Clavulanic acid used, Side effects, Dose, & more

 Clavulanic acid

Brand name:- Agumentine, Amoxyclav, Clavam, Mahacef cv 625.

Clavulanic acid is a β- lactam drug that functions as a mechanism-based β -lactamase inhibitor. While not effective by itself as an antibiotic, when combined with penicillin-group antibiotics, it can overcome antibiotic resistance in bacteria that secrete β -lactamase, which otherwise inactivates most penicillins. It is mostly used with amoxycillin combination.

Amoxycillin + Clavulanic Acid is a combination of two medicines: amoxycillin and Clavulanic Acid. Amoxycillin is an antibiotic. It works by preventing the formation of the bacterial protective covering which is essential for the survival of bacteria. Clavulanic Acid is a beta- lactamase inhibitor which reduces resistance and enhances the activity of amoxycillin against bacteria.

Pharmacodynamic:-

Clavulanic acid inactivates some beta-lactamase enzymes that are produced by bacteria, therefore preventing enzymatic destruction of amoxicillin. This helps to treat a variety of bacterial infections which would otherwise be resistant to antibiotics without the addition of clavulanic acid.

 Pharmacokinetics:- 

Clavulanic acid has rapid oral absorption and a bioavailability of 60%; can also be injected. It's elimination t½ of 1 hour and tissue distribution matches amoxicillin, with which it is combined ( called coamoxiclav ). However, it is eliminated mainly by glomerular filtration and it's excretion is not affected by probenecid . Moreover, it is largely hydrolysed and decarboxylated before excretion, while amoxicillin is primarily excreted unchanged by tubular secretion.

Mechanism of action:- 

Clavulanic acid contains a beta-lactam ring in its structure that binds in an irreversible fashion to beta-lactamases, preventing them from inactivating certain beta-lactam antibiotics, with efficacy in treating susceptible gram-positive and gram-negative infections.

Used:- 

Used in the treatment of bacterial infections. It is indicated for short-term treatment of bacterial infections of respiratory tract, genito- urinary tract, skin, bone, and tooth among others.

Side effects:- 

Vomiting, Nausea, Diarrhea, Mucocutaneous candidiasis.

Dose:-  AS DIRECTED BY YOUR DOCTOR.