Moxatag

The prescription antibiotic Moxatag is used for the treatment of strep throat in adults and children age 12 and older. It is the first amoxicillin medication that only has to be taken once a day. By stopping bacteria from making cell walls, this drug can help stop bacteria from growing and multiplying. Possible side effects include nausea, diarrhea, and yeast infections.

What Is Moxatag?

Moxatag™ (amoxicillin ER) is a prescription antibiotic approved to treat strep throat in people age 12 and older. It is the first, once-a-day amoxicillin medication.

(Click Moxatag Uses for more information, including possible off-label uses.)

Who Makes It?

Moxatag is made by MiddleBrook Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

How Does the Medication Work?

Moxatag belongs to a group of drugs 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 (the active ingredient in Moxatag) causes "concentration-dependent killing" of bacteria. Essentially, this means that amoxicillin will be most effective if a certain minimum blood level of the drug is maintained for the longest period of time. This is why most amoxicillin products should be taken multiple times per day.

However, Moxatag is uniquely designed to provide three separate releases of the medication, prolonging the time that the minimum effective blood levels are achieved. This allows the medication to be taken just once a day and to be taken at a lower dosage, compared to most other amoxicillin products.

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