augmentin vs amoxicillin?

[aidansmom]

I was wondering if anyone out there knows when augmentin might be prescribed versus amoxicillan. I know augmentin is amox. combined with clavulanate potassium - what makes this different than amox. alone? or in what situations is one prescribed over the other?

 

Augmentin seems to be the preferred antibiotic for PANDAS so I thought someone here might know why.

 

I also am asking the same question on my thread about Aidan's ear infection on the Lyme board.

Thanks,

Elizabeth

[thereishope]

In regards to ear infections, this article states that Augmentin is the most effective for them

http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa0912254

 

I think if you were to request Augmentin for an ear infection, the doctor will probably oblige.

[thereishope]

I see on the Lyme board you also stated that he may have a ruptured ear drum. If that happens, the ear won't hurt as bad for the child still the pressure is reduced. My daughter had that happen twice. If ruptured, the ear drum will heal on its own once the infection is gone. She was also given ear drops like your son, but I have to say I don't know if they helped since she was a baby at the time and she never stayed still long enough for me to put them in and hold her down in one position for as long as I was told. Amox did not work for my daughter's ear infection. They tried clindamycin and she threw that up. She ended up going on Omnicef and that rid her of the infection. If you still have drainage from the ear after a couple days, call the doctor office back. They will want to change the prescription. Don't wait for the whole script to end.

Edited February 7, 2011 by Vickie

[MomWithOCDSon]

I think many pediatricians consider Augmentin a "big gun," so if they can get an infection to clear with only amoxicillin, then they want to try that first.

 

Augmentin is amoxicillin plus clavulanic acid, and clav supposedly "soups up" the effectiveness of the amoxicillin, making it more powerful and aggressive.

[EAMom]

Here's an article on amoxcillin failure in strep throat:

 

http://www.entrepreneur.com/tradejournals/article/169459644.html

 

The bottom line is that Augmentin (as well as Azith. and some of the Cephalosporins) is more clinically effective against strep and PANDAS than plain Amoxicillin.