• Chlamydia
• Infections

A Guide on How to Use Amoxicillin for Chlamydia

Medically reviewed and edited by Kimberli Hastings, CNP

Chlamydia is the most common STI in the world, so if you’ve been infected, you’re definitely not alone.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) 128.5 million new chlamydia infections were recorded in 2020.

Chlamydia typically infects the genital tract in both men and women, but other parts of the body, such as the eyes, may also be affected.

Nearly 1.9 million people worldwide are visually impaired as a result of chlamydia and the disease causes approximately 1.4% of all cases of blindness.

If you have a chlamydia infection and you’re wondering if amoxicillin is the right treatment option for you, we will provide you with the necessary information in this article.

We also offer alternative treatment options for chlamydia if you cannot use amoxicillin because you’re allergic to penicillin.

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What is Amoxicillin?

Amoxicillin is a medication that belongs to the penicillin class of antibiotics and is used to treat a range of bacterial infections.

This antibiotic prevents bacteria from building their cell walls, making it easier for the body’s immune system to eliminate them.

Common bacterial infections amoxicillin can treat include:

• Lower respiratory tract infections

• Urinary tract infections

• Strep throat

• Dental infections

• Skin infections

• Ear infections

Amoxicillin comes in tablet, capsule, or liquid suspension forms and can only be obtained with a doctor’s prescription.

In hospital settings, doctors may administer amoxicillin injections to treat severe infections.

What is Chlamydia?

Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the bacterium, Chlamydia trachomatis — shortened to C. trachomatis.

This infection is usually transmitted from person to person through unprotected sexual contact, including oral, anal, or vaginal sex.

In some cases, poor hygiene practices can cause chlamydia to spread to other parts of the body not connected to the urogenital tract or oral cavity.

A different form of chlamydia, called trachoma, can be contracted through contact with an infected person's tears or nasal secretions. Trachoma is a disease of the eye that causes irreversible blindness.

When Should I Get Tested for Chlamydia?

Chlamydia is often called a ‘silent infection,’ as most people who have the disease are asymptomatic.

Research shows that only around 10% of men and 5–30% of women who’ve been diagnosed with chlamydia develop symptoms.

If you’re not showing any symptoms, it can be difficult to know when you should get tested, but routine STI testing is advisable for anyone who’s sexually active.

The CDC’s STD testing guidelines recommend how often you should get tested for chlamydia:

• Yearly testing: All women under 25 who are sexually active, or women over 25 who have multiple partners should get tested once a year.

• Once a year or more: All men who have sex with men — especially those who are already infected with HIV and have multiple partners — should get tested at least once a year, but preferably more often.

• At the start of pregnancy, and again later: Expectant mothers are advised to get tested for both chlamydia and gonorrhea early in their pregnancy, and later on if required.

Chlamydia is a disease that requires treatment as soon as possible. If left untreated, it can cause complications like pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and epididymitis.

At LifeMD, we offer discreet and convenient STD testing services. After an online consultation, a healthcare provider can order a lab test at a partner location near you and you’ll have your results within 3–5 business days.

Is Amoxicillin an Effective Treatment for Chlamydia?

Amoxicillin is a safe treatment for Chlamydia trachomatis and can also be used by pregnant women — although there are certain considerations.

Something important to note is how long an amoxicillin course is and how diligently you have to take your medication to avoid missing any doses.

Amoxicillin treatment requires 21 pills to be taken over a week. This can make it much more difficult to complete an amoxicillin course than a course of another antibiotic, like azithromycin, which only involves 1–2 tablets.

How to Use Amoxicillin for Chlamydia

One amoxicillin tablet should be taken every 8 hours for 7 days. The infection should be resolved after a week of treatment, but amoxicillin cannot repair any permanent damage caused by chlamydia.

It’s important that you and your partner(s) receive treatment at the same time to prevent reinfection.

This is because you won’t be immune to chlamydia after treatment, and not following this rule can lead to a never-ending cycle of reinfection between you and your partner(s).

How long does it take for a chlamydial infection to go away with amoxicillin?

It takes at least 7 days for the treatment to work. Some people may find that their symptoms improve sooner, but they could still be infectious.

The CDC recommends abstaining from all sexual contact until you and all your current sexual partners have completed the 7-day amoxicillin course.

What other STDs can amoxicillin treat?

Although gonorrhea can also be treated with amoxicillin, the CDC does not currently recommend using this antibiotic to treat other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), such as syphilis.

It’s important to discuss your treatment plan with your doctor before starting any treatment for STDs.

Amoxicillin and Chlamydia Infections: Possible Risks and Side Effects

Any time you use antibiotics, you increase your risk of developing antibiotic resistance — this is when microorganisms like bacteria and viruses develop resistance to agents (like antibiotics) that were once able to kill them.

Given the overuse of antibiotics in the U.S., antibiotic resistance is a concern for the CDC.

Always follow your doctor’s instructions when taking amoxicillin to treat chlamydia or gonorrhea.

Side effects you can expect when treating chlamydia with amoxicillin include:

• Antibiotic-associated diarrhea

• Allergic reactions

• Yeast infections

• Nausea and vomiting

If you experience any breathing difficulties after taking prescribed antibiotics, seek help immediately, as anaphylaxis is a potentially fatal condition.

Is Amoxicillin the Right Choice for Treating Your Chlamydia?

If amoxicillin is one of the treatments you’re considering for chlamydia treatment, there are a few factors you and your doctor should take into account:

Adherence: Will you be able to take up to 21 pills for a week? Like other penicillins, amoxicillin kills bacteria by a time-dependent killing method.

This means that the amount of amoxicillin in the blood needs to stay at a certain level for a given amount of time to kill the bacteria. In the case of amoxicillin, this is one week.

Higher doses of medication won’t speed up the process. If you won’t be able to commit to completing a 7-day course of antibiotics, ask your doctor about alternative treatments.

Pregnancy: Amoxicillin is safe for use during pregnancy. However, it’s not the primary treatment choice for both pregnant or nonpregnant females as some studies have shown recurrent infections after complete treatment with penicillins (like amoxicillin).

Penicillin allergies: Around 10% of people in the U.S. report having a penicillin allergy, but the CDC suggests this percentage is far lower — less than 1%, in fact.

If you’re unsure whether you’re allergic to penicillin, LifeMD offers hassle-free allergy testing. One of our doctors can schedule a test at a partner lab near you.

Other infections: If you have other infections that can also be treated with amoxicillin, this can decrease the number of pills you need to take.

Efficacy: Amoxicillin might not work for you if you’ve developed a resistance to this antibiotic.

How to Treat Chlamydia

Amoxicillin might be a good antibiotic for treating chlamydia, but it’s not the recommended first-line treatment.

For most people, doxycycline will be given first as per the CDC guidelines, but alternative regimens such as azithromycin can also be administered.

The CDC recommends the following treatment regimens for adolescents and adults with chlamydia:

First-line treatment:

• Doxycycline: 100 mg orally, twice per day for 7 days

Alternative treatments:

• Azithromycin: 1 g orally as a single-dose treatment

OR

• Levofloxacin: 500 mg orally, once a day for 7 days

Choose the Chlamydia Treatment That’s Best for You

Your healthcare provider will select the appropriate treatment for you based on the five factors discussed in the previous section.

It’s better to opt for a milder treatment rather than missing a dose because the treatment course is too long or too many pills need to be administered each day.

People who are forgetful or lead busy lifestyles may prefer taking a single dose of azithromycin.

Single-dose treatments also ensure that even if you do return for a follow-up visit, you have most likely received adequate treatment for the infection.

Remember, STIs are infectious and therefore people may unwittingly spread an inadequately treated infection to multiple others.

Chlamydia and Pregnant Women: Special Considerations

Untreated chlamydia in expectant mothers can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) — which presents further complications like an ectopic pregnancy. This is why it’s important to seek medical attention immediately if you suspect you’ve been exposed to this STI.

To avoid any complications, speak to your doctor about all the available treatment options for pregnant women with chlamydia.

Potential risks of using amoxicillin during pregnancy

As we mentioned before, some studies have found that the use of penicillins, such as amoxicillin, may not adequately treat chlamydia.

This is why the CDC recommends azithromycin as the first-line treatment for pregnant women with chlamydia.

Chlamydia in pregnant women should be promptly treated to avoid complications and prevent the spread of the infection to newborn babies.

The transmission of an infection from mother to child is called “vertical transmission.” With chlamydia, it is usually only spread during delivery when the baby comes into contact with the infected birth canal.

Where Can I Learn More About Amoxicillin Treatments for Chlamydia?

If you suspect you’ve been exposed to chlamydia, visit LifeMD. You can use our platform to get a lab order for chlamydia testing at a location close to you.

A doctor or nurse practitioner can then prescribe the appropriate treatment for your condition.

Book your appointment today and learn how you can save up to 90% on your lab tests and prescriptions with us.

In the case that you may be experiencing pain or other severe symptoms or could be pregnant, seek immediate emergency care.

Kimberli Hastings, CNP

Kimberli is a Family Nurse Practitioner, practicing in the areas of Family Medicine and Mental Health since 2019. She has worked in nursing homes, dialysis centers, and clinics. Kimberli’s goal as a healthcare provider is to improve her patients' lives.

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