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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Can Amoxicillin Cause Swelling In Arms?

My 40 year old son just phoned me and said his arm is swollen twice its size. He has been taking 500 milligrams of amoxicillin for 5 days for an all over rash and fever and sore throat. The doctor did not say what he had but prescribed the amox. My son has since gone home from PA to Colorado. So far that is all I know but he is concerned why his arm has become so swollen today.
posted on Tue, 14 Apr 2015
Twitter Thu, 30 Apr 2015 Answered on
Twitter Thu, 30 Apr 2015 Last reviewed on
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Internal Medicine Specialist,  's  Response
HI

Thanks for posting your query.

Swelling of arm is very unlikely due to Amoxicillin . ( I have prescribed this drug to many of my patients but never came across this symptom )

I feel the swelling of the arm is due to the infection itself and not due to Amoxicillin. Sometimes due to bacterial ( or even Viral ) infections there can occur enlargement of glands called Lymph nodes in the armpit.

If these Lymph nodes enlarge too much they hamper the proper blood flow to and from the arm causing sluggish blood flow to/from the arm and resulting in arm swelling .

The treatment for this is proper Antibiotic therapy ( though Amoxicillin is also antibiotic I feel that is not working on him and he needs a different one ) Also let him keep his arm in elevated position for most of the time .

If inspite of using different antibiotic his swelling persists or worsens then he needs to get Doppler scan of his Arm .

Hope this information was useful to you .
Any clarifications feel free to ask .

Regards.
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Can Amoxicillin Cause Swelling In Arms?

HI Thanks for posting your query. Swelling of arm is very unlikely due to Amoxicillin . ( I have prescribed this drug to many of my patients but never came across this symptom ) I feel the swelling of the arm is due to the infection itself and not due to Amoxicillin. Sometimes due to bacterial ( or even Viral ) infections there can occur enlargement of glands called Lymph nodes in the armpit. If these Lymph nodes enlarge too much they hamper the proper blood flow to and from the arm causing sluggish blood flow to/from the arm and resulting in arm swelling . The treatment for this is proper Antibiotic therapy ( though Amoxicillin is also antibiotic I feel that is not working on him and he needs a different one ) Also let him keep his arm in elevated position for most of the time . If inspite of using different antibiotic his swelling persists or worsens then he needs to get Doppler scan of his Arm . Hope this information was useful to you . Any clarifications feel free to ask . Regards.