contains the active ingredient amoxycillin and clavulanic acid
Consumer Medicine Information
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some common questions about Clamoxyl Duo 500/125 and Clamoxyl Duo Forte 875/125 tablets.
It does not contain all the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
All medicines have benefits and risks. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you taking Clamoxyl Duo 500/125 or Clamoxyl Duo Forte 875/125 tablets against the benefits they expect it will have for you.
If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Please read this leaflet carefully and keep it with your medicine. You may need to read it again.
What Clamoxyl Duo and Clamoxyl Duo Forte is used for
Clamoxyl Duo 500/125 and Clamoxyl Duo Forte 875/125 tablets contain two active ingredients. Amoxycillin is an antibiotic that belongs to a group of medicines called penicillins. Clavulanic acid is used to increase the effectiveness of amoxycillin against certain types of bacteria.
Clamoxyl Duo 500/125 and Clamoxyl Duo Forte 875/125 tablets are used to treat certain types of bacterial infections in the body such as:
- skin infections
- urinary tract infections, including bladder and kidney infections
- respiratory tract infections, including infections of the throat, airways, lungs or sinuses
- middle ear infections
Clamoxyl Duo 500/125 and Clamoxyl Duo Forte 875/125 tablets work by killing the bacteria that cause these infections.
Clamoxyl Duo 500/125 and Clamoxyl Duo Forte 875/125 tablets do not work against infections caused by viruses, such as colds or flu, or fungi.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why Clamoxyl Duo 500/125 or Clamoxyl Duo Forte 875/125 tablets have been prescribed for you. Your doctor may have prescribed Clamoxyl Duo 500/125 or Clamoxyl Duo Forte 875/125 tablets for another reason.
Clamoxyl Duo 500/125 and Clamoxyl Duo Forte 875/125 tablets are available only with a doctor’s prescription.
There is no evidence that Clamoxyl Duo 500/125 or Clamoxyl Duo Forte 875/125 tablets are addictive.
Before you take Clamoxyl Duo tablets
Do not take Clamoxyl Duo 500/125 or Clamoxyl Duo Forte 875/125 tablets if you are allergic to:
- medicines containing amoxycillin or any other penicillin (eg. ampicillin)
- cephalosporin antibiotics
- any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet
Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include skin rash, itching or hives, swelling of the face, lips, mouth or throat, which may cause difficulty with swallowing or breathing.
Do not take Clamoxyl Duo 500/125 or Clamoxyl Duo Forte 875/125 tablets if you have ever had liver problems after taking this or any other medicine.
Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure about any of the above.
Do not take Clamoxyl Duo 500/125 or Clamoxyl Duo Forte 875/125 tablets if the expiry date (EXP) printed on the pack has passed. If you take this medicine after the expiry date, it may not work as well.
Do not take Clamoxyl Duo 500/125 or Clamoxyl Duo Forte 875/125 tablets if the packaging shows signs of tampering or the medicine does not look quite right.
Before you start to take it
Tell your doctor if you are allergic to any other medicines, foods, dyes or preservatives.
Tell your doctor if you have, or have had, any medical conditions, especially the following:
- glandular fever
- blood disorders
- liver problems
- kidney problems
The dose of Clamoxyl Duo 500/125 or Clamoxyl Duo Forte 875/125 tablets may need to be changed or you may need to be given another medicine.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Your doctor will discuss the risks and benefits of taking Clamoxyl Duo 500/125 or Clamoxyl Duo Forte 875/125 tablets during pregnancy.
Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or wish to breastfeed. Clamoxyl Duo passes into breast milk. Your doctor will discuss the risks and benefits of taking Clamoxyl Duo 500/125 or Clamoxyl Duo Forte 875/125 tablets during breastfeeding.
If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell him/her before you start taking Clamoxyl Duo 500/125 or Clamoxyl Duo Forte 875/125 tablets.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you buy without a prescription from a pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop. Some medicines may be affected by Clamoxyl Duo 500/125 or Clamoxyl Duo Forte 875/125 tablets, or may affect how well they work. These include:
- probenecid and allopurinol, medicines used to prevent gout
- certain other antibiotics, including tetracyclines, erythromycin and chloramphenicol
- warfarin or acenocoumarol, medicines used to prevent blood clots
- the contraceptive (birth control) pill. Clamoxyl Duo 500/125 and Clamoxyl Duo Forte 875/125 tablets may reduce the effectiveness of some birth control pills.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about the need for additional contraception while taking Clamoxyl Duo 500/125 or Clamoxyl Duo Forte 875/125 tablets.
Your doctor can tell you what to do if you are taking any of these medicines.
If you are not sure whether you are taking any of these medicines, check with your doctor or pharmacist. Your doctor and pharmacist have more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking Clamoxyl Duo 500/125 or Clamoxyl Duo Forte 875/125 tablets.
How to take Clamoxyl Duo tablets
Follow all directions given to you by your doctor and pharmacist carefully. They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.
If you do not understand the instructions on the pack, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
How much to take
The dose varies from person to person. Your doctor will tell you how much Clamoxyl Duo 500/125 or Clamoxyl Duo Forte 875/125 tablets you need to take each day.
The usual dose of Clamoxyl Duo and Clamoxyl Duo Forte tablets is one tablet twice a day.
The dose depends on your condition.
People with kidney problems may need less frequent doses.
How to take it
Swallow the tablets with a glass of water.
Clamoxyl Duo Forte 875/125 tablets can be broken in half, but should not be chewed.
When to take it
Take Clamoxyl Duo 500/125 or Clamoxyl Duo Forte 875/125 tablets immediately before or with the first mouthful of food. Taking Clamoxyl Duo 500/125 or Clamoxyl Duo Forte 875/125 tablets in this way increases the effectiveness of this medicine, and also helps prevent stomach upsets. However, tablets will still work if they are taken without food.
Space the doses as evenly as possible throughout the day. If you are taking Clamoxyl Duo 500/125 or Clamoxyl Duo Forte 875/125 tablets twice a day, take a dose about every 12 hours.
Take Clamoxyl Duo 500/125 or Clamoxyl Duo Forte 875/125 tablets at about the same time each day. Taking it at the same time each day will have the best effect. It will also help you remember when to take it.
How long to take it for
Keep taking Clamoxyl Duo 500/125 or Clamoxyl Duo Forte 875/125 tablets until you finish the pack, or for as long as your doctor recommends.
Do not stop taking Clamoxyl Duo 500/125 or Clamoxyl Duo Forte 875/125 tablets even if you feel better after a few days, unless advised to by your doctor. If you stop taking Clamoxyl Duo 500/125 or Clamoxyl Duo Forte 875/125 tablets too soon, the infection may not clear completely or your symptoms may return.
If you forget to take it
If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take the next dose when you are meant to.
Otherwise, take the missed dose as soon as you remember, and then go back to taking your medicine as you would normally.
Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose you missed.
If you are not sure what to do, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
If you take too much (overdose)
Immediately telephone your doctor, or the Poisons Information Centre (telephone 13 11 26), or go to Accident and Emergency at the nearest hospital, if you think you or anyone else may have taken too much Clamoxyl Duo 500/125 or Clamoxyl Duo Forte 875/125 tablets.
Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
You may need urgent medical attention.
While you are taking Clamoxyl Duo and Clamoxyl Duo Forte tablets
Things you must do
Before starting any new medicine, tell your doctor or pharmacist that you are taking Clamoxyl Duo 500/125 or Clamoxyl Duo Forte 875/125 tablets.
Tell all the doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating you that you are taking Clamoxyl Duo 500/125 or Clamoxyl Duo Forte 875/125 tablets.
Tell your doctor if your symptoms do not improve within a few days, or if they become worse.
If you develop itching with swelling or skin rash or difficulty breathing while taking Clamoxyl Duo 500/125 or Clamoxyl Duo Forte 875/125 tablets, do not take any more and tell your doctor immediately.
If you get severe diarrhoea, tell your doctor or pharmacist immediately. Do this even if it occurs several weeks after you stopped taking Clamoxyl Duo 500/125 or Clamoxyl Duo Forte 875/125 tablets. Diarrhoea may mean that you have a serious condition affecting your bowel. You may need urgent medical care.
Do not take any anti-diarrhoeal medicines (eg. Lomotil) without checking with your doctor.
If you get a sore, white mouth or tongue while taking or soon after stopping Clamoxyl Duo 500/125 or Clamoxyl Duo Forte 875/125 tablets, tell your doctor. This may mean that you have a fungal infection called thrush. Sometimes, the use of Clamoxyl Duo 500/125 or Clamoxyl Duo Forte 875/125 tablets allows fungi to grow and the above symptoms to occur.
Tell your doctor if your urine has to be tested for sugar. Clamoxyl Duo 500/125 or Clamoxyl Duo Forte 875/125 tablets may affect the results of these tests.
Tell your doctor if, for any reason, you have not taken Clamoxyl Duo 500/125 or Clamoxyl Duo Forte 875/125 tablets exactly as prescribed. Otherwise, your doctor may think that it was not effective and change your treatment unnecessarily.
Things you must not do
Do not stop taking Clamoxyl Duo 500/125 or Clamoxyl Duo Forte 875/125 tablets even if you feel better after a few days, unless advised to by your doctor. If you stop taking Clamoxyl Duo 500/125 or Clamoxyl Duo Forte 875/125 tablets too soon, the infection may not clear completely or your symptoms may return.
Do not use Clamoxyl Duo 500/125 or Clamoxyl Duo Forte 875/125 tablets to treat any other conditions unless your doctor tells you to.
Do not give Clamoxyl Duo 500/125 or Clamoxyl Duo Forte 875/125 tablets to anyone else, even if they have the same symptoms as you.
Things to be careful of
Be careful drinking alcohol while taking Clamoxyl Duo 500/125 or Clamoxyl Duo Forte 875/125 tablets. Drinking alcohol while taking this medicine does not usually cause any problems. However, some patients experienced adverse effects when using alcohol while taking medicines similar to Clamoxyl Duo 500/125 and Clamoxyl Duo Forte 875/125 tablets.
Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how Clamoxyl Duo 500/125 or Clamoxyl Duo Forte 875/125 tablets affect you. Clamoxyl Duo 500/125 and Clamoxyl Duo Forte 875/125 tablets generally do not cause any problems with your ability to drive a car or operate machinery.
However, as with many other medicines, Clamoxyl Duo 500/125 and Clamoxyl Duo Forte 875/125 tablets may cause dizziness in some people. If this occurs, do not drive, operate machinery or do anything else that could be dangerous.
Side effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while taking Clamoxyl Duo 500/125 or Clamoxyl Duo Forte 875/125 tablets. Clamoxyl Duo 500/125 and Clamoxyl Duo Forte 875/125 tablets help most people with their infections, but they may have unwanted side effects in some people.
All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical treatment if you get some of the side effects.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects. You may not experience any of them.
Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following and they worry you:
- mild diarrhoea (several loose bowel movements per day)
- indigestion or stomach pain
- feeling sick (nausea) or vomiting
- headache, dizziness, tiredness or hot flushes
- oral thrush (white, furry sore tongue and mouth), abnormal taste
- vaginal thrush (sore and itchy vagina, vaginal discharge)
- tooth discolouration
- The above list includes the milder side effects of Clamoxyl Duo 500/125 and Clamoxyl Duo Forte 875/125 tablets.
Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following:
- itching, rash
- watery and severe diarrhoea, which may also be bloody
- severe stomach cramps
- fever, in combination with one or both of the above
- signs of anaemia such as looking pale, unusual tiredness or weakness, being short of breath when exercising
- signs of frequent infections such as fever, chills, sore throat or mouth ulcers
- bleeding or bruising more easily than normal
- yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice)
- dark urine or pale stools
The above side effects are serious and may require medical attention.
Stop taking Clamoxyl Duo 500/125 or Clamoxyl Duo Forte 875/125 tablets and tell your doctor immediately or go to Accident and Emergency at the nearest hospital if you notice any of the following:
- Wheezing, hives, severe skin reaction, fainting, swelling of limbs, face, lips, mouth or throat, difficulty swallowing or breathing.
- fever, in combination with one or both of the above
- passing little or no urine
- fits or convulsions
The above side effects are very serious and may require urgent medical attention or even hospitalisation.
Rare events that have been reported with Clamoxyl Duo and Clamoxyl Duo Forte tablets include:
- inflammation of the bowel (colitis)
- inflammation of the liver (hepatitis)
- inflammation of the kidney (nephritis)
- blood disorders
Tell your doctor if you notice anything that is making you feel unwell. Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some people.
How do I store Clamoxyl Duo or Clamoxyl Duo Forte tablets?
Storage
Keep Clamoxyl Duo 500/125 and Clamoxyl Duo Forte 875/125 tablets where children cannot reach them. A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.
Keep your tablets in the pack until it is time to take them. If you take the tablets out of the pack they may not keep well.
Keep your tablets in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 25°C.
Do not store Clamoxyl Duo 500/125 or Clamoxyl Duo Forte 875/125 tablets or any other medicine in the bathroom or near a sink.
Do not leave Clamoxyl Duo 500/125 and Clamoxyl Duo Forte 875/125 tablets in the car or on window sills. Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.
Disposal
If your doctor tells you to stop taking this medicine or the expiry date has passed, ask your pharmacist what to do with any medicine that is left over.
Product description
What it looks like
Clamoxyl Duo tablets are available in two strengths:
- Clamoxyl Duo 500/125 – white to off-white oval shaped tablets, debossed with ‘AC’ and a score line on one side and plain on the other side.
- Clamoxyl Duo Forte 875/125 – white to off-white capsule shaped tablets marked with an ‘A’ and a ‘C’ on both sides and a breakline on one side
Each pack contains 10 tablets.
Ingredients
The active ingredients in Clamoxyl Duo 500/125 and Clamoxyl Duo Forte 875/125 tablets are amoxycillin (as amoxycillin trihydrate) and clavulanic acid (as potassium clavulanate).
- Each Clamoxyl Duo 500/125 tablet contains 500 mg of amoxycillin and 125 mg of clavulanic acid.
- Each Clamoxyl Duo Forte 875/125 tablet contains 875 mg of amoxycillin and 125 mg of clavulanic acid.
The tablets also contain the following inactive ingredients:
- magnesium stearate
- sodium starch glycollate
- silica – colloidal anhydrous
- cellulose – microcrystalline
- titanium dioxide
- hypromellose
- macrogol 4000
- macrogol 6000
- dimethicone 500 [Clamoxyl Duo 500/125 only]
Clamoxyl Duo 500/125 and Clamoxyl Duo Forte 875/125 tablets do not contain sucrose, lactose, gluten, tartrazine or any other azo dyes.
Supplier
Clamoxyl Duo 500/125 and Clamoxyl Duo Forte 875/125 tablets are supplied in Australia by:
Alphapharm Pty Limited
(ABN 93 002 359 739)
Level 1, 30 The Bond
30-34 Hickson Road
Millers Point NSW 2000
Phone: (02) 9298 3999
www.alphapharm.com.au
Medical Information
Phone: 1800 028 365
Australian registration numbers:
Clamoxyl Duo 500/125 –
AUST R 146783
Clamoxyl Duo Forte 875/125 –
AUST R 65702
This leaflet was prepared on
21 May 2012.
Published by MIMS September 2012
