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How Do I Use Amoxicillin for Gonorrhea?

Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison

Amoxicillin is a common treatment for the sexually transmitted disease (STD) gonorrhea. Since this medication is only available by prescription, you can typically rely on your doctor for learning when and how to take it. Typically, however, doctors prescribe one dose of amoxicillin for gonorrhea, and this is enough to get rid of the infection. You can take this medication with food or without it, but you may benefit from taking it with food if it irritates your stomach. Side effects are possible when using amoxicillin for treating gonorrhea but are usually mild.

It is unlikely that you will have to figure out how to use amoxicillin for gonorrhea on your own. A doctor has to prescribe this medication for you and will typically provide instructions for doing taking it. It is usually critical that you follow your doctor’s instructions, as failure to do so might result in the treatment failing, an illness, or other harm to your health. For example, taking too little of this drug could allow the infection to continue to thrive while too much of it could cause unpleasant side effects.

Amoxicillin may be taken with or without food.
Amoxicillin may be taken with or without food.

Unlike other medications that you have to remember to take multiple times, you usually only have to take one dose of amoxicillin to treat gonorrhea. This means you can basically take it one time, usually in a relatively high, potent dosage, and then forget about it. You usually have the choice of whether you will take this medication with food or not, but doing so might help protect you from experiencing an upset stomach. There is, however, at least one brand of this drug that requires waiting one hour before taking it. As such, you will need to read the label on your prescription and follow it, along with your doctor’s instructions, before taking amoxicillin for gonorrhea.

Side effects of amoxicillin may include confusion and dizziness.
Side effects of amoxicillin may include confusion and dizziness.

When you are taking amoxicillin for gonorrhea, you might experience some unpleasant side effects, such as diarrhea, yeast infection, or feelings of increased anxiety. You might also feel nauseous after taking it, develop problems with sleeping, or experience confusion or dizziness. Some people also develop allergic reactions to this drug, such as hives or an itchy rash, swelling of the face and mouth, difficult breathing and wheezing, or seizures. Liver damage is a less likely but possible effect of taking amoxicillin. Severe side effects and signs of an allergic reaction typically warrant a doctor’s attention; minor side effects like nausea and loose bowels typically fade with time.

Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison

Nicole’s thirst for knowledge inspired her to become a TheHealthBoard writer, and she focuses primarily on topics such as homeschooling, parenting, health, science, and business. When not writing or spending time with her four children, Nicole enjoys reading, camping, and going to the beach.

Learn more...
Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison

Nicole’s thirst for knowledge inspired her to become a TheHealthBoard writer, and she focuses primarily on topics such as homeschooling, parenting, health, science, and business. When not writing or spending time with her four children, Nicole enjoys reading, camping, and going to the beach.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

burcidi

More so than anything, it's the dose of amoxicillin that matters for gonorrhea treatment. But the doctor has to decide the dose, so people can't just take it and hope it clears up their gonorrhea.

It's also a good idea to get tested after treatment to make sure the amoxicillin worked.

Eventually, amoxicillin will stop working for gonorrhea because the bacteria becomes resistant to antibiotics over time. Doctors used to prescribe a different antibiotic for gonorrhea some years ago but now they have switched to amoxicillin because the bacteria developed resistance.

candyquilt

@ZipLine-- I think amoxicillin is effective for gonorrhea most of the time, something like 80-90%. Amoxicillin is a penicilin group, that's why it's used for gonorrhea. All antibiotics are not the same, and yes, amoxicillin is a strong one.

Like the article said, doctors will usually prescribe amoxicillin in tablet form and high doses for a few days which is enough to treat most gonorrhea including oral gonorrhea.

Genital gonorrhea that is more serious might require a longer course of treatment. I think amoxicillin is also available in syringe form and that can be given for more serious cases of gonorrhea.

ZipLine

My doctor prescribed amoxicillin for me when I had a bad bacterial infection.

Isn't amoxicillin a general antibiotic and gonorrhea a really serious STD? It seems like amoxicillin wouldn't be enough to treat gonorrhea.

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    • Amoxicillin may be taken with or without food.
      By: .shock
      Amoxicillin may be taken with or without food.
    • Side effects of amoxicillin may include confusion and dizziness.
      By: arekmalang
      Side effects of amoxicillin may include confusion and dizziness.
    • Insomnia may be a side effect of amoxicillin.
      By: aseph
      Insomnia may be a side effect of amoxicillin.
    • Amoxicillin for gonorrhea must be prescribed by a physician.
      By: Oleksii Nykonchuk
      Amoxicillin for gonorrhea must be prescribed by a physician.
    • A doctor will provide detailed information on how to use amoxicillin.
      By: 18percentgrey
      A doctor will provide detailed information on how to use amoxicillin.
    • Untreated gonorrhea may lead to infertility.
      By: Monkey Business
      Untreated gonorrhea may lead to infertility.
    • Untreated gonorrhea in pregnant women may cause blindness in newborns.
      By: jamdesign
      Untreated gonorrhea in pregnant women may cause blindness in newborns.
    • Urine samples may be ordered to determine if a patient has gonorrhea.
      By: Rob Byron
      Urine samples may be ordered to determine if a patient has gonorrhea.