OSPAMOX

Ospamox 500 mg/5 mL is a penicillin antibiotic containing the active substance amoxicillin. It is supplied as a powder from which a doctor or pharmacist prepares an oral suspension for children and adults.

The medicine is used to treat certain infections caused by bacteria that are susceptible to amoxicillin. It does not work against viruses and should not be used for a cold, influenza or another viral infection without a diagnosed bacterial infection and medical advice.

Ospamox – what is it used for and how is it administered correctly?

What is Ospamox used for?

When considered appropriate by a doctor, amoxicillin may be used to treat:

• acute bacterial sinusitis;
• acute middle-ear infection;
• streptococcal tonsillitis and pharyngitis;
• acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis;
• community-acquired pneumonia;
• certain urinary tract infections;
• dental abscess with spreading infection;
• Lyme disease;
• other confirmed bacterial infections according to medical assessment.

In combination with other medicines, amoxicillin may also be used in regimens intended to eradicate Helicobacter pylori. It may also be used for endocarditis prophylaxis in specifically selected patients and procedures.

How is the dose determined?

The doctor determines the dose and duration of treatment according to the type, location and severity of the infection, as well as the patient’s age, body weight and kidney function.

• For children weighing less than 40 kg, the dose is generally calculated according to body weight.
• Adults and children weighing 40 kg or more receive doses selected by the doctor for the particular infection.
• Patients with impaired kidney function may require a reduced dose or longer intervals between doses.
• Doses should be distributed evenly throughout the day, with at least four hours between doses.
• Ospamox may be taken with or without food.

Correct use of the suspension

• The suspension should be reconstituted by a doctor or pharmacist.
• Shake the bottle vigorously before every dose.
• Measure the prescribed amount carefully using the supplied spoon or another appropriate dosing device.
• Take the antibiotic in the prescribed dose, at the prescribed times and for the entire period determined by the doctor.
• Do not stop treatment as soon as the symptoms improve.
• Do not save leftover antibiotic for another infection or give it to another person.

If a dose is missed: take or give it when remembered, but leave approximately four hours before the next dose. Do not use a double dose to make up for a forgotten one.

When should Ospamox not be used?

Do not use this medicine:

• in patients allergic to amoxicillin, penicillins or any of the other ingredients;
• if the patient has previously had a serious allergic reaction to an antibiotic, including swelling of the face or throat;
• without immediate medical reassessment if signs of severe hypersensitivity develop during treatment.

Special warnings and precautions

Before use, tell the doctor if the patient has infectious mononucleosis, impaired kidney function, reduced urination, liver disease or a previous allergic reaction to an antibiotic.

Amoxicillin may affect the results of certain blood and urine tests. The doctor and laboratory staff should be told that the patient is taking Ospamox.

Prolonged use may lead to excessive growth of microorganisms not susceptible to amoxicillin, including fungal infections affecting the mouth, skin or genital area.

Interactions with other medicines

It is particularly important to tell the doctor if the patient uses:

• allopurinol, because the risk of a skin reaction may be increased;
• probenecid, because it can alter the elimination of amoxicillin;
• warfarin or other medicines affecting blood clotting;
• methotrexate, because amoxicillin may increase the risk of its adverse effects;
• tetracyclines or other antibiotics.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Women who are pregnant, breastfeeding or planning a pregnancy should consult a doctor before using the medicine. The doctor will assess the expected benefit and possible risk in the individual case.

Possible side effects

Common side effects include:

• skin rash;
• nausea;
• diarrhoea.

Vomiting may occur uncommonly. Less common effects include candidiasis, kidney disorders, dizziness, seizures in patients receiving high doses or with kidney impairment, crystals in the urine and changes in blood-cell counts.

Diarrhoea is relatively common during antibiotic treatment, but severe, persistent or bloody diarrhoea requires medical assessment. Do not use medicines that stop bowel movement without professional advice.

If more medicine has been used than prescribed

An overdose may cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, disturbances of fluid and electrolyte balance and crystals in the urine. Contact a doctor as soon as possible and take the medicine pack with you.

Storage of the prepared suspension

• Before preparation, store the powder below 25°C in a tightly closed bottle.
• Keep the prepared suspension refrigerated at 2°C to 8°C.
• Use the prepared suspension within 14 days.
• Shake the bottle before every dose.
• Return unused medicine to a pharmacy that collects pharmaceutical waste.

Composition and important excipients

Five millilitres of the prepared oral suspension contain 500 mg of amoxicillin as amoxicillin trihydrate.

The medicine contains aspartame, sodium benzoate, benzyl alcohol, benzyl benzoate, sorbitol, glucose and a very small amount of sulphites. Because it contains aspartame, particular caution is required in patients with phenylketonuria. In newborns and very young children, the medicine must be used only under clear medical instructions.

Official sources:

• ALIMS – Patient Information Leaflet for Ospamox 500 mg/5 mL
• ALIMS – Summary of Product Characteristics for Ospamox 500 mg/5 mL

Patient information leaflet last approved: March 2023. Information prepared on 1 August 2026.