Key takeaways:
Amoxicillin is a penicillin antibiotic that’s commonly prescribed for bacterial infections. It’s available with a prescription from a healthcare professional.
Amoxicillin can interact with medications such as warfarin (Jantoven), allopurinol (Zyloprim), and probenecid (Probalan). It may also interact with alcohol and some live vaccines.
Make sure to provide an updated medication list to your prescriber and pharmacist. This will help them check for amoxicillin interactions.
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At some point, you or a loved one have likely received a prescription for amoxicillin. It’s a common, low-cost penicillin antibiotic that’s available at pharmacies across the U.S. It treats bacterial infections ranging from skin infections to infections of the ears, nose, and throat.
Amoxicillin is also considered safe to take. However, interactions with other medications are still possible. Some interactions can worsen amoxicillin’s side effects, while others may impact the effectiveness of the interacting medication.
Sharing your current medication list with your healthcare team is the best way to manage amoxicillin interactions up front. But it’s helpful to be aware of common ones before you start taking it. We’ll discuss six of them below.
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1. Warfarin
Warfarin (Jantoven) is a blood thinner that treats and prevents blood clots. If you take warfarin, your healthcare team likely warned you about possible interactions with food, medications, and even supplements. Some interactions enhance warfarin’s effects, which worsens the risk of easy bleeding or bruising. Others make warfarin less effective, which raises the risk of blood clots.
Many antibiotics, including amoxicillin, might increase the risk of bleeding with warfarin. As a precaution, your healthcare team might check your blood work more often while you’re taking the combination. Based on test results, they might adjust your warfarin dose to help prevent side effects.
Listening to your body is another good precaution to take. Watch for any signs of unusual bruising or bleeding when taking warfarin. This could include black or red stools, bleeding gums, or unexplained nosebleeds. Report these to your healthcare team right away if they happen.
2. Allopurinol
Allopurinol (Zyloprim) is a common medication for gout. But allopurinol has a risk of causing skin rashes, which can range from mild to severe. Skin rashes are also a possible side effect of amoxicillin. If you take them together, there’s a greater risk of developing skin rashes.
In rare cases, this combination could lead to a dangerous condition called drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome. This is a severe allergic reaction to a medication. Possible symptoms include fever, a widespread peeling rash, and swollen lymph nodes.
If you notice a skin rash of any severity while taking allopurinol, stop taking the medication and contact your prescriber for advice. You should get medical help right away if you develop a blistering skin rash with a fever. This could be a sign of a severe skin reaction, including DRESS syndrome.
Skin rashes have another layer of complexity. Some amoxicillin rashes may be related to a penicillin allergy. Call 911 or seek emergency help if you develop symptoms such as hives, trouble breathing, or swelling in the face, tongue, or throat.
3. Probenecid
Probenecid (Probalan) is another gout medication that can interact with amoxicillin. It makes amoxicillin stick around for longer in your body.
If you take probenecid and amoxicillin together, there’s a higher risk of developing amoxicillin side effects, such as new or worsening nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. Tell your healthcare team if these side effects persist or get worse while taking amoxicillin or after completing your treatment course.
How to take it: The amount of amoxicillin you’ll need to take will vary based on your age and other factors. Learn more about amoxicillin dosages for kids and adults.
A fast action plan: Amoxicillin starts working pretty quickly. But its effects aren’t immediate. Here’s what to know about how long amoxicillin takes to work.
Feeling under the weather? Explore one pharmacist’s breakdown of amoxicillin side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, and how to manage them.
4. Certain antibiotics
Amoxicillin may interact with antibiotics such as sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim (Bactim), tetracyclines (tetracycline, doxycycline), and macrolides (azithromycin, clarithromycin). Lab data suggests that these antibiotics may interfere with amoxicillin’s effects, but this hasn’t been confirmed.
Thankfully, this interaction is pretty easy to avoid. Your healthcare professional likely won’t prescribe these antibiotics at the same time. But if they do, they can tell you about the pros and cons of taking them together.
5. Certain live vaccines
Vaccines help our bodies learn to fight infections before we come across the viruses or bacteria that cause them. But many antibiotics — including amoxicillin — can make some live vaccines less effective. Examples include the live cholera vaccine (Vaxchora) and the live typhoid (Vivotif) vaccine. These are vaccines you might receive before you travel to certain countries.
If you plan to get vaccines like these in the future, your healthcare professional may recommend separating them from your antibiotic. Be sure to follow their instructions, but these are the general guidelines to follow:
Vaxchora: Separate Vaxchora and your last amoxicillin dose by at least 14 days (2 weeks).
Vivotif: Separate Vivotif and your last amoxicillin dose by at least 72 hours (3 days).
Not all live vaccines interact with amoxicillin. Only a few are affected. This interaction is also not a concern for other types of vaccines, including COVID-19 vaccines and flu shots.
6. Alcohol
“Can I drink alcohol with my antibiotic?” This is a common question that pharmacists hear. For good reason, too. Mixing some antibiotics with alcohol may cause unpleasant, and even dangerous, side effects. It can also make it harder for antibiotics to do their job.
Amoxicillin alone can cause side effects like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. But alcohol can also cause these side effects. When they’re combined, they may feel more intense. What’s more, alcohol can weaken your immune system. This can make it harder for amoxicillin and your immune system to fight your infection.
Because of these risks, it’s best to not mix alcohol with amoxicillin. But if you’re interested in raising your glass, talk to your healthcare team to see if it's safe to drink in moderation while taking amoxicillin.
Does amoxicillin interact with birth control pills?
It’s a common myth that all antibiotics make birth control pills less effective. This is only true for some antibiotics, such as rifampin and rifabutin. These rifamycin antibiotics can lower the amount of hormones that your body absorbs from your birth control.
This isn’t the case for antibiotics like amoxicillin. If you’re taking amoxicillin, it shouldn’t interfere with your birth control. Studies show that non-rifamycin antibiotics don’t lower the effectiveness of birth control.
Still, if you’re worried about pregnancy while taking antibiotics, there are other precautions you can take. Talk to your healthcare team about other birth control options that may fit your lifestyle, such as condoms.
Can you take Tylenol with amoxicillin?
Yes, it’s OK to take Tylenol (acetaminophen) with amoxicillin. There aren’t any interactions between the two medications. If your infection is causing pain or a fever, Tylenol is one option to help calm your symptoms. Kids and adults can both take it.
But keep in mind that Tylenol isn’t safe for everyone to take. If you have liver problems, have a high alcohol intake, or are fasting, ask your healthcare team if taking Tylenol is a good idea. You may be told to skip it or take a lower dose.
Can you take ibuprofen with amoxicillin?
Yes, you can also take ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) with amoxicillin. If you need pain or fever relief, you can turn to ibuprofen. You can also alternate back and forth between Tylenol and ibuprofen since they work differently. However, if you have kidney problems or heart problems, ask your healthcare team if ibuprofen is safe for you to take.
Can you take NyQuil with amoxicillin?
Yes, you can generally take NyQuil and amoxicillin together. There are no known interactions between the two.
Keep in mind that NyQuil products can contain a variety of ingredients. If you’re taking other medications for your symptoms, check with your healthcare team to avoid duplicate ingredients.
Can you take Mucinex with amoxicillin?
Yes, it’s usually safe to take Mucinex (guaifenesin) with amoxicillin. There are no known interactions between them. If you’re dealing with chest congestion, some people find that Mucinex helps loosen mucus in the airways, making it easier to breathe.
There are many Mucinex products available, each with their own ingredients. Your healthcare team can help ensure you aren’t doubling up on anything if you’re taking multiple medications.
Frequently asked questions
The most common side effect of amoxicillin is stomach upset, including nausea, diarrhea, or mild abdominal discomfort. Taking your amoxicillin dose with food can help lessen these side effects, which should resolve after you’ve completed your treatment course.
Avoid alcohol and limit high-fat or high-acid foods, which may upset your stomach while taking antibiotics. Some antibiotics don’t mix well with dairy, but this isn’t a concern with amoxicillin.
The most common side effect of amoxicillin is stomach upset, including nausea, diarrhea, or mild abdominal discomfort. Taking your amoxicillin dose with food can help lessen these side effects, which should resolve after you’ve completed your treatment course.
There are no specific vitamins that must be avoided with amoxicillin. Some minerals, such as calcium, magnesium, or iron, can interfere with how certain antibiotics are absorbed. But these aren’t a major concern with amoxicillin.
Avoid alcohol and limit high-fat or high-acid foods, which may upset your stomach while taking antibiotics. Some antibiotics don’t mix well with dairy, but this isn’t a concern with amoxicillin.
The bottom line
Amoxicillin interacts with medications such as warfarin (Jantoven), allopurinol (Zyloprim), and probenecid (Probalan). It can also cause trouble with alcohol and interact with live vaccines for cholera and typhoid. To prevent interactions, make sure to give your prescriber and pharmacist your most current medication list.
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References
Baillargeon, J., et al. (2012). Concurrent use of warfarin and antibiotics and the risk of bleeding in older adults. American Journal of Medicine.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025). Medication and vaccine interactions in travel medicine.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025). Vaccination and immunoprophylaxis—general principles.
DailyMed. (n.d.). Search results for: Mucinex.
Fredj, N. B., et al. (2010). Hypersensitivity to amoxicillin after drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) to carbamazepine and allopurinol: A possible co-sensitization. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.
Preferred Pharmaceuticals. (2025). Allopurinol- allopurinol tablet [package insert].
Simmons, K. B., et al. (2018). Drug interactions between non-rifamycin antibiotics and hormonal contraception: A systematic review. American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Teva Pharmaceuticals. (2024). Amoxicillin- amoxicillin tablet, film coated; Amoxicillin- amoxicillin powder, for suspension; Amoxicillin- amoxicillin tablet, chewable; Amoxicillin- amoxicillin capsule [package insert].
