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Antibiotics are medications that fight germs, specifically bacteria. They do this by killing the microorganism or preventing it from growing and multiplying. Before antibiotics were discovered in the 1920s, even minor bacterial infections claimed many human lives. With the availability of antibiotics, human life expectancy increased, surgery got safer, and it became easy to treat what were previously deadly infections. Today, doctors can prescribe more than 100 different antibiotics to cure minor as well as life-threatening infections.
Antibiotics can be taken orally (by mouth) in the form of capsules, pills, or liquids. They are also available as creams, ointments, and sprays to use on the skin. Antibiotic ear drops and eye drops are used to treat infections of the ear, nose, and throat. For serious infections, doctors may use antibiotics intravenously (through injection).
Antibiotics can treat some infections, but not all. They are used in the treatment of meningitis, strep throat, dental infections, skin infections, cases of pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and some ear and sinus infections caused by bacteria. It is important to know that antibiotics are not effective for viral and fungal infections. Therefore, you should not take antibiotics for a cold, sore throat (except strep throat), runny nose, and flu, which are typically caused by viruses. Taking antibiotics when they’re not needed will not improve your symptoms and may cause side effects. It’s always best to let a healthcare provider decide whether you need antibiotics.
Types of Antibiotic Medications
Different antibiotics are used to treat different infections. They are grouped according to how they work. Each type works against specific bacteria.
Penicillins are used to treat a wide range of bacterial infections, such as infections of the ear and sinuses, stomach and intestines, bladder and kidney, lungs, brain, heart, and blood. They act by preventing the formation of the cell wall in bacteria. The bacteria cannot survive without a cell wall and die.
Cephalosporins are broad-spectrum antibiotics, i.e., they are effective against a wide range of bacteria. They work in a similar way to penicillins by blocking the formation of bacterial cell walls. Cephalosporins are used to treat bone, ear, skin, urinary tract, and upper respiratory tract infections.
Macrolides are a class of antibiotics that inhibit protein synthesis and growth in bacteria. They are used to treat common bacterial infections such as respiratory infections (bacterial pneumonia), skin and soft tissue infections, and sexually transmitted infections like chlamydia. They are useful alternatives for people who have an allergy to penicillins or cephalosporins.
Quinolones are broad-spectrum antibiotics that exert their actions by breaking bacterial chromosomes. Quinolones are widely prescribed to treat skin, upper and lower respiratory tract, gastrointestinal, gynecologic, and urinary tract infections because of their high potency, high bioavailability, and low incidence of side effects.
Sulfonamides are a group of antibiotics that work by inhibiting a critical enzyme in bacteria, thus preventing the bacteria from synthesizing important proteins and growing. Originally, sulfonamides were broad-spectrum antibiotics, but over the past several decades, bacteria have developed considerable resistance to them. Today, sulfonamides are commonly prescribed in combination with other antibiotics.
Tetracyclines are used to treat infections by bacteria that cause respiratory, skin, intestinal, genital, and urinary infections. They are also effective against infections that spread through lice, ticks, mites, and other animals. Tetracycline antibiotics act by inhibiting bacterial protein synthesis.
Aminoglycosides are antibiotics that are active against a wide range of bacteria. They are poorly absorbed orally and are usually given intravenously (by injection). Aminoglycosides are used to treat severe infections of the urinary tract and gut, endocarditis (infection and inflammation of the heart), and bacteremia (the presence of bacteria in the bloodstream).
Over-the-Counter Antibiotics
Oral antibiotics are not approved for sale over-the-counter in the United States. Bacterial infections are best treated with prescription antibiotics. A healthcare provider can prescribe the correct type of antibiotic that is effective against a specific type of bacteria. A lab culture may need to be performed to identify the bacteria causing the infection. Taking the wrong antibiotic can worsen the infection or lead to antibiotic resistance.
Certain topical antibiotics for use on the skin are available over-the-counter as creams, ointments, and sprays. They can be used to treat minor scrapes, cuts, and burns. OTC antibiotics are also used to treat acne and can be found on pharmacy shelves in the form of lotions, creams, gels, foams, scrubs, and cleaning pads.
Common Side Effects of Antibiotics
Antibiotics can cause a range of side effects, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, bloating, loss of appetite, rash, yeast infections, headache, and dizziness. Occasionally, the side effects of antibiotics can be more serious, such as a life-threatening allergic reaction.
Antibiotics can interact with and interfere with other medications. For example, if you’re taking birth control pills, some antibiotics may prevent the pill from working properly. Your doctor may recommend an alternative or second method of birth control when taking antibiotics. That’s why it’s important to tell your doctor about all the medications you’re taking, including supplements, when you’re being treated for a bacterial infection with antibiotics.
Common Questions
How to use antibiotics correctly?
Always follow your doctor’s or pharmacist’s instructions. Finish the course of antibiotics even if your symptoms have gone away. Don’t save antibiotics to use later or share them with others. Don’t take antibiotics prescribed to someone else as they can make your condition worse or cause side effects.
What is antibiotic resistance?
Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria change and can grow and multiply despite treatment with an antibiotic. These adapted bacteria are sometimes referred to as “superbugs.” Antibiotic resistance happens naturally, but misuse in humans and animals accelerates the process. There is an increasing number of infections that are becoming more difficult to treat because the antibiotics typically used to treat them have become less effective.
Can I get a discount on antibiotics with BuzzRx?
Yes, you can get discounts on some medicines—including antibiotics—as long as you have a signed prescription from your doctor.
References:
https://medlineplus.gov/antibiotics.html
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/216798#quick_facts
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK551517/
https://bpac.org.nz/BPJ/2012/May/macrolides.aspx
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6836748/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/biochemistry-genetics-and-molecular-biology/sulfonamides
https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682098.html
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4888811/
https://www.drugs.com/article/antibiotics.html
https://www.medicinenet.com/effects_of_antibiotics_on_birth_control_pills/ask.htm
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/antibiotic-resistance
Common Antibiotic Health Medications
Antibiotic
Get the latest information on common prescription and over-the-counter antibiotic drugs.
Antibiotics are medications that fight germs, specifically bacteria. They do this by killing the microorganism or preventing it from growing and multiplying. Before antibiotics were discovered in the 1920s, even minor bacterial infections claimed many human lives. With the availability of antibiotics, human life expectancy increased, surgery got safer, and it became easy to treat what were previously deadly infections. Today, doctors can prescribe more than 100 different antibiotics to cure minor as well as life-threatening infections.
Antibiotics can be taken orally (by mouth) in the form of capsules, pills, or liquids. They are also available as creams, ointments, and sprays to use on the skin. Antibiotic ear drops and eye drops are used to treat infections of the ear, nose, and throat. For serious infections, doctors may use antibiotics intravenously (through injection).
Antibiotics can treat some infections, but not all. They are used in the treatment of meningitis, strep throat, dental infections, skin infections, cases of pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and some ear and sinus infections caused by bacteria. It is important to know that antibiotics are not effective for viral and fungal infections. Therefore, you should not take antibiotics for a cold, sore throat (except strep throat), runny nose, and flu, which are typically caused by viruses. Taking antibiotics when they’re not needed will not improve your symptoms and may cause side effects. It’s always best to let a healthcare provider decide whether you need antibiotics.
Types of Antibiotic Medications
Different antibiotics are used to treat different infections. They are grouped according to how they work. Each type works against specific bacteria.
Penicillins are used to treat a wide range of bacterial infections, such as infections of the ear and sinuses, stomach and intestines, bladder and kidney, lungs, brain, heart, and blood. They act by preventing the formation of the cell wall in bacteria. The bacteria cannot survive without a cell wall and die.
Cephalosporins are broad-spectrum antibiotics, i.e., they are effective against a wide range of bacteria. They work in a similar way to penicillins by blocking the formation of bacterial cell walls. Cephalosporins are used to treat bone, ear, skin, urinary tract, and upper respiratory tract infections.
Macrolides are a class of antibiotics that inhibit protein synthesis and growth in bacteria. They are used to treat common bacterial infections such as respiratory infections (bacterial pneumonia), skin and soft tissue infections, and sexually transmitted infections like chlamydia. They are useful alternatives for people who have an allergy to penicillins or cephalosporins.
Quinolones are broad-spectrum antibiotics that exert their actions by breaking bacterial chromosomes. Quinolones are widely prescribed to treat skin, upper and lower respiratory tract, gastrointestinal, gynecologic, and urinary tract infections because of their high potency, high bioavailability, and low incidence of side effects.
Sulfonamides are a group of antibiotics that work by inhibiting a critical enzyme in bacteria, thus preventing the bacteria from synthesizing important proteins and growing. Originally, sulfonamides were broad-spectrum antibiotics, but over the past several decades, bacteria have developed considerable resistance to them. Today, sulfonamides are commonly prescribed in combination with other antibiotics.
Tetracyclines are used to treat infections by bacteria that cause respiratory, skin, intestinal, genital, and urinary infections. They are also effective against infections that spread through lice, ticks, mites, and other animals. Tetracycline antibiotics act by inhibiting bacterial protein synthesis.
Aminoglycosides are antibiotics that are active against a wide range of bacteria. They are poorly absorbed orally and are usually given intravenously (by injection). Aminoglycosides are used to treat severe infections of the urinary tract and gut, endocarditis (infection and inflammation of the heart), and bacteremia (the presence of bacteria in the bloodstream).
Over-the-Counter Antibiotics
Oral antibiotics are not approved for sale over-the-counter in the United States. Bacterial infections are best treated with prescription antibiotics. A healthcare provider can prescribe the correct type of antibiotic that is effective against a specific type of bacteria. A lab culture may need to be performed to identify the bacteria causing the infection. Taking the wrong antibiotic can worsen the infection or lead to antibiotic resistance.
Certain topical antibiotics for use on the skin are available over-the-counter as creams, ointments, and sprays. They can be used to treat minor scrapes, cuts, and burns. OTC antibiotics are also used to treat acne and can be found on pharmacy shelves in the form of lotions, creams, gels, foams, scrubs, and cleaning pads.
Common Side Effects of Antibiotics
Antibiotics can cause a range of side effects, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, bloating, loss of appetite, rash, yeast infections, headache, and dizziness. Occasionally, the side effects of antibiotics can be more serious, such as a life-threatening allergic reaction.
Antibiotics can interact with and interfere with other medications. For example, if you’re taking birth control pills, some antibiotics may prevent the pill from working properly. Your doctor may recommend an alternative or second method of birth control when taking antibiotics. That’s why it’s important to tell your doctor about all the medications you’re taking, including supplements, when you’re being treated for a bacterial infection with antibiotics.
Common Questions
How to use antibiotics correctly?
Always follow your doctor’s or pharmacist’s instructions. Finish the course of antibiotics even if your symptoms have gone away. Don’t save antibiotics to use later or share them with others. Don’t take antibiotics prescribed to someone else as they can make your condition worse or cause side effects.
What is antibiotic resistance?
Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria change and can grow and multiply despite treatment with an antibiotic. These adapted bacteria are sometimes referred to as “superbugs.” Antibiotic resistance happens naturally, but misuse in humans and animals accelerates the process. There is an increasing number of infections that are becoming more difficult to treat because the antibiotics typically used to treat them have become less effective.
Can I get a discount on antibiotics with BuzzRx?
Yes, you can get discounts on some medicines—including antibiotics—as long as you have a signed prescription from your doctor.
References:
https://medlineplus.gov/antibiotics.html
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/216798#quick_facts
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK551517/
https://bpac.org.nz/BPJ/2012/May/macrolides.aspx
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6836748/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/biochemistry-genetics-and-molecular-biology/sulfonamides
https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682098.html
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4888811/
https://www.drugs.com/article/antibiotics.html
https://www.medicinenet.com/effects_of_antibiotics_on_birth_control_pills/ask.htm
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/antibiotic-resistance
Common Antibiotic Health Medications
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