Antibiotics Home > More Info on Amoxicillin's Indications
Amoxicillin belongs to a group of medications known as aminopenicillins, which is part of a larger group of medications known as beta-lactam antibiotics (named after the ring-like "lactam" structure of these antibiotics). It works by stopping bacteria from making cell walls, which eventually causes the bacteria to die.
Amoxicillin is approved for use in children, including very young infants. Be sure to talk to your healthcare provider about using amoxicillin in children. Amoxicillin is available in liquid form and as chewable tablets for use in children.
On occasion, your healthcare provider may recommend amoxicillin for something other than the conditions discussed in this article. Amoxicillin 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 amoxicillin use.