Side Effects

Side Effects of Amoxil 500mg Capsules

Possible side effects

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

Stop taking Amoxil and see a doctor straight away, if you notice any of the following serious side effects – you may need urgent medical treatment:

The following are very rare (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people)

• Allergic reactions, the signs may include: skin itching or rash, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, body or breathing difficulties. These can be serious and occasionally deaths have occurred
• Rash or pinpoint flat red round spots under the skin surface or bruising of the skin. This is due to inflammation of blood vessel walls due to an allergic reaction. It can be associated with joint pain (arthritis) and kidney problems
• A delayed allergic reaction can occur usually 7 to 12 days after having Amoxil, some signs include: rashes, fever, joint pains and enlargement of the lymph nodes especially under the arms
• A skin reaction known as ‘erythema multiforme’ where you may develop: itchy reddish purple patches on the skin especially on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet, ‘hive-like’ raised swollen areas on the skin, tender areas on the surfaces of the mouth, eyes and private parts. You may have a fever and be very tired
• Other severe skin reactions can include: changes in skin colour, bumps under the skin, blistering, pustules, peeling, redness, pain, itching, scaling. These may be associated with fever, headaches and body aches
• 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)).
• High temperature (fever), chills, a sore throat or other signs of an infection, or if you bruise easily. These may be signs of a problem with your blood cells
• The Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction which occurs during treatment with Amoxil for Lyme disease and causes fever, chills, headache, muscle pain and skin rash.
• Inflammation of the large bowel (colon) with diarrhoea sometimes containing blood, pain and fever
• Serious liver side effects may occur which are often reversible. Hepatitis and cholestatic jaundice, They are mainly associated with people having treatment over a long period, males and the elderly. You must tell your doctor urgently if you get:
  • severe diarrhoea with bleeding
  • blisters, redness or bruising of the skin
  • darker urine or paler stools
  • yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes (jaundice). See also anaemia below which might result in jaundice.

These can happen when having the medicine or for up to several weeks after.

If any of the above happen stop taking the medicine and see your doctor straight away.

Sometimes you may get less severe skin reactions such as:

• a mildly itchy rash (round, pink-red patches), ‘hive-like’ swollen areas on forearms, legs, palms, hands or feet. This is uncommon (affects less than 1 in 100 people).

If you have any of these talk to your doctor as Amoxil will need to be stopped.

The following side effects have been reported at the approximate frequencies shown:

Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):

• Diarrhoea
• Skin rash
• Feeling sick (nausea)

Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):

• Being sick (vomiting)

Very Rare (may affects up to 1 in 10,000 people):

• Thrush (a yeast infection of the vagina, mouth or skin folds), you can get treatment for thrush from your doctor or pharmacist
• Kidney problems
• Fits (convulsions), seen in patients on high doses or with kidney problems
• Dizziness
• Hyperactivity
• Crystals in the urine, which may be seen as cloudy urine, or difficulty or discomfort in passing urine. Make sure you drink plenty of fluids to reduce the chance of these symptoms
• The tongue may change to yellow, brown or black and it may have a hairy appearance
• An excessive breakdown of red blood cells causing a form of anaemia. Signs include: tiredness, headaches, shortness of breath, dizziness, looking pale and yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes
• The blood may take longer to clot than it normally would. You may notice this if you have a nosebleed or cut yourself.
• Low number of white blood cells
• Low number of cells involved with blood clotting

Reporting of side effects

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet.