For many years, the standard way to treat strep throat has been to use twice-daily dosing for amoxicillin. A recent study confirmed that once-daily dosing for amoxicillin was effective in treating strep throat. For children who are not allergic to amoxicillin or penicillin, this will be more and more common to treat strep in this way.
The once daily dosing may seem as if the dose is a little higher than before. We commonly use the 400 milligram/5 milliliter suspension and have the children 45 pounds and above take 2 1/2 teaspoons (10.5 milliliters) once a day for 10 days. Smaller children with strep throat will take a small dose.
One nice change: if the first dose is given before 5 p.m., your child is not contagious the next morning. The higher dosing works so quickly that the usual recommendation to wait 24 hours before your child is not contagious does not apply. We recommend that the first dose of the amoxicillin be given right away once it has been prescribed. Note that the twice daily dosing would still mean that the child was not contagious until they have been on the antibiotics for 24 hours.
So do not be surprised if your child is given once-daily amoxicillin if they are diagnosed with strep throat. We think treating this way has some real benefits.
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