Amoxicillin With Or Without Food?

In our latest question and answer, the pharmacist discusses whether or not amoxicillin needs to be taken with food for best effect.

Question

I was just prescribed amoxicillin but the label doesn't say anything about whether or not I should be taking it with food. I think I've heard you should take it with food. Should I?

Asked by Mona On Dec 26, 2021

Answered by
Medical Content Reviewed By HelloPharmacist Staff

Published Dec 26, 2021
Last updated Mar 28, 2024

Key points

  • Immediate-release amoxicillin products can be taken with or without food. Food has no effect on how well the medication works.
  • Food, especially certain foods like yogurt and those that are high in fiber, can help reduce nausea and other stomach-related side effects (e.g. cramping, diarrhea, etc...)
  • Moxatag, an extended-release amoxicillin product, is recommended to be taken with food.

Hi there and thanks for reaching out!

I hope your tooth infection isn't causing too many problems for you.

To answer your question directly, amoxicillin can be taken with or without food. Food has no bearing on the effectiveness of the medication.

There are certainly cases where food is an important consideration when taking medication, but amoxicillin isn't one of them (there is an exception, however, extended-release amoxicillin tablets, which I discuss later on).

Food Considerations

As stated, you can take amoxicillin with or without food. This is true for all dosage forms of immediate-release amoxicillin, including:

  • Suspension
  • Capsules
  • Tablets

Several studies have confirmed that the total absorption of amoxicillin is not significantly different when you compare taking it with food to taking it without food.

One such study concluded the following:

The results showed little or no effect of fasting [i.e. without food] versus nonfasting [i.e. with food] on amoxicillin absorption....
Pharmacokinetics of amoxicillin and ampicillin: crossover study of the effect of food

The bottom line is, whether or not you decide to take amoxicillin with food or not, the medication has the same effectiveness.

What About Side Effects?

Now, it is a common belief that taking medication with food can help reduce potential side effects involving the stomach (e.g. nausea, cramping, diarrhea, bloating, etc...) and there are many reasons why this is true.

Taking food can help buffer the gastric acid that is secreted in response to taking medication on an empty stomach.

Food also reduces the speed at which the contents of the stomach are released to the small intestine (i.e. slow gastric emptying), which can help lessen the chance of diarrhea occurring.

Food containing fiber and probiotics has been found to be especially helpful.

When compared to other antibiotics, amoxicillin is fairly well-tolerated, and stomach problems aren't actually all that common with the drug.

Studies indicate the incidence rate of diarrhea and nausea is around 2% and 1.3% respectively.  It should be noted that Augmentin, which contains amoxicillin and clavulanic acid, is more likely to cause stomach problems. The prescribing information for Augmentin lists incidence rates of diarrhea and nausea at 2-15% and 2-3%, respectively.

Nevertheless, if you are experiencing side effects involving your stomach with amoxicillin, food can certainly help (a fiber-containing food or yogurt may be most helpful).

Does Food Matter With Any Drugs?

It is true that some medications should be taken with food while others should be taken on an empty stomach.

One example of a medication where food is necessary is Latuda (lurasidone). This medication is recommended to be taken with a meal of at least 350 calories for optimal absorption.

An example of a medication that should be taken on an empty stomach is levothyroxine, and again, optimal absorption is the reason for this.

Be sure to follow the directions on your prescription label regarding food consumption and if you have any questions, reach out to your doctor or pharmacist.

Moxatag

I do want to mention that while food doesn't matter with immediate-release amoxicillin products, it does matter with a newer form of amoxicillin, Moxatag (amoxicillin extended-release).

This form of amoxicillin is not commonly prescribed due to the high cost and the availability of immediate-release amoxicillin products (which work just as well).

Nevertheless, if you have been prescribed Moxatag, it should be taken with food. Per the prescribing information for the drug:

Patients should be informed that the recommended dose of MOXATAG is 775 mg once daily taken with food for 10 days. MOXATAG should be taken within 1 hour of finishing a meal and at approximately the same time every day
Moxatag Prescribing Information

Final Words

Thanks for reaching out to us and I hope your infection clears up quickly!

References

  • Amoxil Prescribing Information, AccessFDA
  • Pharmacokinetics of amoxicillin and ampicillin: crossover study of the effect of food, PubMed
  • Pharmacokinetics of Amoxicillin and Ampicillin: Crossover Study of the Effect of Food, PubMed
  • Protein meals reduce nausea and gastric slow wave dysrhythmic activity in first trimester pregnancy, PubMed
  • Moxatag Prescribing Information, AccessFDA
  • Latuda Prescribing Information, AccessFDA

About the Pharmacist

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD

Dr. Brian has been practicing pharmacy for over 13 years and has wide-ranging experiences in many different areas of the profession. From retail, clinical, program development, and administrative responsibilities, he's your knowledgeable and go-to source for all your pharmacy and medication-related questions! Dr. Brian Staiger also has herbalist training and educational certificates in the field of medical ethnobotany. Feel free to send him an email at [email protected]! You can also connect with Dr. Brian Staiger on LinkedIn.

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