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Moxatag

Generic name: amoxicillinam-OX-i-sil-in ]
Drug class: Aminopenicillins

Medically reviewed by Philip Thornton, DipPharm. Last updated on Jan 2, 2024.

What is Moxatag?

Moxatag is a penicillin antibiotic that fights bacteria.

Moxatag extended release tablets are used to treat tonsillitis and/or pharyngitis secondary to Streptococcus pyogenes (S. pyogenes) in adults and children 12 yrs and older.

Moxatag is an extended release tablet consisting of three parts, an immediate-release and two delayed-release components, each containing amoxicillin.

Warnings

Do not use Moxatag if you are allergic to amoxicillin or to any other penicillin antibiotic, such as ampicillin (Omnipen, Principen), dicloxacillin (Dycill, Dynapen), oxacillin (Bactocill), penicillin (Beepen-VK, Ledercillin VK, Pen-V, Pen-Vee K, Pfizerpen, V-Cillin K, Veetids), and others.

Before using Moxatag, tell your doctor if you are allergic to cephalosporins such as Omnicef, Cefzil, Ceftin, Keflex, and others. Also tell your doctor if you have asthma, liver or kidney disease, a bleeding or blood clotting disorder, mononucleosis (also called "mono"), or any type of allergy.

Amoxicillin can make birth control pills less effective. Ask your doctor about using a non-hormone method of birth control (such as a condom, diaphragm, spermicide) to prevent pregnancy while taking this medicine. Take this medication for the full prescribed length of time. Your symptoms may improve before the infection is completely cleared. Amoxicillin will not treat a viral infection such as the common cold or flu. Do not share this medication with another person, even if they have the same symptoms you have.

Antibiotic medicines can cause diarrhea. This may happen while you are taking Moxatag, or within a few months after you stop taking it. This may be a sign of a new infection. If you have diarrhea that is watery or bloody, stop taking Moxatag and call your doctor. Do not use anti-diarrhea medicine unless your doctor tells you to.

Before taking this medicine

You should not use Moxatag if you are allergic to any penicillin antibiotic, such as ampicillin, dicloxacillin, oxacillin, penicillin, or ticarcillin.

To make sure Moxatag is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

Amoxicillin can make birth control pills less effective. Ask your doctor about using a non-hormonal birth control (condom, diaphragm, cervical cap, or contraceptive sponge) to prevent pregnancy.

It may not be safe to breastfeed while using this medicine. Ask your doctor about any risk.

How should I take Moxatag?

Take Moxatag exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

The recommended dose of Moxatag is one 775 mg tabet taken once daily with food. The tablet should be taken within one hour of finishing a meal.

Take Moxatag around the same time every day for 10 days. Complete the full 10-day course of therapy for effective treatment. Do not skip any doses or stop taking Moxatag until you finish your prescribed treatment, unless you have a serious allergic reaction or your doctor tells you to stop.

Do not crush, chew, or break a Moxatag extended-release tablet. Swallow it whole. Breaking the tablet may cause too much of the amoxicillin to be released at one time.

While using this medicine, you may need frequent blood tests. Your kidney and liver function may also need to be checked.

Use this medicine for the full prescribed length of time. Your symptoms may improve before the infection is completely cleared. Skipping doses may also increase your risk of further infection that is resistant to antibiotics. Moxatag will not treat a viral infection such as the flu or a common cold.

Do not share this medicine with another person, even if they have the same symptoms you have.

This medicine can cause unusual results with certain medical tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using Moxatag.

Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Skip the missed dose and use your next dose at the regular time. Do not use two doses at one time.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

What to avoid

Antibiotic medicines can cause diarrhea, which may be a sign of a new infection. If you have diarrhea that is watery or bloody, call your doctor before using anti-diarrhea medicine.

Moxatag side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Moxatag (hives, difficult breathing, swelling in your face or throat) or a severe skin reaction (fever, sore throat, burning eyes, skin pain, red or purple skin rash with blistering and peeling).

Call your doctor at once if you have:

Common Moxatag side effects may include:

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect Moxatag?

Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially:

This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with amoxicillin, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

Popular FAQ

There are several antibiotics that kill the common mouth bacteria that cause tooth infections. The best (first-line) antibiotics for tooth infection include: Amoxicillin, Penicillin, Cephalexin, Clindamycin, Azithromycin. Amoxicillin is often the first choice because it is widely effective and has the fewest gastrointestinal side effects. Continue reading

Yes, you can drink alcohol while taking the antibiotic amoxicillin. The alcohol will not stop amoxicillin from working. However, many health professionals will recommend you avoid alcohol to give your body the best chance possible to fight the infection. Moderation is key. Continue reading

Amoxicillin capsules and tablets have an expiry of around 2 years and, provided they are stored as recommended and in the original packaging, there will be a small lee way of safety if used beyond expiry. Amoxicillin suspension is different and has a very short shelf life of about 7-10 days once it is prepared. Continue reading

From 5% to 10% of children will develop a rash from amoxicillin after taking it, which in most cases, is considered a side effect of amoxicillin and not an allergic rash. But in a small number of cases, the rash will be a sign of an allergic reaction which means the amoxicillin will need to be stopped right away. Continue reading

Penicillin or amoxicillin are considered the best first-line treatments for Strep throat. According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) “ There has never been a report of a clinical isolate of group A strep that is resistant to penicillin”. For people with a penicillin allergy, treat Strep throat with either a narrow-spectrum cephalosporin (such as cephalexin or cefadroxil), clindamycin, azithromycin, or clarithromycin. Note that resistance to azithromycin and clarithromycin has been reported. Continue reading

Yes, amoxicillin will help your tooth infection. Amoxicillin is one of the first antibiotics recommended for the treatment of a tooth infection. It has shown to be widely effective and have fewer gastrointestinal side effects compared to other options. Continue reading

The main difference between amoxicillin and penicillin is that amoxicillin is effective against a wider spectrum of bacteria compared with penicillin. Both amoxicillin and penicillin belong to the class of antibiotics called penicillins. Continue reading

Amoxicillin is a safe oral, broad-spectrum antibiotic prescribed by veterinarians for bacterial infections in dogs. Amoxicillin is well-tolerated by most dogs, but common side effects may occur, like diarrhea, nausea, stomach pain, skin rash or allergy. Contact your veterinarian right away if you have concerns about amoxicillin side effects in your dog. Continue reading

No, you should not take amoxicillin if you are allergic to penicillin. Amoxicillin belongs to the Penicillin class of antibiotics and must be avoided. You need to see your dentist and/or doctor with an infected tooth. Continue reading

Further information

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use Moxatag only for the indication prescribed.

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.