Augspec Suspension

AUGSPEC POWDER FOR ORAL SUSPENSION is indicated for the short-term treatment of acute bacterial otitis media infections when caused by the following AUGSPEC POWDER FOR ORAL SUSPENSION sensitive organisms: Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae (penicillin MIC u2264 4 u03bcg/mL) and Moraxella catarrhalis.

Posology
Duration of therapy should be appropriate to the indication and should not exceed 14 days without review. The recommended dose for AUGSPEC POWDER FOR ORAL SUSPENSION is 90/6,4 mg/kg/day in 2 divided doses at 12 hourly intervals for 10 days, in children aged 3 months and older. There is no experience in paediatric patients weighing >40 kg or in adults. There are no clinical data in children under 3 months of age.

Body Weight
Volume of AUGSPEC POWDER FOR ORAL SUSPENSION providing 90/6,4 mg/kg/day
8 3,0 mL twice daily
12 4,5 mL twice daily
16 6,0 mL twice daily
20 7,5 mL twice daily
24 9,0 mL twice daily
28 10,5 mL twice daily
32 12,0 mL twice daily
36 13,5 mL twice daily

Special populations
Hepatic Impairment
Dose with caution and monitor hepatic function at regular intervals. There are insufficient data on which to base a dosage recommendation.
Renal Impairment
There are no dosing recommendations for AUGSPEC POWDER FOR ORAL SUSPENSION in patients with renal impairment.

Method of administration
For oral use. AUGSPEC POWDER FOR ORAL SUSPENSION should be taken immediately before a meal. For instructions on reconstitution see section 6.6.

AUGSPEC POWDER FOR ORAL SUSPENSION is contraindicated in:
u2022 Hypersensitivity to amoxicillin or clavulanic acid or any of the excipients listed in section 6.1;
u2022 Hypersensitivity to penicillins or cephalosporins. Cross-sensitivity between penicillins and cephalosporins is well documented;
u2022 In patients with a previous history of amoxicillin/ clavulanic-associated jaundice/hepatic dysfunction. Safety in children under 2 months of age has not been established. There are no clinical data in children under 3 months of age.

Prescribers must adhere to the principles of antibiotic stewardship. Serious and occasionally fatal hypersensitivity (anaphylactic) and severe cutaneous reactions have been reported in patients on penicillin therapy. Although anaphylaxis is more frequent following parenteral therapy, it has occurred in patients on oral penicillins. These reactions are more likely to occur in individuals with a history of penicillin hypersensitivity and/or a history of sensitivity to multiple allergens. There have been reports of individuals with a history of penicillin hypersensitivity, who have experienced severe reactions when treated with cephalosporins. Before initiating therapy with AUGSPEC POWDER FOR ORAL SUSPENSION, careful analysis should be made regarding previous hypersensitivity reactions to penicillins, cephalosporins or other beta-lactam allergens. These reactions are more likely to occur in individuals with a history of penicillin hypersensitivity and/or a history of sensitivity to multiple allergens. Treatment with AUGSPEC POWDER FOR ORAL SUSPENSION should be terminated and the appropriate alternative therapy introduced in cases where an allergic reaction occurred. Serious anaphylactic reactions may require immediate emergency treatment with epinephrine (adrenaline). Oxygen, intravenous steroids, and airway management, including intubation might prove necessary.

AUGSPEC POWDER FOR ORAL SUSPENSION should be avoided if infectious mononucleosis is suspected since the occurrence of a morbilliform rash has been associated with this condition following the use of amoxicillin. Since AUGSPEC POWDER FOR ORAL SUSPENSION contains amoxicillin, an aminopenicillin, it is not the treatment of choice in patients presenting with sore throat or pharyngitis because of the possibility that the underlying cause is infectious mononucleosis, in the presence of which there is a high incidence of a morbilliform rash if amoxicillin is used. AUGSPEC POWDER FOR ORAL SUSPENSION should be avoided if infectious mononucleosis is suspected.

Prolonged use may result in overgrowth of non-susceptible organisms. The appropriateness of therapy should be demonstrated by means of sensitivity testing since use of antibiotics like AUGSPEC POWDER FOR ORAL SUSPENSION may lead to the selection of resistant strains of organisms. AUGSPEC POWDER FOR ORAL SUSPENSION should be used in accordance with local official antibiotic prescribing guidelines and local susceptibility data. Susceptibility to AUGSPEC POWDER FOR ORAL SUSPENSION will vary with geography and time. Local susceptibility data should be consulted where available and microbiological sampling and susceptibility testing performed where necessary.

It is important to consider that pseudomembranous enterocolitis has been reported with the use of antibiotics, especially in patients who develop diarrhoea during or after antibiotic use. It may range in severity from mild to life-threatening. Treatment should be discontinued, and the patient investigated further if prolonged or significant diarrhoea occurs or if the patient experiences abdominal cramps.

The possibility of superinfections with mycotic or bacterial pathogens should be kept in mind during therapy. If superinfections occur (usually involving Aerobacter, Pseudomonas or Candida). AUGSPEC POWDER FOR ORAL SUSPENSION should be discontinued and/or appropriate therapy instituted.

Abnormal prolongation of prothrombin time (increased international normalised ratio international normalised ratio (INR)) has been reported in patients receiving amoxicillin-clavulanate and oral anticoagulants. Appropriate monitoring should be undertaken when anticoagulants are prescribed concurrently. Adjustments in the dose of oral anticoagulants may be necessary to maintain the desired level of anticoagulation.

AUGSPEC POWDER FOR ORAL SUSPENSION should be used with care in patients with evidence of hepatic dysfunction. Transient hepatitis and cholestatic jaundice have been reported. Changes in liver function tests have been observed in some patients receiving amoxicillin-clavulanic acid. It should be used with care in patients with evidence of severe hepatic dysfunction and hepatic function should be monitored at regular intervals (See Section 4.2).

Dosage of AUGSPEC POWDER FOR ORAL SUSPENSION should be adjusted in patients with moderate or severe renal impairment. The adjustment should be made according to the degree of impairment. When high doses are administered, adequate fluid intake and urinary output must be maintained in order to reduce the possibility of amoxicillin crystalluria. Convulsions may occur in patients with impaired renal function or in those receiving high doses. It is advisable to perform periodic assessment of organ system functions, including renal, hepatic and haematopoietic function, during prolonged therapy.

Since patients with lymphatic leukaemia are especially susceptible to amoxicillin-induced skin rashes, AUGSPEC POWDER FOR ORAL SUSPENSION should be given with caution. The manifestation of a feverish generalised erythema associated with pustula at the onset of treatment may be a symptom of acute generalised exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP). This reaction necessitates AUGSPEC POWDER FOR ORAL SUSPENSION discontinuation and contraindicates any subsequent administration of amoxicillin.

It is recommended that when testing for the presence of glucose in urine during AUGSPEC POWDER FOR ORAL SUSPENSION treatment, enzymatic glucose oxidase methods should be used. Due to the high urinary concentrations of amoxicillin, false positive readings are common with chemical methods. The presence of clavulanic acid in AUGSPEC POWDER FOR ORAL SUSPENSION may cause a non-specific binding of IgG and albumin by red cell membranes leading to a false positive Coombs test.

In the treatment of infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an aminoglycoside should be administered concomitantly.

Probenecid decreases the renal tubular secretion of amoxicillin but does not affect clavulanic acid excretion. Concurrent use with AUGSPEC POWDER FOR ORAL SUSPENSION may result in increased and prolonged blood levels of amoxicillin but not of clavulanic acid. Concomitant use of probenecid is not recommended. The concomitant administration of allopurinol and ampicillin may increase the incidence of skin reactions in patients. There is no data on amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and allopurinol administered concomitantly. Amoxicillin may reduce the excretion of methotrexate causing a potential increase in toxicity. The prothrombin time or international normalised ratio should be carefully monitored with the addition or withdrawal of AUGSPEC POWDER FOR ORAL SUSPENSION in patients receiving acenocoumarol or warfarin concomitantly as cases of increased INR have been reported. No information is available about the concurrent use of AUGSPEC POWDER FOR ORAL SUSPENSION and alcohol. However, the ingestion of alcohol whilst being treated with some other beta-lactam antibiotics has precipitated a disulfiram like reaction in some patients. Therefore, the ingestion of alcohol should be avoided during and for several days after treatment with AUGSPEC POWDER FOR ORAL SUSPENSION. AUGSPEC POWDER FOR ORAL SUSPENSION may affect the gut flora, leading to lower oestrogen reabsorption and reduced efficacy of combined oral contraceptives. AUGSPEC POWDER FOR ORAL SUSPENSION may reduce the efficacy of oral contraceptives and patients should be warned accordingly. In patients receiving mycophenolate mofetil, reduction in pre-dose concentration of the active metabolite mycophenolic acid of approximately 50 % has been reported following commencement of oral amoxicillin plus clavulanic acid. The change in pre-dose level may not accurately represent changes in overall MPA exposure.

Pregnancy
The safety of AUGSPEC POWDER FOR ORAL SUSPENSION during pregnancy has not been established and therefore the use of AUGSPEC POWDER FOR ORAL SUSPENSION during pregnancy is not recommended. In women with pre-term, premature rupture of the foetal membrane (pPROM), it was reported that prophylactic treatment with amoxicillin-clavulanate may be associated with an increased risk of necrotising enterocolitis in neonates.

Lactation
Amoxicillin is excreted into breast milk. The use of amoxicillin by nursing mothers may lead to sensitisation, diarrhoea, candidiasis and skin rash in the infant. Mothers on treatment with AUGSPEC POWDER FOR ORAL SUSPENSION should not breastfeed.

Fertility
No data available.

AUGSPEC POWDER FOR ORAL SUSPENSION may affect the ability of patients to drive or operate machines and caution is advised until the effects of AUGSPEC POWDER FOR ORAL SUSPENSION in patients on treatment are known (see section 4.8).

a. Tabulated summary of adverse reactions
System Organ Class Frequency Undesirable effect
Infections and infestations Frequent Mucocutaneous candidiasis (including vaginitis stomatitis and glossitis).
Blood and the lymphatic system disorders Less frequent Haemolytic anaemia, reversible thrombocytopenia, reversible leukopenia (including neutropenia) and agranulocytosis. Frequency unknown Prolongation of bleeding time and prothrombin time.
Immune system disorders Less frequent Angioedema, anaphylaxis, serum sickness-like syndrome, hypersensitivity vasculitis.
Nervous system disorders Frequent Headache, fever, chills. Less frequent Dizziness, hyperactivity, convulsions. Frequency unknown Aseptic meningitis.
Gastrointestinal disorders Frequent Diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting. (Nausea is more often associated with higher oral dosages. If gastrointestinal reactions are evident, they may be reduced by taking AUGSPEC POWDER FOR ORAL SUSPENSION at the start of a meal) Less frequent Indigestion, antibiotic-associated colitis (including pseudomembranous colitis and haemorrhagic colitis). Frequency unknown Superficial tooth discolouration (usually removed by brushing), black hairy tongue, abdominal pain, gastritis, stomatitis, glossitis, abnormal taste, tiredness, hot flushes.
Hepato-biliary disorders Less frequent Moderate rise in AST and/or ALT, hepatitis and cholestatic jaundice.
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders Less frequent Skin rashes, pruritis, urticaria, erythema multiforme, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, bullous exfoliative-dermatitis, acute generalised exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP) and drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS).
Renal and urinary disorders Less frequent Crystalluria, interstitial nephritis.

b. Reporting of suspected adverse reactions
Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicine is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicine. Health care providers are requested to report any suspected adverse drug reactions to SAHPRA via the Med Safety APP (Medsafety X SAHPRA) and eReporting platform (who-umc.org) found on SAHPRA website.

Overdosage with amoxicillin is usually asymptomatic. However, gastrointestinal effects such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea may be evident, and symptoms of water and electrolyte imbalance should be treated symptomatically. Adequate fluid intake and urinary output must be maintained to minimize the possibility of crystalluria, which can potentially lead to renal failure. Amoxicillin may be removed from the circulation by haemodialysis.