Adult prescription instructions:

Antibiotics for treatment of spreading odontogenic infection

These prescriptions are provided as a baseline as recommended by professional guidelines and standard texts, intended for use by average sized middle-aged adults with no significant medical history, risk factors or concomitant medications. Clinicians are reminded that such prescriptions may not be appropriate for all adult patients, and as such, should always be tailored to individual patient circumstances, accounting for variations in age, weight, co-morbidities, risk factors and concomitant medication.  For advice, consult specialised resources or expert clinicians.

Source: Therapeutic Guidelines Oral and Dental v3. 2019

Amoxicillin

Rx Amoxicillin 500mg caps
Take 1x capsule 3x daily (every 8 hours) for 5 days
Supply 15x caps.

(Treatment for infection due to avulsion requires 7x days. Supply 20 caps)

Considerations:

  • PBS subsidises up to 20x caps per script. However, it is preferred only the amount required is supplied i.e. 15x or 20x.

Amoxicillin / Clavulanic Acid

Rx Amoxicillin 875mg / Clavulanic Acid 125mg tabs
Take 1x tablet with the first mouthful of food, 2x daily (every 12 hours) for 5 days
Supply 10x tabs.

Considerations:

  • PBS restriction = Infection where resistance to amoxicillin is suspected.

  • PBS subsidises 10x tabs per script.

Cefalexin

Rx Cefalexin 500mg caps
Take 1x capsule 3x daily (every 8 hours) for 5 days.
Supply 15x caps. 

Considerations:

  • PBS subsidises up to 20x caps per script. However, it is preferred only the amount required is supplied i.e. 15x.

Cefuroxime 

Rx Cefuroxime 250mg tabs
Take 2x tabs twice daily (every 12 hours) for 5 days.
Give 20x tabs. 

Considerations:

  • PBS subsidises up to 20x caps per script.

  • Dose from Australian Medicines Handbook- last updated July 2024

Clindamycin

Rx Clindamycin 150mg Caps
Take 2 capsules three times a day (every 8 hours) for 5 days
Supply 30x caps. 

Considerations:

  • PBS only subsidises 24x 150mg caps per script. Therefore, a non-PBS ‘private’ prescription for the 30x capsules should be written.

Metronidazole

Rx Metronidazole 400mg tabs
Take 1x tab with food, twice a day (every 12 hours) for 5 days
Supply 10x tabs. 

PBS considerations:

  • PBS restriction = Anaerobic infections.

  • PBS subsidises up to 21x tabs per script. However, it is preferred only the number of tablets needed (10x) is supplied.

Phenoxymethylpenicillin

Phenoxymethylpenicillin 500mg caps
Take 1 capsule half an hour before food, 4x times a day (every 6 hours) for 5 days
Supply 20 capsules. 

PBS considerations:

  • PBS subsidises up to 50x caps per script. However, it is preferred only the amount required is supplied i.e. 15x.

PBS = Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme as applicable for dental scripts