What are the side effects of Amoxicillin?
Generally, amoxicillin is available in various dosage forms including tablets, capsules, and granules. Its adverse effects may include gastrointestinal discomfort, allergic reactions, liver and kidney function damage, hematologic system impairment, and secondary infections. If this medication is needed, it is recommended to use it under medical supervision. The detailed analysis is as follows:
1. Gastrointestinal Discomfort
Amoxicillin may irritate the gastrointestinal mucosa, interfere with the normal secretion of digestive fluids and peristaltic rhythm, thereby affecting normal digestion and absorption functions, leading to symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.
2. Allergic Reactions
Some components of amoxicillin can act as allergens, potentially activating the immune system and triggering immune responses that release substances such as histamine, thereby causing allergic symptoms such as rash and anaphylactic shock.
3. Liver and Kidney Function Damage
Long-term or excessive use of amoxicillin may exceed the normal metabolic capacity of the liver and kidneys, causing damage to liver and kidney cells and resulting in abnormal liver and kidney function indicators.
4. Hematologic System Impairment
Amoxicillin may suppress bone marrow hematopoietic function, affecting the proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells, thus reducing the production of blood cells such as white blood cells and platelets, leading to hematologic system-related symptoms.
5. Secondary Infections
The broad-spectrum antibacterial effect of amoxicillin may disrupt the body's microecological balance while killing pathogenic bacteria, allowing fungi or drug-resistant bacteria previously inhibited by normal flora to proliferate unchecked, thereby causing new infections.
When using amoxicillin in daily life, to prevent these adverse effects, patients must truthfully inform their doctors about their allergy history before taking the medication. Individuals with a history of penicillin allergy should not use amoxicillin.