Prescription ·Strong evidence ·Reviewed May 2026
A combination antibiotic pairing amoxicillin with clavulanic acid, a beta-lactamase inhibitor. This extends the spectrum of amoxicillin to include beta-lactamase-producing strains of H. influenzae, M. catarrhalis, S. aureus (MSSA), E. coli, and Klebsiella. It is a first-line agent for acute bacterial sinusitis, recurrent or resistant otitis media, bite wounds, diabetic foot infections, and lower respiratory tract infections.
The bottom line
Evidence rating strong. Most-documented uses: treats beta-lactamase-producing bacterial infections, first-line for acute bacterial sinusitis, treats recurrent or resistant otitis media. 10 sources indexed (2023–2024), with 3 interaction records on file.
Core mechanism
Amoxicillin inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis by binding penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs). Clavulanic acid is a beta-lactam structurally related to penicillin that irreversibly inhibits many beta-lactamase enzymes produced by resistant bacteria. By binding the active site of bacterial beta-lactamases (particularly class A enzymes such as TEM and SHV), clavulanate protects amoxicillin from enzymatic degradation, restoring its antibacterial activity.1,2
Take at the start of a meal to maximize absorption of clavulanate and reduce GI side effects. Amoxicillin absorption is not significantly affected by food, but clavulanate bioavailability and GI tolerability improve with food.1,3
Nutrients this medication can lower over time, and what to replace.
Broad-spectrum antibiotic exposure can suppress gut bacteria that synthesize menaquinones, lowering vitamin K availability in susceptible patients.
Amoxicillin-clavulanate has notably higher rates of antibiotic-associated diarrhea than plain amoxicillin, largely due to the clavulanate component. Probiotic supplementation reduces this AAD risk and is particularly recommended during amoxicillin-clavulanate courses.
Recommendation: Take probiotics throughout your amoxicillin-clavulanate course, separated by at least 2 hours from each antibiotic dose. Continue for at least 1 week after the antibiotic ends.
Saccharomyces boulardii reduces the elevated antibiotic-associated diarrhea risk of amoxicillin-clavulanate. Because it is a yeast, it is unaffected by the antibiotic and timing is less critical than with bacterial probiotics.
Recommendation: Take Saccharomyces boulardii throughout your amoxicillin-clavulanate course. Timing flexibility is greater than with bacterial probiotics. Continue for at least 1 week after the antibiotic ends.
Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG reduces the elevated antibiotic-associated diarrhea risk associated with amoxicillin-clavulanate, including in pediatric patients. Separation from antibiotic dosing preserves bacterial viability.
Recommendation: Take Lactobacillus rhamnosus throughout your amoxicillin-clavulanate course, separated by at least 2 hours from each antibiotic dose. Continue for at least 1 week after the antibiotic ends.
Search all 3 interaction records for Amoxicillin-Clavulanate →
Numbered references. Citations throughout the page link here.
Zhang J, Zhang H, Zhu XJ et al.. Efficacy and safety of vonoprazan and high-dose amoxicillin dual therapy in eradicating Helicobacter pylori: A systematic review and meta-analysis. International journal of antimicrobial agents. 2024
Zhou BG, Jiang X, Ding YB et al.. Vonoprazan-amoxicillin dual therapy versus bismuth-containing quadruple therapy for Helicobacter pylori eradication: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Helicobacter. 2024
Ju KP, Kong QZ, Li YY et al.. Low-dose or high-dose amoxicillin in vonoprazan-based dual therapy for Helicobacter pylori eradication? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Helicobacter. 2024
Pejcic AV, Milosavljevic MN, Folic M et al.. Amoxicillin-associated Stevens-Johnson syndrome or toxic epidermal necrolysis: systematic review. Journal of chemotherapy (Florence, Italy). 2023
Bahri N, Dashti S, Mohammadzadeh A et al.. Relationship Between Amoxicillin Use in Pregnancy and Congenital Anomalies: A Systematic Review. Current drug research reviews. 2023
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