What Is Amoxicillin Prescribed For?

Many people may wonder, "What is amoxicillin prescribed for?" As a type of antibiotic, amoxicillin (Amoxil^®) is approved to treat the following conditions in adults and children (even very young infants):

Ear infections
Nose infections
Throat infections, such as "strep throat"
Urinary tract infections (UTIs), such as bladder infections or kidney infections
Lower respiratory tract infections (such as pneumonia)
Gonorrhea
Helicobacter pylori infections in people with small intestine ulcers (when combined with other antibiotics).

Your healthcare provider may also recommend amoxicillin for something other than the conditions listed above. The medicine is frequently used to treat many other types of infections, particularly if they are caused by bacteria that are susceptible to amoxicillin. Also, using the drug to prevent (instead of treat) any type of infection is considered to be an off-label use of amoxicillin.

(Click Amoxicillin Uses for more information on what the drug is used for, how amoxicillin works, and whether it is safe for children.)