Amoxicillin / Clavulanate: study card

Amoxicillin / Clavulanate — Penicillin-class antibacterial + beta-lactamase inhibitor. Study the mechanism, listed uses and warnings from the US label on one sourced card.

Generic name
Amoxicillin / Clavulanate
Class
Penicillin-class antibacterial + beta-lactamase inhibitor
Mechanism
Amoxicillin has bactericidal activity against susceptible bacteria. Clavulanate inactivates some beta-lactamases, protecting amoxicillin from those enzymes and extending its antibacterial spectrum.
Used for
Lower respiratory infections caused by the specified susceptible bacteria; Acute bacterial otitis media or sinusitis caused by the specified susceptible bacteria; Skin and skin-structure infections caused by the specified susceptible bacteria; Urinary tract infections caused by the specified susceptible bacteria; the combination is not indicated when testing shows amoxicillin susceptibility without beta-lactamase production
Common side effects
Diarrhea / loose stools; Nausea; Skin rash, urticaria; Vomiting; Vaginitis
Warnings
Serious hypersensitivity reactions; Hepatic dysfunction, cholestatic jaundice; C. difficile-associated diarrhea
Interactions
Probenecid; Oral anticoagulants; Allopurinol

Brand questions use only name pairings verified against the linked product source. Unverified pairings are withheld from these questions; the other study content remains available.

Drug class families: Penicillin antibacterials

Read the source label ↗

Label date: 20260825 · For learning, not clinical decisions. US label and brand information; always consult the current source.

Source snapshot checked: 2026-10-21. The source document and selected fields were compared. The complete card has not had an independent clinical review.

Pronunciation

Amoxicillin: a-MOX-i-SIL-in · Clavulanate: KLAV-yoo-la-nate

Pronunciation is shown for the US English generic name.

Other drugs in the same class

Penicillin antibacterials: Penicillin V potassium, Amoxicillin

Body system

Infectious disease · 21 Drug cards

Compare with related cards

Amoxicillin

Same class family: Penicillin antibacterials

Mechanism: Interferes with bacterial cell-wall formation, killing susceptible organisms while they are actively multiplying.

On both cards: Common side effects — Nausea; Vomiting · Warnings — C. difficile-associated diarrhea · Interactions — Probenecid; Oral anticoagulants; Allopurinol

Only on the Amoxicillin card: Used for — Ear, nose and throat infections caused by the specified susceptible beta-lactamase-negative bacteria; Genitourinary infections caused by the specified susceptible beta-lactamase-negative bacteria; Skin and skin-structure infections caused by the specified susceptible beta-lactamase-negative bacteria; Lower respiratory infections caused by the specified susceptible beta-lactamase-negative bacteria · Common side effects — Diarrhea; Rash · Warnings — Anaphylactic reactions; Severe cutaneous adverse reactions

Penicillin V potassium

Same class family: Penicillin antibacterials

Mechanism: Bactericidal during active multiplication by inhibiting cell-wall mucopeptide synthesis; inactive against penicillinase producers.

On both cards: Common side effects — Nausea; Vomiting

Only on the Penicillin V potassium card: Used for — Mild-to-moderate streptococcal upper-respiratory infections without bacteremia, scarlet fever and mild erysipelas; Selected mild-to-moderately severe infections due to penicillin-G-sensitive organisms; severe invasive infections are not treated with oral penicillin V in the acute stage · Common side effects — Epigastric distress; Diarrhea; Black hairy tongue · Warnings — Hypersensitivity reactions, including potentially fatal anaphylaxis; A previous hypersensitivity reaction to any penicillin is a contraindication

Cephalexin

Same body system: Infectious disease

Mechanism: Disrupts bacterial cell-wall synthesis, producing a bactericidal effect against susceptible organisms.

On both cards: Used for — Skin and skin-structure infections caused by the specified susceptible bacteria · Common side effects — Nausea; Vomiting · Warnings — C. difficile-associated diarrhea · Interactions — Probenecid

Only on the Cephalexin card: Used for — Respiratory infections caused by the specified susceptible bacteria; Otitis media caused by the specified susceptible bacteria; Bone or genitourinary infections caused by the specified susceptible bacteria · Common side effects — Diarrhea; Dyspepsia; Abdominal pain · Warnings — Serious hypersensitivity (anaphylactic) reactions; Seizure potential · Interactions — Metformin

An item counts as shared only when both cards use the same wording. If a card does not list an item, that is not a statement that the effect never occurs.