experience such things as severe skin rashes, jaundice, extreme fatigue and paleness of the skin. Amoxicillin should only be taken when prescribed by US licensed physicians and purchased from US licensed pharmacies, as with all prescription drugs and FDA approved drugs.
Amoxicillin is the most widely prescribed antibiotics in the World for some of the most commonly contracted bacterial infections such as strep throat and ear infections. However, there are some lesser know uses that are a bit out of the ordinary. Pregnant women, dogs and cats all have their own specific uses for this prescription drug that was created back in 1972 by a group of pharmaceutical scientists at Beecham Research Laboratories who wanted to make an antibiotic like Penicillin, only better.
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