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PIPER - Paediatric Infant Perinatal Emergency Retrieval

Amoxycillin (Amoxil)

  • Description and indication for use:

    Amoxycillin is a broad spectrum penicillin antibiotic.  It is used to treat sepsis when sensitivity tests indicate.

    Dose

    IV & IM:

    VLBW and Week 1 25 mg/kg/dose 12 hourly 
    Week 2 - 4 25 mg/kg/dose 6 - 8 hourly 
    For severe infections including meningitis 50 mg/kg/dose 

    Reconstitution/Dilution

    Vial = 500 mg or 1 gram.

    IV:    

    Add 4.6 mL of water for injection to the 500 mg vial = 500 mg in 5 mL (100 mg/mL).

    Add 9.2 mL of water for injection to the 1 gram vial = 1000 mg in 10 mL (100 mg/mL).

    IM:   

    Add 2.6 mL of water for injection to the 500 mg vial = 500 mg in 3 mL.

    Withdraw required dose from vial.  Dilute to 50 mg/mL or more dilute.

    Single-dose vial.  Doses should be freshly prepared.  Discard any solution remaining in vial.

    Route and method of administration

    IV:

    Give slowly over at least 5 minutes.

    Side effects

    Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

    Hypersensitivity reactions.

    Rapid injection associated with convulsive seizures.

    Thrombophlebitis.

    Compatibilities

    Glucose 5%.

    Sodium chloride 0.9%.

    Incompatibilities

    Administer alone or contact Pharmacy if further information is required.

    Special precautions

    Contraindicated in patients with hypersensitivity to penicillin antibiotics.

    Nursing responsibilities

    Observe site.

     

Disclaimer:  This Drug information was designed for use by PIPER Neonatal. Whilst great care has been taken to check the information is accurate, it is possible that errors may have been missed. Furthermore, dosage schedules are continually being revised and new side effects recognised. For these reasons, the reader is strongly advised to consult the drug companies' printed information before administering any of the drugs recommended in this book.
Most drugs in this document are appropriate only for specialist use in hospitals.  A number of drugs should only be used in consultation with the appropriate Paediatric subspecialist. 

Note: The electronic version of this guideline is the version currently in use.  Any printed version cannot be assumed to be current. Printed copies of this document are valid for