Taking medications with antibacterial properties is sometimes necessary during pregnancy, because the immunity of women in the position weakens, so the risk of catching a cold or some kind of infection is quite high. And if the expectant mother is faced with a dangerous disease for her or the fetus caused by bacteria, you have to resort to antibiotics. Most often, doctors choose medicines that are well-studied, have long been used and have a wide range of effects on microbes. One of them is Amoxil. Whether it is possible to use amoxicillin during pregnancy, let’s try to figure it out.
Features of the drug
Such an antibiotic, the effect of which is provided by amoxicillin trihydrate, is produced by many pharmaceutical companies in three forms.
- Pellets. They sell by prescription in 40-gram glass bottles. They are a white or yellow-white powder, to which water is added and 100 ml of a sweet suspension with a fruity taste is obtained. This version of “Amoxicillin” is most often prescribed to children, but it can also be taken by adults, especially if it is difficult for a woman to swallow a solid drug. In one measuring spoon, which is sold together with the bottle, 5 ml of medicine is placed, which is a source of 250 mg of amoxicillin.
- Capsules are the most popular form in adults. They have a green-yellow gelatin shell and a white or yellowish powder inside. One capsule contains 250-500 mg of the active substance, supplemented with microcrystalline cellulose and some other compounds. This “Amoxicillin” is sold by prescription (or you can buy it online without a prescription, but it is better to have a doctor’s recommendation) in packs of 10 pieces.
- No less popular for the treatment of adults and tablets, which are both ordinary and in the shell. The dosage of the antibacterial substance in each tablet is, as in capsules, either 250 or 500 mg. This medication is also a prescription drug and is sold for 10, 20 or more tablets.
Amoxicillin during pregnancy: The principle of operation
“Amoxicillin” refers to antibiotics that are part of the group of penicillins. It affects the walls of microbial cells, causing damage in them, which leads to the death of pathogens. The drug actively destroys streptococci, pneumococci, shigella, gonococci, Klebsiella, Escherichia, staphylococci, Clostridium, chlamydia and many other harmful microorganisms. It is not destroyed in the stomach and is quickly absorbed into the intestinal wall, providing the maximum amount of the antibiotic in the blood 1-2 hours after ingestion.
The active substance “Amoxicillin” is mainly excreted by the kidneys in 6-8 hours. However, some of this compound can be destroyed by the action of penicillinases-enzymes formed by some bacteria.
In addition, there are a number of microbes that do not die after taking tablets, suspensions or capsules. Some streptococci and staphylococci may be resistant to the drug, and “Amoxicillin” does not work at all on bacteroids, pseudomonas, mycoplasmas, enterobacteria and proteas. Because of this, the drug may be ineffective in certain patients, and before using it, it is recommended to determine the sensitivity of the pathogen.
Is amoxil allowed for pregnant women?
In the annotation to “Amoxicillin”, pregnancy is not included in the list of contraindications, but there is information that during the waiting period of the child, the drug can only be used for strict indications, if the benefit from it is much higher than the possible harm to the fetus. The active substance of such an antibiotic is able to penetrate the placenta, but in a small amount and in most cases does not affect the development of the fetus.
However, like any other drug, “Amoxicillin” can cause various side effects that worsen the health of a woman or threaten the baby in the tummy. That is why the use of this medicine is allowed only in cases where the reason is quite good.
About the use of “Amoxicillin” during pregnancy, there are different reviews. Many women who had to take such an antibiotic while waiting for a child were satisfied, as they noted a quick recovery and no negative effect on the fetus. However, this drug did not help some patients, and in a number of expectant mothers it provoked negative side effects.