Child prescribed two bottles of amoxicillin and a 10ml dose.

[amy12464]

My son has just turned 5 last month and he’s currently got a temp and very lethargic. his tonsils are enlarged too and earlier on he had hives for the first time. It’s just been a lot. He’s been prescribed an antibiotic but it’s two bottles 100 ml each which the doctor never mentioned. It’s also an 10 ml dose 3 times a day. He’ll be having his first dose soon. Can anyone share their experience with their child taking this and the dose and if they faced any side affects. Balancing it with the Calpol and ibuprofen he already has been having is not going to be fun

What antibiotic is it, is it flavoured, can you post a pic of the label without his name. Once the antibiotics start working hopefully you can cut down on the calpol and brufen.

The title says it's Amoxicillin

I think it’s banana flavour . But two bottles of this

Hi there, the antibiotics dose is normally calculated by the weight of the child, so it's hard to compare between children by age as there can be big height/weight differences. My child is often on a range of antibiotics but not normally amoxicillin.

The liquid comes in different strengths, the bottle will probably say Amoxicillin liquid containing either 125mg in 5ml or 250mg in 5ml. Do you have two bottles because one bottle won't contain enough doses to finish the antibiotics course?

Antibiotics can often cause diarrhea, just to warn you.

My 4year old boy has had that a couple of times, he gets 2 choc buttons or equivalent sweets after each dose. (Sorry all those MNers that can't abide kids having sweets! ;) ) always helps the battle and takes away the taste!

They both say 250mg/5ml but on the packaging says to give 2 spoons of 5ml per dose

My child gets the liquid via syringe and then something nice to drink to take the taste away, but this looks like one of the child friendly liquids so may not taste as bad. She is normally on co-amoxiclav or azithromycin and they are often given to adults and taste really strong and quite nasty. We used to try to hide the taste in yoghurt etc but it was too strong to disguise. Good luck, I hope he feels better soon.

Hi dose he have the the one 5ml dose or two. Mine is 5 so he’s to take 10ml per dose. He’s literally just tired 5 and he’s small for his age which is what makes me nervous. Him having to go through two bottles jsut seems like a lot

My DC have had that antibiotic a number of times between them, OP. It’s fine. It’s usually banana flavour or similar and not gross. It’s not unusual to have two bottles at all. You need enough to finish the course. How many days is he taking it for?

500mg is the right dose for a 5 year old according to the BNF for children. What is it that concerns you? He has 2 bottles because at 3 times a day that is 30ml per day so a bottle will only last 3 days and presumably his course of antibiotics is for longer than that. If you have any questions about those dose given to your child then speak to your pharmacist who can give you more information and answer questions, that is what they are qualified to do.

Pharmacist here.
If you Google "BNF for Children amoxicillin", which is the reference doctors and pharmacists prescribe according to, it shows you the medical guidance.
It says:
Child 5–11 years
500 mg 3 times a day, increased if necessary up to 30 mg/kg 3 times a day (max. per dose 1 g).
and as the liquid contains 250mg in 5ml, the dose of 10ml is correct to get the 500mg required

https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drugs/amoxicillin/#indications-and-dose

If you look at the indications and dose section 500mg so 10mls of amoxicillin is the correct dose for 5 year olds. The 2 bottles are so you have enough liquid to finish the course of the antibiotics. It is tough getting all that medicine in them but important to make them better. Amoxicillin is one of the more palatable ones so less awful to taste than others!

Your GP has referred to the BNF which contains prescribing doses. The dose for a child 5-11 is 500mg three times a day which is what you were prescribed. You have 2 bottles as presumably you have been prescribed a 5 or 7 day course which is more than in 1 bottle.

Its worth calling the pharmacy or prescriber in future if you are concerned about prescription medication

Firstly - don’t get confused and give 10ml from each bottle - I know I’m probably saying something very obvious here but use one bottle completely and then start the next. You’d be surprised how many things like this I’ve see over the years in the pharmacy I used to work in. Your son will hopefully start to feel better quite quickly - no need for concern giving this medication. Just crack on and wait for him to be on the mend.

Think you everyone for your input feel so much better. It’s just been a rough few days I think I just needed that extra reassurance he’s not eating much tbh due to his tonsils so just putting all this medication in him isn’t great but it is what it is

If he's not eating at all, try clear apple juice or maybe custard? My daughter is in hospital a lot and they'll give those to try to get calories and fluid into them.

That’s the correct dose of amoxycillin 250mg/5ml for a 5 year old OP. Get it started ASAP, poor little boy is in desperate need of it by the sounds of your post. Risks v benefits and in the case of your little boy, the benefits definitely outweigh the risks.