Amoxicillin is an antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections. The recommended dosage for amoxicillin 500mg capsules or tablets is one capsule or tablet every 8 hours or one capsule or tablet every 12 hours, depending on the type and severity of infection being treated.
Quick answers
- The standard dosage is one 500mg amoxicillin capsule or tablet every 8 hours or one 500mg capsule or tablet every 12 hours.
- Amoxicillin should be taken at evenly spaced intervals to maintain a constant level of the antibiotic in the body.
- For standard dosing, amoxicillin 500mg capsules or tablets should be taken every 8 hours or every 12 hours.
- Taking amoxicillin 500mg closer together than every 8 hours increases side effects without improving effectiveness.
- Spreading doses further apart than every 12 hours increases the chance that the antibiotic level will fall too low to fully treat the infection.
Dosage guidelines
Here are the general dosage guidelines for amoxicillin 500mg capsules or tablets:
- Adults and children over 12:
- Standard dose: One 500mg capsule or tablet every 8 hours or one 500mg capsule or tablet every 12 hours
- High dose (severe infections): One 500mg capsule or tablet every 8 hours
- Children under 12:
- Child’s weight under 40 lbs: 20-40mg per kg body weight per day divided every 8 or 12 hours
- Child’s weight over 40 lbs: Same dosage as adults
For skin infections, the total daily dosage may be divided and given every 6 to 8 hours.
How long apart?
For standard every 8 hour dosing, amoxicillin 500mg capsules or tablets should be taken every 8 hours. That means there should be 8 hours between each dose.
For every 12 hour dosing, there should be 12 hours between each 500mg dose of amoxicillin.
8 hour dosing schedule examples
- 8am – 500mg amoxicillin
- 4pm (8 hours after morning dose) – 500mg amoxicillin
- 12 midnight (8 hours after evening dose) – 500mg amoxicillin
12 hour dosing schedule examples
- 8am – 500mg amoxicillin
- 8pm (12 hours after morning dose) – 500mg amoxicillin
Can you take amoxicillin closer together?
It is not recommended to take amoxicillin 500mg doses closer than every 8 hours. Taking amoxicillin more frequently than every 8 hours will not improve effectiveness but can increase the risk of side effects like nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
What if a dose is missed?
If a scheduled dose of amoxicillin 500mg is missed, it should be taken as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for the next scheduled dose, skip the missed dose and continue as normal. Do not take two doses at once to make up for a missed dose.
Conclusion
For amoxicillin 500mg capsules or tablets, the standard dosage schedule is one 500mg dose every 8 hours or one 500mg dose every 12 hours. Each dose should be spaced evenly apart – either 8 hours or 12 hours between doses. Taking amoxicillin doses too close together reduces effectiveness and increases side effects. Spreading doses too far apart increases risk that antibiotic levels will drop too low to fully treat an infection. Following the recommended 8 or 12 hour dosing schedule helps ensure the best results from amoxicillin treatment.