Amoxicillin: What Should  I Tell My Healthcare Provider? 

You should talk with your healthcare provider prior to taking amoxicillin (Amoxil®, Moxatag™) if you have:
Kidney disease, such as kidney failure (renal failure) 

• A penicillin allergy 
• Phenylketonuria  
• Any other allergies, including allergies to food, dyes, or preservatives. 

Also, let  your healthcare provider know if you are: 

• Pregnant  or thinking of becoming pregnant 
• Breastfeeding.

Make sure to  tell your healthcare provider about all other medicines you are taking, including  prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
  
Specific Warnings and Precautions for Amoxicillin 

Some warnings and precautions  to be aware of with amoxicillin include  the following:

• Amoxicillin contains an antibiotic that belongs  to the penicillin group  of antibiotics. You should not take amoxicillin if you are allergic to penicillin. Let  your healthcare provider know immediately if you notice any signs of an allergic reaction, such as a rash, itching, hives, wheezing, swelling of the mouth  or lips, or difficulty breathing. An allergic reaction to amoxicillin can be very dangerous. 
• Let your healthcare provider know if  you experience bloody or watery diarrhea. While diarrhea is a common  side effect of amoxicillin, bloody or watery diarrhea may be a sign of a serious reaction to amoxicillin that can occur when certain bacteria (Clostridium difficile) overgrow in the colon. This severe reaction can occur long after you stop taking amoxicillin and can be life-threatening. 
• Make sure  your healthcare provider knows  if you have kidney disease, as you may need a lower amoxicillin dosage. 
• Sometimes, antibiotics (including amoxicillin) can cause yeast infections, since they can get rid of "good" bacteria that help protect against yeast infections. Let  your healthcare provider know  if you develop a vaginal yeast infection  or thrush (a yeast infection of the mouth)  while taking amoxicillin. 
• Amoxicillin  should not be used to treat viruses, such as the common cold or the flu. Amoxicillin is completely ineffective for treating viruses, and such use can lead to bacterial resistance to amoxicillin. 
• It is very important to take amoxicillin exactly as prescribed. Skipping doses or stopping amoxicillin too early (even if  you feel better) can lead to bacterial resistance to amoxicillin. 
• Amoxicillin chewable tablets contain phenylalanine. This is important for people with phenylketonuria, who must monitor their phenylalanine intake. The other amoxicillin products do not contain phenylalanine. 
• In general, people with a mononucleosis infection ("mono")  should not take amoxicillin, since doing so increases the risk of developing  a rash. 
• Amoxicillin can interact with other medications 
• Amoxicillin is considered a pregnancy Category B medication. This means that  it is probably safe for use during pregnancy, although  the full risks are not known. Talk to your healthcare provider about  the risks  and benefits of using amoxicillin during pregnancy 
• Amoxicillin passes through breast milk. Therefore, if you are breastfeeding or plan  to start, be sure to talk with your healthcare provider about using amoxicillin