Use of Augmentin in pregnant and lactating women

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted by Pharmacist, Dr. Phan Quynh Lan, Director of Pharmacy Department of Vinmec Health System - Head of Pharmacy Department of Vinmec Times City International Hospital.
Augmentin is the name of an antibiotic commonly used in the treatment of infections such as respiratory infections. So, are augmentin pills safe for pregnant women and lactating women, are they safe or risky?

1. Overview of Augmentin

1.1. General Information Augmentin is the trade name for a medication that contains Amoxicillin and clavulanic acid. This is a combination antibiotic of the penicillin group.
Augmentin has the effect of stopping the growth of bacteria, so it is used to treat a variety of infections caused by bacteria. This antibiotic will not be effective against viral illnesses such as the common cold or flu. Therefore, arbitrary use will lead to antibiotic resistance in the future, when it will be difficult for the patient to be cured if an infection occurs.
1.2. Dosage Usually, Augmentin comes as a tablet, to be taken with a main meal or snack as directed by your doctor. Based on the dose of each specific tablet, the drug is taken every 8 or 12 hours. In addition, the frequency of drug administration can be flexible based on the patient's health status as well as the ability to respond to active antibiotic substances. Many experts recommend that antibiotics work best when taken at evenly spaced intervals. Patients are also advised to take their medication at the same time each day to avoid missed doses.

1.3. Treatment The antibiotic treatment is imperative to strictly follow the doctor's instructions, not to arbitrarily stop using the drug even if the symptoms have improved or even disappeared completely. Stopping the medication earlier than indicated allows bacteria to continue to grow, and this can cause the infection to recur and become more difficult to cure. After finishing the prescribed course of Augmentin antibiotic, if the disease is not cured, the patient should immediately contact the doctor for the next course of treatment.

2. Can Augmentin be used for pregnant women?

Animal studies have shown that Augmentin does not cause any direct or indirect adverse effects on pregnancy and embryo/foetal development. Data on the use of Augmentin in pregnant women are limited, but do not indicate an increased risk of birth defects in infants whose mothers took Augmentin during pregnancy.
However, pregnant mothers should still be cautious, using Augmentin only when absolutely necessary and as prescribed by a doctor.
A study has shown that pregnant women with premature rupture of membranes, premature rupture of membranes using antibiotics to prevent infection with Augmentin may increase the risk of necrotizing enterocolitis in the newborn baby.
This is a condition that hurts the baby, so women who are at risk of premature birth are advised not to use the Amoxicillin and Clavulanate in the medicine.
In short, the use of any medicine for pregnant women, especially in the first 3 months of pregnancy, must be approved by a specialist and only used when absolutely necessary.

3. Can Augmentin be used for breastfeeding women?

Because both Amoxicillin and Clavulanate are excreted in human milk, although Augmentin is considered to be quite safe for nursing mothers, it can still cause some symptoms in nursing infants such as:
Allergies Diarrhea Irritability Rash

If the above abnormal signs occur in the child, the mother needs to stop taking the medicine immediately and contact the doctor or pharmacist for advice on the next treatment.
Around the issue of whether Augmentin can be used by lactating and pregnant women, doctors think it can still be used in case of real need. The antibiotic active ingredients in Augmentin rarely cause adverse effects on the mother and fetus, as well as the infant and young child. However, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers need to remember to be careful when using any medicine, limit its use and only use it when absolutely necessary.

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Reference source: WebMD