Amoxicillin Overdose
Amoxicillin Overdose – Is it Possible?
Amoxicillin is penicillin, the most common antibiotic, prescribed to fight the bacteria in the body. If is used for treatment of creation infections such as; ear infection, pneumonia, E. coli or salmonella infection, bladder infections and many more.
Amoxicillin is also sometimes used in coordination with another anti bacterial drug Clarithromycin for treatment of stomach ulcers caused by Helicobacter Pylori infection.
Is Amoxicillin Overdose Possible?
Yes, it is possible to overdose on amoxicillin as with any other drugs. Though a mild overdose may not cause too much problem, a large one could have dangerous effect on the kidneys; most probably will cause the kidney to function poorly or in some cases will result in the dreadful total kidney failure.
The overdose will vary and depend on some factors like the amount of drug taken beyond the prescribed dosage and whether it was taken with any other drugs or substances.
Effects of Amoxicillin Overdose:
Aside from the possible devastating effect an Amoxicillin overdose can do to your kidney, it can also cause other side effects and disorders such as the following:
For mild overdose:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Vertigo (dizziness)
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal cramps
- Yeast infection in women (vaginal irritation followed by discharge)
- Insomnia
- Flu symptoms in children
- Jaundice
- Anemia
- Hematuria (traces of blood in the urine)
- Convulsions or seizures
For large overdose:
Large overdose from amoxicillin may result in Interstitial Nephritis that will result in oliguric renal failure (oliguria).
Crystalluria, which also leads to renal failure, has been reported to be caused by amoxicillin overdose in adult and children. In case of an overdose, patients should take adequate amount of fluid and diuresis (excessive urine production) should be maintained to lessen the danger of amoxicillin crystalluria.
Treatment for an Amoxicillin Overdose
The treatment for an overdose of amoxicillin will vary; if you have just recently overdosed, a healthcare provider may give you certain medicines or may place a tube into the stomach to pump out the medicine from your system.
Other treatments may also include:
Administration of diuretic drugs to induce urine production to save the kidney from possible damage.
Supportive care or continuous treatments of the overdose until you are safely out of danger.
Dialysis can also be done to remove the drug from the bloodstream.
In case of overdose, discontinue taking the drug immediately and seek medical attention.
