• Potassium Clavulanate is a beta-lactamase inhibitor. It works by blocking an enzyme (beta lactamase) produced by bacteria to inactivate antibiotics. This reduces resistance and enhances the activity of antibiotics against bacteria.
• Clavulanate has no antibacterial effects alone, but it is a strong inhibitor of the beta-lactamase enzyme that causes resistance among gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.

Amoxicillin and clavulanate potassium is a combination medicine used to treat many different infections caused by bacteria, such as sinusitis, pneumonia, ear infections, bronchitis, urinary tract infections, and infections of the skin.

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

• Hives or welts
• itching
• itching of the vagina or genital area
• pain during sexual intercourse
• redness of the skin
• skin rash
• thick, white vaginal discharge with no odor or with a mild odor
• diarrhea if given in excess

It is recommended to take amoxicillin/clavulanate at the beginning of a meal to enhance the absorption of clavulanate and to decrease GI irritation. It is especially important for practitioners to understand that not all dosage forms of amoxicillin/clavulanate are appropriate for children.

Amoxicillin is a penicillin- antibiotic. This antibiotic belongs to a specific class of drugs called beta-lactams. It kills bacteria by preventing them from forming the bacterial protective covering (cell wall) which is needed for them to survive.
 

• Amoxicillin alone is indicated to treat susceptible bacterial infections of the ear, nose, throat, genitourinary tract, skin, skin structure, and lower respiratory tract.
• Amoxicillin is given with calvulanic acid to treat acute bacterial sinusitis, community acquired pneumonia, lower respiratory tract infections, acute bacterial otitis media, skin and skin structure infections, and urinary tract infections.
• Medical providers may also prescribe it with other drugs to treat stomach ulcers caused by H. pylori bacteria.
   

•  Nausea
•  Vomiting
•  diarrhea
•  Rash
•  Vaginal yeast infection
•  Hypersensitivity reactions.
•  Liver damage.

• Stop taking this medicine and inform your doctor immediately if you develop an itchy rash, swelling of the face, throat or tongue or breathing difficulties while taking it.
• Amoxicillin doesn’t work against the flu, colds or other viral infections, and taking amoxicillin and other antibiotics for these illnesses increases the risk of developing antibiotic-resistant infections.