Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: AUGMENTIN 200 versus UNASYN.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: AUGMENTIN 200 versus UNASYN.
AUGMENTIN '200' vs UNASYN
Comparing the clinical profiles, pharmacokinetic behaviors, and safety indices of these two therapeutic agents.
Amoxicillin inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis by binding to penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs), while clavulanate irreversibly inhibits beta-lactamases, preventing degradation of amoxicillin.
Ampicillin inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis by binding to penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs); sulbactam is a beta-lactamase inhibitor that prevents degradation of ampicillin by beta-lactamases.
One 200 mg amoxicillin/28.5 mg clavulanate chewable tablet every 8 hours for mild to moderate infections; for severe infections, one 400 mg/57 mg tablet every 12 hours or one 200 mg/28.5 mg tablet every 8 hours.
3 g (ampicillin 2 g + sulbactam 1 g) IV every 6 hours; total daily dose of sulbactam not to exceed 4 g.
None Documented
None Documented
Amoxicillin: ~1 hour in healthy adults, prolonged to 7-20 hours in renal impairment (CrCl <10 mL/min). Clavulanate: ~1 hour, similarly prolonged in renal impairment. The combination's half-life supports twice-daily dosing for most infections.
Ampicillin: ~1 hour (normal renal function); sulbactam: ~1-1.4 hours (normal renal function); prolonged in renal impairment (ampicillin up to 20 hours, sulbactam up to 10-15 hours in anuria).
Amoxicillin: ~50-70% excreted unchanged in urine via glomerular filtration and tubular secretion, with the remainder hepatically metabolized and excreted in bile and feces. Clavulanate: ~30-50% excreted unchanged in urine, the rest metabolized and eliminated in bile and feces.
Renal: ampicillin (~75-90% unchanged) and sulbactam (~75-85% unchanged); biliary/fecal: minimal (<5% for each component).
Category C
Category C
Penicillin Antibiotic
Penicillin Antibiotic