Augmentin vs. Unasyn

• Are Unasyn and Augmentin the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Augmentin?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Unasyn?
• What is Augmentin?
• What is Unasyn?
• What Drugs Interact with Augmentin?
• What Drugs Interact with Unasyn?
• How Should Augmentin Be Taken?
• How Should Unasyn Be Taken?

Augmentin (amoxicillin/clavulanate) and Unasyn (ampicillin sodium/sulbactam sodium) are both a combinations of penicillin-type antibiotics and beta-lactamase inhibitors used to treat various types of infections.

Augmentin may cause serious side effects, including:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Headache
• Diarrhea
• Gas
• Stomach pain
• Skin rash or itching
• White patches in your mouth or throat
• Vaginal yeast infection (itching or discharge)

Rare and severe side effects of Augmentin can include:

• watery or bloody diarrhea;
• pale or yellowed skin, dark colored urine, fever, confusion or weakness;
• easy bruising or bleeding;
• skin rash, bruising, severe tingling, numbness, pain, muscle weakness;
• agitation, confusion, unusual thoughts or behavior, seizures (convulsions);
• nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or
• severe skin reaction -- fever, sore throat, swelling in your face or tongue, burning in your eyes, skin pain, followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially in the face or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling.  

Common side effects of Unasyn include:

• fever,
• sore throat,
• headache,
• rash,
• diarrhea,
• body aches,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• stomach pain,
• bloating,
• gas,
• vaginal itching or discharge,
• itching,
• swollen/black/"hairy" tongue,
• thrush (white patches inside your mouth or throat), or
• pain, swelling, or irritation where the needle is placed.

Augmentin (amoxicillin/clavulanate) is a combination antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections including sinusitis, pneumonia, ear infections, bronchitis, urinary tract infections, and infections of the skin.

It is not known if Augmentin is safe and effective in children.

Unasyn (ampicillin sodium/sulbactam sodium) is a combination antibiotic indicated for the treatment of infections due to susceptible strains of microorganisms.

Augmentin may interact with probenecid.

Augmentin may also interact with allopurinol, blood thinners, or other antibiotics.

Unasyn may interact with allopurinol, probenecid, or other antibiotics.

For Adults:

• The usual adult dose is one 500-mg tablet of Augmentin every 12 hours or one 250-mg tablet of Augmentin every 8 hours. For more severe infections and infections of the respiratory tract, the dose should be one 875-mg tablet of Augmentin every 12 hours or one 500-mg tablet of Augmentin every 8 hours. Adults who have difficulty swallowing may be given the 125 mg/5 mL or 250 mg/5 mL suspension in place of the 500-mg tablet. The 200 mg/5 mL suspension or the 400 mg/5 mL suspension may be used in place of the 875-mg tablet.
• Two 250-mg tablets of Augmentin should not be substituted for one 500-mg tablet of Augmentin. Since both the 250-mg and 500-mg tablets of Augmentin contain the same amount of clavulanic acid (125 mg, as the potassium salt), two 250-mg tablets are not equivalent to one 500-mg tablet of Augmentin.
• The 250-mg tablet of Augmentin and the 250-mg chewable tablet should not be substituted for each other, as they are not interchangeable. The 250-mg tablet of Augmentin and the 250-mg chewable tablet do not contain the same amount of clavulanic acid (as the potassium salt). The 250-mg tablet of Augmentin contains 125 mg of clavulanic acid, whereas the 250-mg chewable tablet contains 62.5 mg of clavulanic acid.

For Pediatric Patients

Based on the amoxicillin component, Augmentin should be dosed as follows:

Neonates And Infants Aged under 12 Weeks (under 3 Months)

• The recommended dose of Augmentin is 30 mg/kg/day divided every 12 hours, based on the amoxicillin component. Experience with the 200 mg/5 mL formulation in this age group is limited, and thus, use of the 125 mg/5 mL oral suspension is recommended.

Patients Aged 12 Weeks (3 Months) And Older

• The every 12 hour regimen is recommended as it is associated with significantly less diarrhea. However, the every 12 hour suspension (200 mg/5 mL and 400 mg/5 mL) and chewable tablets (200 mg and 400 mg) contain aspartame and should not be used by phenylketonurics.

Unasyn is administered orally in the form of tablets.