How the dose is calculated
Amoxicillin-clavulanate is dosed by its amoxicillin component in mg/kg/day, divided every 12 hours. The clavulanate component (a beta-lactamase inhibitor) is fixed by the formulation's ratio, not calculated separately — so always dispense the exact product/ratio the dose was calculated against.
Typical dosing by indication
| Indication | Dose | Frequency | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard-dose | 25 mg/kg/day (amox.) | every 12h (2×/day) | 1750 mg/day |
| High-dose | 90 mg/kg/day (amox.) | every 12h (2×/day) | 4000 mg/day |
All doses above refer to the amoxicillin component only — the clavulanate dose is fixed by the specific product's amoxicillin:clavulanate ratio (e.g. 7:1, 14:1). Do not substitute a different ratio product without re-checking the clavulanate dose against its own maximum.
Augmentin pediatric dose chart (quick reference by weight)
Per-dose amount for each regimen at common weight bands, using a 228 mg/5 mL suspension (amoxicillin component) — this dose chart mirrors the calculator above exactly; use the calculator for any weight not listed or a different suspension strength.
| Weight | Standard-dose (2×/day) | High-dose (2×/day) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 kg | 50 mg (1.1 mL) | 180 mg (3.9 mL) |
| 6 kg | 75 mg (1.6 mL) | 270 mg (5.9 mL) |
| 8 kg | 100 mg (2.2 mL) | 360 mg (7.9 mL) |
| 10 kg | 125 mg (2.7 mL) | 450 mg (9.9 mL) |
| 15 kg | 188 mg (4.1 mL) | 675 mg (14.8 mL) |
| 20 kg | 250 mg (5.5 mL) | 900 mg (19.7 mL) |
| 25 kg | 313 mg (6.9 mL) | 1125 mg (24.7 mL) |
| 30 kg | 375 mg (8.2 mL) | 1350 mg (29.6 mL) |
| 40 kg | 500 mg (11.0 mL) | 1800 mg (39.5 mL) |
Augmentin pediatric dose — IV (injection)
When a child can't take oral Augmentin/co-amoxiclav or needs treatment for a more serious infection, the same drug is given intravenously. IV co-amoxiclav is typically supplied as a 600 mg vial (500 mg amoxicillin + 100 mg clavulanic acid) or a 1.2 g vial (1000 mg amoxicillin + 200 mg clavulanic acid) for reconstitution — the amoxicillin component is still dosed by weight (mg/kg/day), the same principle as oral dosing, just given by IV injection or infusion instead of a suspension or tablet. Always confirm the exact IV mg/kg/day target and frequency against current local/BNFc guidance and the product insert, since IV dosing intervals can differ from the oral regimens above.
Clinical use
- Adding clavulanate (a beta-lactamase inhibitor) extends amoxicillin's spectrum to cover many beta-lactamase-producing organisms that plain amoxicillin cannot — used when a resistant organism is suspected or confirmed.
- High-dose regimens (90 mg/kg/day of the amoxicillin component) are commonly used for acute otitis media and sinusitis where drug-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae is a concern.
- The clavulanate component is more often responsible for GI side effects (diarrhoea) than the amoxicillin component — taking with food can help.
- Different product ratios (e.g. 7:1 vs 14:1 amoxicillin:clavulanate) exist specifically to allow higher amoxicillin doses without exceeding the clavulanate maximum — always match the formulation to the intended regimen.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Augmentin pediatric dose per kg?
Standard-dose is 25 mg/kg/day (amoxicillin component), and high-dose is 90 mg/kg/day, both split into 2 doses a day (every 12 hours) up to the maximum daily dose for that regimen — enter the child's weight and indication above, or use the dose chart, to get the exact per-dose mg and mL.
Can Augmentin tablets be used for a child's pediatric dose?
Yes, once a child can reliably swallow tablets — select "Tablet (mg only)" as the formulation above to get the target per-dose mg, then match it to the nearest available tablet strength (e.g. 375 mg, 625 mg) with a pharmacist, since tablets aren't infinitely divisible the way a suspension is.
What is Augmentin 600 mg used for in children?
Augmentin/co-amoxiclav 600 mg is an IV vial (500 mg amoxicillin + 100 mg clavulanic acid) used when a child needs intravenous antibiotics rather than an oral suspension or tablet — the total daily dose is still calculated by weight using the same amoxicillin mg/kg/day targets as oral dosing.
Is Augmentin the same as amoxicillin-clavulanate?
Yes — Augmentin is simply the most widely used brand name for amoxicillin-clavulanate (also called co-amoxiclav). They're the same medicine, and this Augmentin dose calculator works the same way regardless of which brand or generic product is being used.
Why is amoxicillin-clavulanate dosed by the amoxicillin component?
Because the amoxicillin component drives the antibacterial dose needed for the infection, while the clavulanate component is fixed by the product's ratio — so clinicians target the amoxicillin dose and the clavulanate follows automatically from the chosen formulation.
What does the clavulanate part actually do?
Clavulanate is a beta-lactamase inhibitor — it doesn't kill bacteria itself, but it blocks the enzyme some bacteria use to destroy amoxicillin, restoring amoxicillin's effectiveness against those resistant organisms.
Why does amoxicillin-clavulanate cause more stomach upset than plain amoxicillin?
The clavulanate component is more commonly associated with diarrhoea and GI upset than amoxicillin alone — taking the dose with food can help reduce this.
Can any co-amoxiclav suspension strength be used interchangeably?
No — different strengths (e.g. 228 mg/5 mL vs 400 mg/5 mL) usually have different amoxicillin:clavulanate ratios, so switching strength without recalculating can under- or over-dose the clavulanate component.
References
- American Academy of Pediatrics. Clinical Practice Guideline: Acute Otitis Media. Pediatrics. 2013.
- British National Formulary for Children (BNFc) — Co-amoxiclav.
- European Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases (ESPID) — Community-Acquired Pneumonia Guidelines.