Amoxicillin is one of three antibiotics often prescribed to treat chlamydia, a sexually transmitted disease, but its effectiveness depends on the individual. Some people discover that they are immune to certain antibiotics or experience negative side effects, and his or her healthcare provider will switch medications. A seven day regimen of amoxicillin for chlamydia is usually prescribed because it works to inhibit the growth of the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. The severity of the disease may also change which antibiotic a physician prescribes because there are various stages of the disease.
Chlamydia can often be difficult to detect because it doesn't always have symptoms, or the symptoms may be so mild that they go unnoticed. The sufferer may not show any signs of disease until it has advanced, and so a medical professional should be consulted immediately. Women often notice abnormal vaginal discharge and pain during urination, which could be accompanied by a fever. Men usually experience pain during urination and may notice discharge around the tip of the penis.
Treatment usually includes taking antibiotic, such as amoxicillin, retesting once the antibiotic is completed, and refraining from any form of sexual activity until test results are negative. This disease is highly contagious and can be transmitted by various sexual acts as well as from mother to unborn child. Azrithromycin and doxycycline are the other two antibiotics commonly prescribed to treat chlamydia, and the determinant is usually based on the stage of the disease, the individual's medical history, and the prescribing physician.
If the disease goes untreated, severe complications can occur, including pelvic inflammatory disease in women and nongonococcal urethritis, a urethra infection, in men. The consequences for untreated pregnant women and their unborn children are much more severe. Children may experience lung problems, blindness, or pneumonia after birth. Pregnant women are the most common group that is prescribed amoxicillin for chlamydia because it is safer than the other aforementioned antibiotics, which are usually not recommended during pregnancy.
Preventatives for this and other sexually transmitted diseases is abstinence, limited sexual partners, safe sex, and frequent check-ups when sexually active. Chlamydia can be present for extended periods of time without any symptoms, which can be dangerous to the infected party as well as his or her sexual partners. All sexual activity should be avoided while a person is being treated for chlamydia because the patient is still contagious. The healthcare provider usually will retest him or her after the completion of the medication in case it was not effective and advise the patient when sexual activity can be resumed.
