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| - Last Updated on October 10, 2024 by Nivedita
Quick Take
A video on social media claims antibiotic Amoxicillin capsules contain graphene oxide. We fact-checked and found the claim to be Mostly False.
The Claim
A Facebook video circulated online shows a man conducting an at-home experiment with the antibiotic amoxicillin to show that its capsule contains graphene oxide. The man shows a red and beige capsule of amoxicillin 500mg. He then holds up a glass with pink color liquid claiming that it already contains a dissolved Amoxicillin capsule. When the man places a magnet against the glass, the magnet appears to attract a small amount of dark-colored material claimed as graphene oxide.
Fact check
Do antibiotic amoxicillin capsules contain graphene oxide?
Not exactly. Based on the evidence provided by the U.K. electronic medicines compendium (EMC), antibiotic amoxicillin does not contain graphene oxide. However, amoxicillin capsules contain iron oxide that has magnetic properties.
THIP MEDIA has previously fact-checked Nurofen-ibuprofen tablets contain graphene oxide to show that medicines often contain iron oxide.
The concern over the ingredients in medications, such as claims about graphene oxide in amoxicillin, mirrors the ongoing debate about antibiotic use in treating conditions like scarlet fever.
Pharmacist Mandeep Singh informs that, “The black-coloured particles shown in the video can be of iron oxide. It is a magnetic colouring agent that gets attracted to the magnet. But, just because the particles are attracted to the magnet in the video doesn’t prove that it is graphene oxide. However, Graphene oxide is used in a few antibiotics as a carrier due to its antibacterial activity. At the same time, it is advised that antibiotics should not be taken for long as they can be detrimental to human health. Therefore, when used in trace amounts for a shorter period of time, they are not considered dangerous for health.”
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