Common antibiotic names. Common Antibiotics: Types, Uses, and Side Effects Explained

23.07.202127.07.2023 by alexxlab

What are the most frequently prescribed antibiotics. How do different types of antibiotics work. What infections can various antibiotics treat. What are the potential side effects and drug interactions of common antibiotics.

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Understanding Antibiotics: Their Mechanism and Importance

Antibiotics are a crucial class of medications designed to combat bacterial infections. These powerful drugs work in various ways to either kill bacteria or prevent their reproduction and spread. Some antibiotics target the cell walls of bacteria, breaking them down, while others interfere with the bacteria’s protein production processes.

Available in multiple forms, antibiotics can be administered orally as liquids, tablets, or capsules. For external use, topical antibiotics come in creams, sprays, and ointments. Specialized formulations like eye drops, eye ointments, and ear drops are also available for specific infections. In cases of severe infections, healthcare providers may opt for injectable or intravenous antibiotics to ensure rapid and effective treatment.

When Are Antibiotics Prescribed?

Healthcare professionals typically prescribe antibiotics for moderate to severe bacterial infections that have not responded to other treatments. Common conditions that may require antibiotic treatment include:

Strep throat
Bronchitis
Inner ear infections
Urinary tract infections
Skin infections

It’s important to note that antibiotics are ineffective against viral illnesses such as the common cold, flu, or mononucleosis. Proper diagnosis is crucial to ensure appropriate treatment and prevent antibiotic misuse.

Penicillins: The Pioneers of Antibiotic Treatment

Penicillins are among the oldest and most widely used antibiotics. These drugs are particularly effective against Staphylococci and Streptococci infections, making them a go-to choice for various conditions.

Common Penicillin Antibiotics

Phenoxymethylpenicillin
Dicloxacillin
Amoxicillin with clavulanic acid
Ampicillin
Nafcillin
Oxacillin
Penicillin V
Penicillin G

Penicillins are commonly prescribed for:

Skin conditions
Middle ear infections
Kidney infections
Blood infections

Potential Side Effects and Interactions of Penicillins

While generally well-tolerated, penicillins can cause side effects in some individuals. These may include:

Nausea
Abdominal discomfort
Diarrhea
Headache
Yeast infections
Liver disease (in rare cases)

Allergic reactions to penicillins can occur, manifesting as rashes, hives, or breathing difficulties. It’s crucial to inform your healthcare provider of any known allergies before starting penicillin treatment.

Certain medications may interact with penicillins, including oral contraceptives and anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin and probenecid. Always disclose all medications you’re taking to your healthcare provider to avoid potential interactions.

Cephalosporins: A Versatile Class of Antibiotics

Cephalosporins are a broad-spectrum class of antibiotics that are often prescribed for various bacterial infections. They are particularly useful for treating individuals who are allergic to penicillin, as they have a different chemical structure.

Common Cephalosporin Antibiotics

Cefaclor
Cefazolin
Cefadroxil
Cephalexin
Cefuroxime
Cefixime
Cefoxitin
Ceftriaxone

Cephalosporins are frequently prescribed for conditions such as:

Gonorrhea
Pelvic inflammatory disease
Sinusitis
Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
Epididymo-orchitis
Cellulitis

The versatility of cephalosporins makes them a valuable tool in treating a wide range of bacterial infections. Their effectiveness against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria contributes to their widespread use in clinical practice.

Tetracyclines: Antibiotics with Anti-Inflammatory Properties

Tetracyclines are a unique group of antibiotics that not only combat bacterial infections but also possess anti-inflammatory properties. This dual action makes them particularly useful in treating certain conditions where both antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects are desired.

Common Tetracycline Antibiotics

Doxycycline
Minocycline
Sarecycline

Tetracyclines are often prescribed for:

Chest infections
Urethral infections
Pelvic infections
Inflammatory skin conditions (e.g., acne, rosacea, perioral dermatitis)

Important Considerations for Tetracycline Use

While tetracyclines are effective antibiotics, there are some important considerations to keep in mind:

Not recommended for children under 12 or pregnant/breastfeeding individuals due to potential tooth staining
May cause esophageal inflammation or irritation
Can increase photosensitivity, especially with doxycycline
Best taken after meals to reduce gastrointestinal side effects

Minocycline, while less likely to cause photosensitivity, has a higher risk of other side effects, including drug hypersensitivity syndrome, autoimmune reactions, and neurological symptoms like dizziness and headache. Long-term use may lead to blue pigmentation of skin and nails.

Potential Drug Interactions with Tetracyclines

Tetracyclines may interact with several medications, including:

Systemic retinoids (acitretin, isotretinoin, alitretinoin)
Diuretics
Lithium
Anticonvulsants
Rifampicin
Celestipol
Oral contraceptives

Always inform your healthcare provider about all medications you’re taking to avoid potential interactions.

Macrolides: Antibiotics with Immunomodulatory Effects

Macrolides are a group of antibiotics known for their antibacterial properties and additional immunomodulatory effects. This unique combination makes them valuable in treating various infections, especially in cases where penicillin resistance or allergy is a concern.

Common Macrolide Antibiotics

Erythromycin
Clarithromycin
Azithromycin
Fidaxomicin
Roxithromycin

Macrolides are frequently prescribed for:

Skin and soft tissue infections
Respiratory infections
Sexually transmitted infections, including chlamydia
Skin conditions (e.g., acne, rosacea, erythrasma, pityriasis lichenoides)

Potential Drug Interactions with Macrolides

Macrolides, particularly erythromycin and clarithromycin, can interact with various medications. These interactions can lead to adverse effects or reduced efficacy of either the antibiotic or the other medication. It’s crucial to inform your healthcare provider about all medications you’re taking when prescribed a macrolide antibiotic.

Fluoroquinolones: Broad-Spectrum Antibiotics

Fluoroquinolones are a class of broad-spectrum antibiotics that are effective against a wide range of bacterial infections. They work by interfering with the bacteria’s DNA replication process, preventing them from reproducing and spreading.

Common Fluoroquinolone Antibiotics

Ciprofloxacin
Levofloxacin
Moxifloxacin
Ofloxacin

Fluoroquinolones are often prescribed for:

Urinary tract infections
Respiratory tract infections
Gastrointestinal infections
Skin and soft tissue infections
Bone and joint infections

Considerations and Potential Side Effects

While fluoroquinolones are effective antibiotics, they are associated with some risks and potential side effects. These may include:

Tendon damage or rupture
Central nervous system effects (e.g., dizziness, confusion)
Gastrointestinal disturbances
Photosensitivity
QT interval prolongation (a heart rhythm abnormality)

Due to these potential risks, fluoroquinolones are typically reserved for infections that cannot be treated with other antibiotics or when other options have failed.

Aminoglycosides: Potent Antibiotics for Serious Infections

Aminoglycosides are a class of potent antibiotics primarily used to treat serious gram-negative bacterial infections. They work by binding to bacterial ribosomes, inhibiting protein synthesis and ultimately leading to bacterial cell death.

Common Aminoglycoside Antibiotics

Gentamicin
Tobramycin
Amikacin
Streptomycin

Aminoglycosides are typically used for:

Severe hospital-acquired infections
Septicemia
Complicated urinary tract infections
Respiratory tract infections in cystic fibrosis patients

Administration and Monitoring

Due to their potential for toxicity, aminoglycosides are usually administered intravenously and require careful monitoring. They are often used in combination with other antibiotics to enhance their effectiveness and reduce the risk of bacterial resistance.

Regular monitoring of drug levels in the blood and assessment of kidney function are essential during aminoglycoside therapy to minimize the risk of adverse effects.

The Importance of Proper Antibiotic Use

While antibiotics are invaluable tools in fighting bacterial infections, their effectiveness relies on proper use. Misuse and overuse of antibiotics have led to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which pose a significant threat to global health.

Guidelines for Responsible Antibiotic Use

Only take antibiotics when prescribed by a healthcare professional
Complete the full course of antibiotics as directed, even if you start feeling better
Never share antibiotics with others or use leftover antibiotics
Inform your healthcare provider of any allergies or adverse reactions to antibiotics
Practice good hygiene to prevent the spread of infections

By following these guidelines and using antibiotics responsibly, we can help preserve their effectiveness for future generations and combat the growing threat of antibiotic resistance.

The Role of Healthcare Providers

Healthcare providers play a crucial role in ensuring the appropriate use of antibiotics. This includes:

Accurately diagnosing bacterial infections
Prescribing the most appropriate antibiotic for the specific infection
Educating patients about proper antibiotic use and potential side effects
Monitoring patients for adverse reactions and treatment effectiveness
Promoting antibiotic stewardship to reduce unnecessary prescriptions

By working together, healthcare providers and patients can contribute to the responsible use of antibiotics and help maintain their effectiveness in treating bacterial infections.

What Are the Most Common Antibiotics?

Antibiotics are a common, important group of medicines that treat bacterial infections. Some antibiotics attack or break down the cell walls of bacteria, while others inhibit their protein production. This kills the bacteria or keeps it from reproducing and spreading.

Oral antibiotics are available in liquid, tablet, and capsule form. Topical antibiotics include skin creams, sprays, and ointments. Eye ointments, eye drops, and ear drops are also available. Severe infections may require injected or intravenous antibiotics.

Healthcare professionals prescribe different antibiotics to treat conditions such as strep throat, bronchitis, and inner ear infections. In this case, these infections are moderate to severe and have not improved with other treatments.

Antibiotics do not treat viral illnesses, such as a cold, the flu, or mono.

These drugs are grouped according to their antibacterial activity and chemical structure. Specific antibiotics fight certain bacteria, which makes it important to take the right kind. A healthcare professional may ask for a lab culture test to determine which antibiotics you need.

Read on to learn more about the most common types of antibiotics and which infections they treat. We also explore the common side effects of antibiotics, which can include gastrointestinal problems like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, as well as more serious effects.

Here are some types of antibiotics that doctors prescribe most often.

Penicillins

Penicillins are a common treatment for a variety of skin conditions. They also treat middle ear, kidney, and blood infections. Penicillin antibiotics are effective at killing Staphylococci and Streptococci infections. But some bacteria are resistant to penicillin, due to overuse.

Common penicillin antibiotics include:

phenoxymethylpenicillin
dicloxacillin
amoxicillin with clavulanic acid
ampicillin
nafcillin
oxacillin
penicillin V
penicillin G

Potential side effects include:

nausea
abdominal discomfort
diarrhea
headache
yeast infection
liver disease

Penicillin may cause allergic reactions, such as rashes, hives, and breathing difficulties.

Some medications that may interact with penicillin include oral contraceptives and the anti-inflammatories aspirin and probenecid.

Cephalosporins

Cephalosporins often treat gonorrhea, pelvic inflammatory disease, and sinusitis. They also treat urinary tract infections (UTIs), epididymo-orchitis, and cellulitis. Often, doctors prescribe cephalosporins to people who are allergic to penicillin.

Common cephalosporin antibiotics include:

cefaclor
cefazolin
cefadroxil
cephalexin
cefuroxime
cefixime
cefoxitin
ceftriaxone

Tetracyclines

Tetracyclines are a group of antibiotics with anti-inflammatory properties that can treat several bacterial infections. They commonly treat chest, urethral, and pelvic infections. Tetracyclines also treat inflammatory skin conditions, such as acne, rosacea, and perioral dermatitis.

Common tetracycline antibiotics include:

doxycycline
minocycline
sarecycline

Children under 12 and pregnant or breastfeeding people should not take tetracyclines because they have the potential to stain developing teeth.

They can also cause inflammation or irritation of the esophagus. To prevent this, make sure to take doxycycline while sitting or standing upright, and have plenty of water. Also, it’s a good idea to avoid sun exposure, since doxycycline causes photosensitivity, which can lead to sunburn.

Finally, it’s best to take this type of antibiotic after eating to prevent nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Minocycline has more potential side effects than doxycycline, though it’s less likely to cause photosensitivity. Possible adverse effects of minocycline include drug hypersensitivity syndrome, autoimmune reactions, and dizziness and headache. Also, using it for a long period may cause blue pigmentation of skin and nails.

Medications that may interact with tetracyclines include:

systemic retinoids, such as acitretin, isotretinoin, and alitretinoin
diuretics
lithium
anticonvulsants
rifampicin
celestipol
oral contraceptives

Macrolides

Macrolides are an antibiotic group with anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. They can treat strains of bacteria that are resistant to penicillin. They are also a suitable option for people who are allergic to penicillin or cephalosporin.

These antibiotics commonly treat skin, soft tissue, respiratory, and sexually transmitted infections, including chlamydia. Healthcare professionals use them, for example, to treat skin conditions like acne, rosacea, erythrasma, and pityriasis lichenoides.

Types of macrolides include:

erythromycin
clarithromycin
azithromycin
fidaxomicin
roxithromycin

Macrolides, especially erythromycin and clarithromycin, can adversely interact with certain medications. Reactions and toxicity are more common in older adults and people with renal or liver dysfunction.

Medications that may interact with macrolides include:

calcium channel blockers, such as verapamil
amiodarone
methadone
lithium
amitriptyline
citalopram
anticoagulants, including warfarin and dabigatran
digoxin
benzodiazepines
carbamazepine
cimetidine
clozapine
colchicine
theophylline

Fluoroquinolones

Fluoroquinolones, also called quinolones, can fight bacterial infections that are life threatening or challenging to treat. However, they are linked with antimicrobial resistance, so you shouldn’t take them unless it’s absolutely necessary.

Fluoroquinolones are the first-line treatment for prostatitis, along with severe cases of salmonellosis and shigellosis. Doctors also often use them to treat certain cases of epididymo-orchitis, gonorrhea, and tuberculosis. Sometimes, fluoroquinolones treat urinary, eye, and ear infections.

Types of fluoroquinolone include:

ciprofloxacin
ofloxacin
levofloxacin
moxifloxacin

For people with renal dysfunction, taking this type of drug may require adjustments to dosages of other medications. And, rarely, fluoroquinolone can cause serious adverse effects, especially in older adults.

Potential side effects include:

tendon rupture
aortic aneurysm rupture or dissection
aortic and mitral regurgitation
central nervous system excitation and seizures
QT prolongation
other cardiac conditions

Sulfonamides

Sulfonamides, also called sulfa drugs, are a type of synthetic antimicrobial that doctors prescribe when first-line treatments are ineffective or contraindicated. The most common type is sulfamethoxazole with trimethoprim, called co-trimoxazole. It treats conditions such as pneumocystis pneumonia and nocardiosis in people with weakened immunity, as well as infections of the lower urinary tract in children.

Types of sulfonamides include:

sulfamethoxazole with trimethoprim
sulfasalazine
sulfacetamide
sulfadiazine silver

Sulfonamides are unsafe during pregnancy because they increase the likelihood of pregnancy loss.

Potential side effects include:

jaundice in newborns
candidiasis
folate deficiency
headaches
anorexia
hyperkalaemia

Medications that may interact with sulfonamides include:

warfarin
sulfonylurea hypoglycemic agents
phenytoin
methotrexate

Glycopeptides

Glycopeptide antibiotics treat drug-resistant bacteria and gram-positive infections, including multidrug-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, better known as MRSA.

Types of glycopeptides include:

vancomycin
dalbavancin
oritavancin
telavancin

Below, find answers to common questions about antibiotics.

What is antibiotic resistance?

Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria survive or resist antibiotic treatment. Bacteria change and mutate to protect themselves after coming into contact with an antibiotic or other bacteria. Once a type of bacteria is resistant, it passes these genes to other bacteria, which continue to grow. Eventually, they create a new strain of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Misusing and overusing antibiotics increases the likelihood of antibiotic resistance. Over time, this may lead to a shortage of medications that can effectively treat common infections.

How can I prevent antibiotic resistance?

To prevent antibiotic resistance, avoid taking antibiotics unless it is essential. Don’t take them for viral infections, such as a cold or the flu. Always follow the instructions from your healthcare professional about how much to take when. To prevent infections, clean your hands and living spaces regularly, and take steps to strengthen your immune system.

Are there any natural antibiotics?

Natural antibiotics include honey, thyme essential oil, and oregano essential oil. Extracts of garlic, cranberry, and myrrh also have antibiotic properties. Several herbs are effective antibiotics, including echinacea, turmeric, and ginger.

Natural UTI treatments include D-mannose and uva ursi, along with green, parsley, mint, and chamomile teas.

You can experiment with different combinations of natural treatments to find out which are most effective for your needs.

Antibiotics kill bacteria and prevent them from multiplying. They are valuable drugs that treat bacterial infections. It’s crucial to use them correctly and follow the healthcare professional’s instructions carefully.

It’s also important to be aware of the potential side effects and interactions of antibiotics. Speak with your doctor if you have any related concerns.

Antibiotics – Tests & treatments

Antibiotics are used to treat or prevent some types of bacterial infection. They kill bacteria or prevent them from reproducing and spreading.

Antibiotics aren’t effective against viral infections. This includes the common cold, flu, most coughs and sore throats.

Antibiotics aren’t routinely prescribed for mild bacterial infections. This is because the immune system can usually clear these on it’s own.

When are antibiotics used?

Antibiotics may be used to treat bacterial infections that:

are unlikely to clear up without antibiotics
could infect others unless treated
could take too long to clear without treatment
carry a risk of more serious complications

Antibiotics to prevent infection

Antibiotics are sometimes given as a precaution to prevent an infection. This is known as antibiotic prophylaxis.

Surgery

Antibiotic prophylaxis is normally recommended if you’re having surgery in a certain area. This is because there could be a higher risk of infection.

Your surgical team will be able to tell you if you need antibiotic prophylaxis.

People vulnerable to infection

Antibiotics may be recommended for people who are more vulnerable to infection. This includes:

people aged over 75 years
babies less than 72 hours old with a confirmed bacterial infection
babies with a high risk of developing a bacterial infection
people with heart failure
people who have to take insulin to control their diabetes
people with a weakened immune system

Bites or wounds

Antibiotic prophylaxis may be recommended for a wound that has a high chance of becoming infected. This could be an animal or human bite, for example, or a wound that has come into contact with soil or faeces.

Medical conditions

There are several medical conditions that make people particularly vulnerable to infection. This makes antibiotic prophylaxis necessary.

The spleen plays an important role in filtering out harmful bacteria from the blood. If your spleen doesn’t work properly, this means antibiotics can help prevent infection.

People more vulnerable to infection include those:

who’ve had their spleen removed
having chemotherapy for cancer
with the blood disorder sickle cell anaemia

Recurring infection

Antibiotic prophylaxis may also be recommended for a recurring infection, like:

cellulitis
a urinary tract infection
genital herpes
rheumatic fever