What Pharmacists Say About How Long Amoxicillin Takes to Work (Plus 4 More Tips)

If you’ve had a bacterial infection, your healthcare provider likely gave you an antibiotic as a source of relief. Antibiotics are important — and potentially life-saving — medications, but each one is unique.

One popular, well-known antibiotic is amoxicillin. A cousin to penicillin, it’s a common choice for treating certain infections caused by bacteria. It’s relatively affordable, too. But before you pick up your prescription, your pharmacist may have a brief conversation with you about what you should know before you start taking it. 

What is amoxicillin?

Amoxicillin is a prescription-only, oral antibiotic medication. It treats bacterial infections by killing bacteria that are causing your infection. Amoxicillin is FDA approved to treat certain infections in kids and adults, such as: 

• Skin infections 

• Ear, nose, and throat infections, including strep throat 

• Lower respiratory infections 

• Helicobacter pylori infection 

• Urinary tract infections (UTIs)

Amoxicillin comes in a variety of forms. It’s available as a capsule, tablet, and oral suspension (liquid) that you swallow. One version isn’t more effective than another, but your healthcare provider may choose to prescribe a certain type based on your preferences and situation. But it is important to know that the oral suspension expires within a few weeks. And you shouldn’t use it past the expiration date.

You can find amoxicillin in combination products, too. Augmentin is a combination of amoxicillin and clavulanate. Clavulanate is a beta-lactamase inhibitor — it helps amoxicillin work better. The combination of amoxicillin and clavulanate can treat certain infections better than amoxicillin alone.

5 pharmacist-backed tips for taking amoxicillin

Before you or a loved one start taking amoxicillin, there are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind. It's important to know how long amoxicillin takes to work and what to expect.

1. How long does it take amoxicillin to work?

Amoxicillin starts fighting bacteria in your body soon after you take it. However, it needs some time before it starts to make a difference. You may begin to feel better after 2 to 3 days of taking the medication. But it may take longer to feel fully back to normal. The specific time frame depends on your infection. 

Keep in mind: Even if you feel better after a few days, make sure to finish all of your prescribed amoxicillin doses. Stopping the medication early may result in an undertreated infection. It can also cause the bacteria to develop resistance to the amoxicillin in the future. 

2. Should I take my amoxicillin with food?

It’s optional, but it’s a good idea to take amoxicillin with food. Antibiotics, like amoxicillin, may cause an upset stomach, so taking it with a meal or a snack can help prevent certain stomach-related side effects. These can include nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. 

It can be tough to remember to take all of your doses as is, let alone remembering to combine your doses with food. But since amoxicillin is usually taken 2 or 3 times a day, ask your healthcare provider if it’s a good idea to line up your amoxicillin doses with your daily meal schedule.

3. Should I separate amoxicillin from other medications?

Drug interactions can happen if you take amoxicillin (or Augmentin) with certain medications or foods. These interactions can happen regardless of the time of day you take it. Keep an eye out for these interactions:

• Blood thinners like warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven)

• Gout medications like allopurinol (Zyloprim) or probenecid

• Alcohol

To help prevent these interactions, always give an updated list of medications or supplements you’re taking to your healthcare provider and pharmacist. This will help them decide if you need to separate amoxicillin from other medications. 

4. What happens if I miss my dose of amoxicillin?

If you miss a dose of amoxicillin, try to take the missed dose as soon as you remember. But if it’s almost time for your next dose, you should skip the missed dose entirely. Take your next dose at the regular scheduled time. After this, you can go back to your normal dosing schedule until your prescription is finished. 

Importantly, never double up on doses if you missed a dose. If you take two doses at the same time or too close together, side effects are more likely to happen. 

5. What can I do if I experience side effects from amoxicillin?

Amoxicillin is generally well-tolerated. Many people who take amoxicillin experience little to no side effects. However, they’re still possible. These are some of the most common side effects of amoxicillin: 

• Diarrhea 

• Nausea 

• Vomiting

• Headache

• Skin rash 

• Temporary taste and smell changes

If you experience side effects like these, there are a few steps you can take to improve your symptoms. Managing amoxicillin side effects is discussed more in a previous GoodRx Health article. But if your side effects are bothersome or don’t go away, make sure to reach out to your healthcare provider. 

Tips on how to save money with your amoxicillin prescription

There are many ways to save on amoxicillin, which is available as both a brand-name and generic medication. GoodRx can help you save over 73% off the average retail price of the generic version. Generic amoxicillin at certain pharmacies is less than $3 with a free GoodRx discount.

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

John Maneno, PharmD

John Maneno, PharmD, is a licensed pharmacist and freelance writer. He completed a 2-year fellowship program with Belmont University and Aegis Sciences Corporation where he served as an instructor for biomedical literature evaluation and intro to drug information and informatics courses.

Edited by:

Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS

Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS, is a licensed pharmacist in Arizona, Colorado, and Rhode Island. He has worked in the pharmacy industry for more than 10 years and currently serves as a pharmacy editor for GoodRx.

Reviewed by:

Austin Ulrich, PharmD, BCACP

Austin Ulrich, PharmD, BCACP, is a board-certified ambulatory care clinical pharmacist. In his early career, he provided direct patient care in a variety of settings, including hospital and community pharmacies, and in a primary care clinic as a clinical pharmacist.

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