Augmentin is an antibacterial drug that is used to treat infectious diseases. In Australia, Augmentin is sold in most pharmacy chains. Yet, if a patient does not have a prescription, he can buy Augmentin online.

In addition, the drug is included in the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) list. The Australian government program allows you to buy Augmentin at a reduced price.

Augmentin is a combined drug that contains Amoxicillin and Clavulanic Acid. Its main active ingredient Amoxicillin is a semi-synthetic broad-spectrum antibiotic that is used to treat many infectious diseases.

One of Amoxicillin disadvantages is its destruction of by the Beta-lactamases, which are the active enzymes produced by certain microorganisms. Therefore, the spectrum of the antibacterial activity of Amoxicillin does not include bacteria capable of producing Beta-lactamases.

To enhance the antibacterial activity of Amoxicillin, Augmentin contains Clavulanic Acid. It is able to inactivate a wide spectrum of Beta-lactamases and, thus, protects Amoxicillin from the loss of its antibacterial activity.

Due to a wide range of its antibacterial activity, indications for Augmentin use include:

• skin infections;
• osteomyelitis and other infections of bones and joints;
• infections of the respiratory tract and urinary tract.

After the ingestion, both active substances of Augmentin are well absorbed and well assimilated. The maximum plasma concentrations are reached in approximately 2 hours after the administration. The half-life of Augmentin is about 1.5 hours. In patients with severe renal failure, the half-life of the drug may be increased to 7.5 hours.

Before you buy Augmentin, you should choose one of two dosage forms:

• pills of 500 mg/125 mg, 875 mg/125mg and 1000 mg/62.5 mg
• powder for oral suspension/syrup preparation 125 mg/31.25 mg/5ml, 400 mg/57 mg/5ml and 600 mg/42.9 mg/5 ml

The Australian drugstores offer only the oral dosage forms of Augmentin. Yet in other countries, intravenous injections of Augmentin may be used to treat infectious diseases.

Children over 12 years of age and adults can take pills. Augmentin syrup and suspension for ingestion are recommended to treat infectious diseases in infants older than 2 months. The dose is determined individually, based on the age, body weight, kidney function, and the severity of the infection.

To make Augmentin syrup or suspension, add water into the bottle with the powder to form a homogeneous solution. Before the administration, the bottle contents should be shaken thoroughly.

To reach an optimal absorption and reduce the risk of possible gastrointestinal side effects, Augmentin should be taken before or during meals. For infants and children under 12 years of age, the daily dose of Augmentin is 45 mg per kilogram of body weight. The drug should be taken in two divided doses at 12-hour intervals.

For the treatment of infectious diseases, adults should take one or two Augmentin tablets a day. The minimum duration of the drug use is 5 days, and the maximum is 14 days.

To treat infectious diseases of mild and moderate severity, you can use the drug that contains no more than 500 mg of Amoxicillin. To cure severe hospital infections, Australians can buy Augmentin Duo Forte. To treat the disease, it is enough to take the medicine once a day.

Augmentin is the first trademark of Amoxicillin and Clavulanic Acid. The formula of the combined drug was developed in 1978 in the company GlaxoSmithKline. Two years later, the results of clinical studies that were published in Lancet journal were confirming the high bactericidal activity of Augmentin against most microorganisms.

In 1981, the United Kingdom became the first country, in which the serial release of Augmentin tablets was launched. In 1982-83, following the tabletted Augmentin, the suspension and an injection form of the drug appeared for use in severe hospital infections.

In Australia, Augmentin has been used since November 8, 1996. The Australian drug supplier is the pharmaceutical company Aspen Pharmacare.