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Amoxicillin vs augmentin

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Posted 9/25/2017 4:55 AM (GMT 0)
Anyone switch from amoxicillin to augmentin and if so did you herx from the switch? I've been on amoxicillin for a week and llmd wants me to switch to augmentin so I only have to do 2x a day instead of 3.
Posted 9/25/2017 9:57 AM (GMT 0)
bumping for more views
Posted 9/25/2017 3:09 PM (GMT 0)
its an excellent call. I did the same with my son after 8 days on amoxy for an unrelated illness. He got sicker before getting better similar to your herx.

The clavulanic acid prevents certain bacteria defenses from creating resistance to amoxicillin and makes the drug more effective on a broader spectrum.
Posted 9/25/2017 3:57 PM (GMT 0)
clavulanic acid is quite toxic to the kidneys. That being said, with or without the acid, amoxicillin will not reach your brain, unless you take 6g a day. and you cannot take augmentin in such doses because u will ruin your kidneys.

so good plain old amoxicillin is good but in very high doses.

alternative is use bicillin LA shots: better on stomach, they provide a steady stream of penicillin which is VERY EFFECTIVE for lyme. much better than amoxicillin, another penicillin.

penicillin in general has short half life so it gets excreted too fast from your blood stream. this is particularly a problem because lyme is a SLOW GROWING bacteria, so u need MIC levels for long time to achieve killing. this is why bicillin LA is so good, it produces a steady stream of penicilin in the blood stream that lasts for days after one single injection. so u need a few injections per week.

lymemd.blogspot.com/2017/02/bicillin-la.html
Posted 9/25/2017 5:07 PM (GMT 0)

mpost said...
clavulanic acid is quite toxic to the kidneys. That being said, with or without the acid, amoxicillin will not reach your brain, unless you take 6g a day. and you cannot take augmentin in such doses because u will ruin your kidneys.

so good plain old amoxicillin is good but in very high doses.

alternative is use bicillin LA shots: better on stomach, they provide a steady stream of penicillin which is VERY EFFECTIVE for lyme. much better than amoxicillin, another penicillin.

penicillin in general has short half life so it gets excreted too fast from your blood stream. this is particularly a problem because lyme is a SLOW GROWING bacteria, so u need MIC levels for long time to achieve killing. this is why bicillin LA is so good, it produces a steady stream of penicilin in the blood stream that lasts for days after one single injection. so u need a few injections per week.

lymemd.blogspot.com/2017/02/bicillin-la.html

Some fine points made by mpost. Furthermore, for those who are self treating (never recommended), if you require more amoxicillin you can add it to the same amount of Augmentin and it will still do the trick as each drug has a different action.

Be sure to add up the amount of Amoxicilin in the Augmentin to your calculations. 3 is the max daily limit used with Augmentin although I have used 4 on occasion extremely short term (one day).

I never succeed in reaching a 6g oral dose as my body couldnt handle that quantity even in divided doses, although this might more achievable today, but I dont know.
Posted 9/26/2017 12:19 AM (GMT 0)
Some great info!! Thanks for the replies! I'm out of my amoxicillin waiting for my prescription to be renewed, maybe I'll substitute the augmentin for a short while. I just don't want to herx again, just got over my herx from amoxicillin and desperately need a 'herxing' break!!!
Posted 9/26/2017 4:34 AM (GMT 0)
I took Amoxicillin (3grams per day) divided into three doses...plus Probenecid to keep the blood levels higher - for longer time.
Posted 4/8/2018 1:50 PM (GMT 0)
Not sure where to post this - I began long-term antibiotic treatment for Lyme with Augmentin because Doxy made me vomit. I have noticed that my brain fog, severe headaches, fatigue and constant colds and infections are much better. But I have experienced a marked increase in the volume and constancy of tinnitus - sometimes to the point where I hear three frequencies, two in one ear and another in the other ear. Is anyone else having problems with Augmentin and tinnitus worsening?
Posted 4/9/2018 3:04 AM (GMT 0)
augmentin seems to have caused my symptoms to explode, and also gave me what the doctors called 'antibiotic caused hepatitis'. this was about 6 weeks before my diagnosis, and I think it was actually the lyme that caused it, but no confirmation on this.

After I was diagnosed I took minocy and doxy with no problems (besides candida).
Posted 4/9/2018 7:07 AM (GMT 0)
6000 mg of amoxy can be taken per day in 3 divided doses.

Add Probenecid to it and it will help maintain the blood levels longer.

Why doesn't your Dr want you to take abx 3 X per day? Or are you finding it problematic?


EDIT!!! - i had typed doxy instead of amoxy above....yikes!!! corrected.
Posted 4/9/2018 7:38 PM (GMT 0)
It's my understanding that Augmentin is basically Amoxicillin with an anti inflammatory. Makes sense, hence the kidney issues if taken too long.
Posted 4/14/2018 9:36 PM (GMT 0)
Augmentin is Amoxicillin with clavulanate potassium, which is added I believe to make the Amox more high profile.

Post Edited (Auspiciousbunny) : 4/14/2018 3:41:17 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 4/14/2018 9:49 PM (GMT 0)
The clavulanate is to prevent resistance, but one risk is toxicity to the liver.
Posted 4/14/2018 9:53 PM (GMT 0)
After reading this I may try to switch from Augmentin to solo Amox. for a while. Maybe I could cycle between the two. I hate to give up the progress I've been making - yet worried about renal and liver impact. Thanks to everyone for their replies.
Posted 4/14/2018 10:09 PM (GMT 0)
I do think it’s rare (kidney/liver risks) - I am more concerned about the mono therapy - with these infections - 2 or more abx are usually prescribed
Posted 2/13/2020 4:22 AM (GMT 0)
Girlie - I think you are right. I found an LLMD who then prescribed long term Doxy/Amox. Doxy makes me feel pretty awful a lot of the time. I try to cheat and not take it on some days. I know that sounds pretty dumb, thinking about it. However, I sometimes feel a lot better when I switch back to solo Augmentin for a week. For a few days, I have more energy and feel twice as awake. (I have neurological problems.) But the boost I get from Augmentin does not last over a long period of time.
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