Amoxicillin for Ear Infection: What You Need to Know

When it comes to treating amoxicillin for ear infection, a first-line antibiotic prescribed for bacterial middle ear infections, especially in children. It's one of the most common antibiotics doctors reach for when an ear infection doesn't clear on its own. Not every ear infection needs antibiotics—many are viral and will go away in a few days. But if your doctor says it’s bacterial, amoxicillin is often the go-to because it’s effective, affordable, and well-studied.

bacterial ear infection, a type of middle ear infection caused by bacteria like Streptococcus pneumoniae or Haemophilus influenzae. It often follows a cold and causes pain, fever, and sometimes fluid buildup behind the eardrum. That’s where amoxicillin dosage, the standard amount of amoxicillin given based on age and weight, typically 45 to 90 mg per kg per day in two divided doses. For kids, it’s usually given as a liquid, and for adults, as pills comes in. Most people start feeling better in 2–3 days, but you still need to finish the full course—even if the pain is gone. Stopping early can let the toughest bacteria survive and come back stronger.

Not everyone responds to amoxicillin. If symptoms don’t improve after 48–72 hours, your doctor might switch you to a different antibiotic, like amoxicillin-clavulanate, which adds a second drug to fight resistant strains. Some kids get repeated ear infections, and doctors may consider ear tubes if antibiotics keep being needed. Adults with ear infections are less common, but when they happen, amoxicillin is still often used unless there’s a known allergy.

Side effects are usually mild—diarrhea, upset stomach, or a rash. A rash doesn’t always mean allergy, but if you get hives, swelling, or trouble breathing, stop the medicine and get help right away. Amoxicillin can also cause yeast infections, especially in women, because it wipes out good bacteria along with the bad ones.

What you won’t find in most doctor’s offices is a quick fix. No ear drops, no home remedies, no garlic oil will replace a real antibiotic when bacteria are in charge. But you also don’t need to rush to the doctor at the first sign of ear discomfort. Watch for fever, worsening pain, or symptoms lasting more than 2–3 days. That’s when amoxicillin might actually help.

There are alternatives—azithromycin for people allergic to penicillin, cefdinir for stubborn cases—but amoxicillin remains the most common starting point because it works, it’s cheap, and we’ve been using it for decades. If you’ve used it before and it worked, your doctor will likely reach for it again. If it didn’t, they’ll try something else.

Below, you’ll find real-world insights from people who’ve dealt with ear infections and antibiotics, including what worked, what didn’t, and what to watch out for when your child or you are on amoxicillin. No fluff. Just facts from those who’ve been there.