Can You Take Amoxicillin And Prednisone Together?
In our latest question and answer, our pharmacist discusses whether or not amoxicillin can be taken with prednisone.
I have a sinus infection and was given prednisone and amoxicillin. I never asked if they are safe together. Can I take them at the same time?
Jan 18, 2023- There is no known drug interaction between amoxicillin and prednisone, and they are considered safe to take together.
- Prednisone can suppress the immune system, but a short-term course typically won't do so to a clinically significant degree for most people.
- The benefits of adding prednisone to antibiotics for conditions like sinus infections appear to be relatively modest and require more research.
Answer
Thanks so much for reaching out! There is no known drug interaction between amoxicillin and prednisone. They are considered safe to take together.
In fact, although medical recommendations regarding the use of steroids to help treat symptoms of a sinus infection are mixed, Medrol (methylprednisolone), a steroid very similar to prednisone, is very commonly prescribed alongside amoxicillin. Typically, it is prescribed as a 'Medrol Dose Pack'.
I do want to point out however, that corticosteroids (like prednisone) are linked to the suppression of the immune system, which could theoretically increase the risk of infection (we answered a question about this recently for someone who was concerned about combining azithromycin and prednisone).
Nevertheless, for most individuals, a short-term course of a steroid like prednisone won't suppress the immune system to a clinically significant degree.
As a final point here, I say that medical recommendations are mixed because although some studies report that steroids can slightly shorten the time to symptom improvement, overall, the benefits of systemic steroids (i.e., taking a steroid by mouth) are thought to be relatively small and more studies are needed to see if the benefits outweigh the risks. One study concluded:
Current data on the use of oral corticosteroids [e.g., prednisone] as an adjunctive therapy to oral antibiotics are limited: almost all trials are performed in secondary care settings and there is a significant risk of bias. This limited evidence suggests that oral corticosteroids in combination with antibiotics may be modestly beneficial for short-term relief of symptoms in acute sinusitis, with a number needed to treat to benefit of seven for resolution or symptom improvement. A large primary care factorial trial is needed to establish whether oral corticosteroids offer additional benefits over antibiotics in acute sinusitis.
Final Words
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References & sources
Glossary — Terms in This Answer
- Drug interaction
- A change in how a medication works when combined with another drug, which can be harmful or reduce effectiveness.
- Amoxicillin
- An antibiotic medication used to treat bacterial infections.
- Prednisone
- A corticosteroid medication that reduces inflammation and suppresses the immune system.
- Corticosteroids
- A class of anti-inflammatory medications that suppress immune system activity.
- Immune system suppression
- A weakening of the body's natural ability to fight off infections and diseases.
- Adjunctive therapy
- A secondary treatment used together with the main treatment to improve results.
- Acute sinusitis
- A sudden, short-term inflammation of the sinuses, usually caused by infection.
- Oral corticosteroids
- Corticosteroid medications taken by mouth in pill or liquid form.
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD
Doctor of Pharmacy, board certified clinical pharmacist (BCPS), American Herbalist Guild, Medication Therapy Management certified
Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS, is a licensed pharmacist with more than 13 years of experience across retail pharmacy, clinical pharmacy, medication safety, pharmacy program development, and healthcare administration. He is the founder of HelloPharmacist.com, where he helps patients...
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