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amoxicillin vs amoxicillin/clavulanate

Side-by-side comparison of amoxicillin and amoxicillin/clavulanate. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

minor Known Drug Interaction

( 7.4 ) 7.1 Probenecid Probenecid decreases the renal tubular secretion of amoxicillin but does not delay renal excretion of clavulanic acid. Concurrent use with AUGMENTIN may result in increased and prolonged blood concentrations of amoxicillin. 7.2 Oral Anticoagulants Abnormal prolongation of prothrombin time (increased international normalized ratio [INR]) has been reported in patients receiving amoxicillin and oral anticoagulants.

Recommendation: Your doctor may need to check your blood clotting time more often and adjust your blood thinner dose.

Drug Class
amoxicillin Penicillin Antibiotic
amoxicillin/clavulanate Penicillin / Beta-Lactamase Inhibitor Combination
Type
amoxicillin Prescription
amoxicillin/clavulanate Prescription
Summary
amoxicillin

Amoxicillin and Clavulanate Potassium is a combination medicine used to fight bacterial infections. It contains amoxicillin, an antibiotic, and clavulanate, which helps the amoxicillin work better.

amoxicillin/clavulanate

Augmentin is a combination of two medicines, amoxicillin and clavulanate. It is an antibiotic that fights bacteria in your body.

What It Treats
amoxicillin

This medicine treats infections like lower respiratory infections, ear infections (otitis media), sinus infections, skin infections, and urinary tract infections. It works against specific bacteria that cause these infections. However, it should only be used when tests show the bacteria are susceptible to it, to avoid antibiotic resistance.

amoxicillin/clavulanate

Augmentin treats infections caused by bacteria. It is used for infections such as lower respiratory infections, ear infections, sinus infections, skin infections, and urinary tract infections. This medicine will not work for viral infections, such as colds or the flu.

How It Works
amoxicillin

Amoxicillin kills bacteria by stopping them from building cell walls. Some bacteria produce a substance called beta-lactamase, which can destroy amoxicillin. Clavulanate blocks beta-lactamase, allowing amoxicillin to effectively kill the bacteria.

amoxicillin/clavulanate

Amoxicillin kills bacteria. Clavulanate helps amoxicillin work better by preventing bacteria from breaking down amoxicillin. This combination helps to fight a wider range of bacteria.

Common Side Effects
amoxicillin
  • Diarrhea or loose stools
  • Nausea
  • Skin rashes
  • Hives
  • Vomiting
amoxicillin/clavulanate
  • Diarrhea or loose stools
  • Nausea
  • Skin rashes
  • Hives
  • Vomiting
FAERS Reports
amoxicillin
  • Long-term kidney disease 4,661
  • Sudden kidney damage 4,200
  • Diarrhea 4,083
  • Allergic reaction to the medicine 3,744
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 3,700
amoxicillin/clavulanate
  • Long-term kidney disease 4,661
  • Sudden kidney damage 4,200
  • Diarrhea 4,083
  • Drug allergy 3,744
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 3,700
Serious Warnings
amoxicillin

This medicine can cause serious allergic reactions, including fatal ones. Stop taking it and get medical help right away if you have any signs of an allergic reaction. This medicine can also cause severe skin reactions. Tell your doctor if you develop a rash. It can also cause liver problems and severe diarrhea.

amoxicillin/clavulanate

Augmentin can cause serious allergic reactions, including fatal ones. Stop taking Augmentin and get medical help right away if you have any signs of an allergic reaction. Augmentin can also cause severe skin reactions. Tell your doctor if you develop a rash. This drug can also cause liver problems and severe diarrhea.

Pregnancy
amoxicillin

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if this medicine will harm your unborn baby. Amoxicillin passes into breast milk and may cause harm to a nursing infant. Talk to your doctor before breastfeeding.

amoxicillin/clavulanate

Animal studies show Augmentin may be safe during pregnancy, but there are no good studies in pregnant women. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Amoxicillin passes into breast milk and may cause problems for the baby, so talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding.

How to Read This amoxicillin vs amoxicillin/clavulanate Comparison

amoxicillin is classified in the Penicillin Antibiotic drug class, while amoxicillin/clavulanate sits within the Penicillin / Beta-Lactamase Inhibitor Combination class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.

Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, amoxicillin has 20,388 submissions while amoxicillin/clavulanate has 20,388. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to this antibiotic can interfere with how your blood clots when it is taken with blood-thinning medications.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between amoxicillin and amoxicillin/clavulanate - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.

Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.