Augmentin Drug Description - Amoxicillin/Clavulanate

[Amoxicillin/Clavulanate]

DESCRIPTION

Augmentin is an oral antibacterial combination consisting of the semisynthetic antibiotic amoxicillin and the -lactamase inhibitor, clavulanate potassium (the potassium salt of clavulanic acid). Amoxicillin is an analog of ampicillin, derived from the basic penicillin nucleus, 6-aminopenicillanic acid. The amoxicillin molecular formula is C16H19N3O5S° 3H2O and the molecular weight is 419.46. Chemically, amoxicillin is (2S, 5R, 6R)-6-[( R)-(-)-2-Amino-2-( p-hydroxyphenyl) acetamido]-3,3-dimethyl-7-oxo-4-thia-1-azabicyclo[ 3.2.0] heptane-2-carboxylic acid trihydrate.

Clavulanic acid is produced by the fermentation of Streptomyces clavuligerus. It is a -lactam structurally related to the penicillins and possesses the ability to inactivate a wide variety of -lactamases by blocking the active sites of these enzymes. Clavulanic acid is particularly active against the clinically important plasmid mediated -lactamases frequently responsible for transferred drug resistance to penicillins and cephalosporins. The clavulanate potassium molecular formula is C8H8KNO5 and the molecular weight is 237.25. Chemically clavulanate potassium is potassium (Z)-( 2R, 5R)-3-( 2-hydroxyethylidene)-7-oxo-4-oxa-1-azabicyclo[ 3.2.0] -heptane-2-carboxylate.

Inactive Ingredients

Colloidal silicon dioxide, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, polyethylene glycol, sodium starch glycolate and titanium dioxide. Each Augmentin tablet contains 0.63 mEq potassium.