Amoxicillin is the generic form of the brand-name drug Amoxil, a drug used to treat bacterial infections.
Doctors prescribe amoxicillin to treat infections caused by bacteria that are sensitive to the drug, including E. coli, staphylococcus, streptococcus, H. influenzae, and H. pylori.
Your doctor may prescribe amoxicillin to treat infections of the skin, throat, ears, nose, stomach, lungs, and urinary tract infections (UTI).
However, the drug will not work against infections caused by viruses such as cold and flu.
Also, guidelines urge doctors to prescribe amoxicillin only when an infection is strongly suspected to be caused by bacteria.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) first approved amoxicillin in the 1980s.