Amoxicillinbegins to work within a few hours after starting the antibiotic.

You may start to feel better within 48 to 72 hours.

Amoxicillin is a beta-lactam antibiotic drug used to treat a wide range ofbacterial infections.

woman touching midsection

bymuratdeniz / Getty Images

Its fast-acting nature is an important feature of the drug.

It is among the most commonly used antibiotics in the primary care setting.

bymuratdeniz / Getty Images

How Quickly Does Amoxicillin Fight an Infection?

Amoxicillin begins working immediately after the first dose and reaches full effectiveness about an hour or two later.

Amoxicillin becomes less effective after the first few hours.

Approximately 60% of the amoxicillin dose is expelled from the body within six to eight hours.

Because of this, amoxicillin is prescribed in multiple daily doses.

Continuous dosing at regular intervals maintains healthy levels of amoxicillin, allowing it to fight infection around the clock.

Amoxicillin does not relieve symptoms of infection immediately.

Finish taking all doses of amoxicillin, even if you feel better before it runs out.

A personsantibiotic resistancemay also affect how long amoxicillin takes to work.

Taking antibiotics frequently can also cause bacteria in your body to develop antibiotic resistance.

Always inform your healthcare provider if your antibiotics do not work as expected.

Severe bacterial infections can pose a grave risk to a person’s life.

It is prescribed every eight or 12 hours at equal intervals with or without food.

Taking it with food, particularly at the start of a meal, may help to prevent stomach upset.

Do not chew, crush, or break amoxicillin if taking the ER tablets.

Do not take two doses at once.

How Safe Is Amoxicillin?

Amoxicillin has been deemed relatively safe and effective when prescribed by your healthcare provider.

However, it may cause some side effects of varying severity.

If your symptoms worsen, contact your healthcare provider immediately.

If you experience severe side effects, immediately contact your healthcare provider.

In the case of a medical emergency, directly call 911.

Some of these reactions include:

Call your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any reactions to amoxicillin.

Who Shouldn’t Take Amoxicillin?

The simultaneous use of amoxicillin and probenecid may increase the blood levels of amoxicillin.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the drugs you take before starting treatment.

Smoking and drinking do not directly affect the effectiveness of amoxicillin.

However, it is better to do it in moderation as these activities harm overall physical and mental health.

According to a study, tobacco use during an infection treated with antibiotics may require an increased prescription.

It may also cause antibiotic resistance development (the ability of bacteria to resist antibiotics).

Amoxicillin starts working within a few hours of taking it.

You may begin to feel better within two to three days of starting amoxicillin.

However, you should always finish taking your medication to ensure you treat the infection completely.

DailyMed.Label: amoxicillin- amoxicillin capsule.

Prescriber’s Digital Reference.Amoxicillin - drug summary.

U.S Food and Drug Administration.Amoxil (amoxicillin) capsules, tablets, or powder for oral suspension).

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Clinical features of penicillin allergy.