Can I Use Azithromycin Or Amoxicillin While Pregnant
Your healthcare provider will determine the best antibiotic to use if you are pregnant and need an antibiotic. Azithromycin is a pregnancy category B, but there have not been well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Amoxicillin is also a pregnancy category B, and like azithromycin, there have not been adequate studies with pregnant women. Therefore, azithromycin or amoxicillin should be prescribed if benefits to the mother outweigh risks to the baby, and under close observation of the healthcare provider.
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Why Is This Medication Prescribed
Azithromycin is used to treat certain bacterial infections, such as bronchitis pneumonia sexually transmitted diseases and infections of the ears, lungs, sinuses, skin, throat, and reproductive organs. Azithromycin also is used to treat or prevent disseminated Mycobacterium avium complex infection . Azithromycin is in a class of medications called macrolide antibiotics. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria.
Antibiotics such as azithromycin will not work for colds, flu, or other viral infections. Using antibiotics when they are not needed increases your risk of getting an infection later that resists antibiotic treatment.
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Is Azithromycin Stronger Than Amoxicillin
Its difficult to compare strength because each medication is in a different category of antibiotics. They have some similarities and some differences, but we cant really say which is stronger. Instead, it is important to look at what infection is being treated, what bacteria is causing the infection, and any other medical conditions you have and any drugs you take that can interact with azithromycin or amoxicillin. Your healthcare provider can determine which drug is more appropriate for you.
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Sinus Infection Treatment Timeline With Antibiotics
Our sinuses are hard to reach, so it can be two to three days before antibiotic treatment begins to take effect.
It is critical to continue the whole course of antibiotics, even if you start to feel better. If you dont finish the whole course, your body could begin to build a resistance to those antibiotics. This makes future treatment more difficult.
Sometimes, patients experience negative side effects while taking antibiotics. If you experience rash, hives or have difficulty breathing while taking antibiotics, call your doctor immediately. You may be experiencing an allergic reaction. In older adults, some types of antibiotics may cause inflammation in tendons.
In addition to clearing your sinuses of infection, antibiotics also work in other parts of your body, particularly the gut. This could cause diarrhea, so you may want to take a probiotic as well.
Which Antibiotics Are Best For Sinus Infections In Children
- The antibiotic of choice for both children and adults who are not allergic to penicillin is amoxicillin with clavulanic acid .
- Azithromycin is NOT recommended for sinusitis due to bacterial resistance.
- Cefinir and other cephalosporins are NOT recommended for sinusitis except in combination therapy with clindamycin for children with non-life- threatening allergic reactions to penicillin. In these cases, the cephalosporin of choice is cefixime .
- Levofloxacin or doxycycline are the recommended antibiotics for adults with true penicillin allergies. Levofloxacin can also be considered for the treatment of children with life-threatening allergic reactions to penicillin. Doxycyline is not for use in children.
- Oral decongestants are not recommended for the treatment of sinusitis. Antihistamines may be used if there are underlying seasonal/environmental allergies.
- Nasal steroid sprays and nasal saline flushes can be helpful for sinusitis.
Lou Romig, MD, FAAP, FACEP, Medical Director
After Hours Pediatrics Urgent Care
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Common Antibiotics For Sinus Infections
Antibiotics may be prescribed when symptoms of a sinus infection warrant such treatment. Common antibiotics for sinus infection include:
- Levaquin : Although this drug is often prescribed as a first line of therapy for sinusitis, it has serious side effects and should only be used as a last resort.
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Cdc Study Says Sinus Infections Are Treated With Antibiotics Longer Than Necessary
A CDC study published in JAMA Internal Medicine on Monday found that primary care providers are prescribing antibiotics for sinus infections longer than recommended by clinical practice guidelines. A key antibiotic stewardship principle is to use the shortest effective length of antibiotics recommended by guidelines in order to fight the growing problem of antibiotic resistance.
A CDC study published in JAMA Internal Medicine on Monday found that primary care providers are prescribing antibiotics for sinus infections longer than recommended by clinical practice guidelines.
A key antibiotic stewardship principle is to use the shortest effective length of antibiotics recommended by guidelines in order to fight the growing problem of antibiotic resistance. In the report, the CDC said that antibiotic stewardship programs can ensure that treatment adheres to these guidelines.
According to the CDC, at least 2 million people become infected with bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics each year. Additionally, at least 23,000 people die as a direct result of these infections, and many more die from other conditions that were complicated by an antibiotic-resistant infection. Last year, The Joint Commission put in place an antimicrobial stewardship standard for institutions to follow.
No penicillin or tetracycline prescriptions were for 5-day courses, and only 5% of antibiotic prescriptions were for 7-day courses of penicillins, tetracyclines, or fluoroquinolones.
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Will My Sinus Infection Clear Up On Its Own
The first few weeks of the common cold arent fun, but the acute sinusitis that can pop up afterwards doesnt help either. Sinus congestion and the common cold, unfortunately, go hand in hand. Acute sinusitis frequently is caused by the common cold, but also can be caused by allergies and bacterial and fungal infections.
Sinus infections are caused when the cavities around your nasal passages become inflamed and swollen, which eventually interferes with drainage and causes mucus to build up. This tends to get annoying, because it makes breathing through the nose difficult. It also affects the area around your eyes and face, and can cause a throbbing headache.
When a sinus infection hits, its always worse than what you remembered from the last time you had one. This may give you the idea that you need antibiotics, but most clear up without them. Antibiotics have no effect on viruses and arent recommended within the first week of developing a cold. About 70 percent of sinus infections go away within two weeks without antibiotics.
Consider these other forms of treatments instead of antibiotics:
- Over-the-counter pain relievers. Aspirins, acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help relieve temporary pain.
- Saline nasal spray. This is used to spray into your nose several times a day to rinse your nasal passages. They can help to prevent and treat inflammation.
Antibiotics only will be needed if the infection is severe, recurrent or persistent.
Topics in this Post
Diagnosis And Treatment Of Otitis Media
KALYANAKRISHNAN RAMAKRISHNAN, MD, FRCSE RHONDA A. SPARKS, MD and WAYNE E. BERRYHILL, MD
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Am Fam Physician. 2007 Dec 1 76:1650-1658.
Patient information: See related handout on ear infections in children, written by the authors of this article.
Acute otitis media, a viral or bacterial infection of the middle ear, is the most common infection for which antibiotics are prescribed for children in the United States.1,2 Direct and indirect costs of treatment and time lost from school and work because of acute otitis media totaled nearly $3 billion in 1995.3 Acute otitis media is most common between six and 24 months of age by age three, more than 80 percent of children have been diagnosed.4
Otitis media with effusion is middle ear effusion in the absence of acute infection. About 2.2 million cases of otitis media with effusion occur annually in the United States.5 Chronic suppurative otitis media is persistent infection and resultant perforation of the tympanic membrane.6 This article will review recent evidence, including the evidence-based guideline from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians, about the diagnosis and treatment of acute otitis media and otitis media with effusion.1,5
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Which Is Better For Sinus Infection Amoxicillin Or Azithromycin
A sinus infection may be caused by a virus or by bacteria . If your prescriber diagnoses you with a bacterial sinus infection, azithromycin or amoxicillin are appropriate, and very common, treatments. Your prescriber will also take into account allergies and other drugs you take that may interact with azithromycin or amoxicillin.
What Are The Most Common Antibiotics Used For Sinusitis
Amoxicillin remains the drug of choice for acute, uncomplicated bacterial sinusitis. Amoxicillin is most effective when given frequently enough to sustain adequate levels in the infected tissue. While often prescribed twice daily, it is even more effective if taken in 3 or 4 divided doses. Amoxicillin is typically prescribed for 7-10 days at a time. While it is critical to finish the entire 10 day course of antibiotics when treating strep throat, there is evidence that shorter courses of treatment may be sufficient for most cases of sinusitis. Amoxicillin is closely related to the parent compound penicillin and should not be prescribed in patients who are penicillin allergic.
Cephalosporins and Augmentin are considered broad-spectrum antibiotics because they have enhanced effectiveness against a wider range of bacteria, including those that are resistant to ordinary penicillin or amoxicillin. If the patient does not improve within the first week on amoxicillin, a change to Augmentin or to a cephalosporin such as Ceftin, Cefzil, Omnicef, or Suprax is reasonable. Although these drugs have a similar mechanism of action to penicillin, they generally can be taken in adequate doses once or twice daily. These medications should be used with extreme caution in patients with a history of penicillin allergy, as cross-reaction may occur.
Additional resources:
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Price Of Amoxicillin For Sinus
The average price of Amoxicillin for Sinus 500 mg Tablet is around Rs. 67.87 in the Indian market.
| Average price of Amoxicillin 500 mg strip of 10 tablets | Rs. 67.87 |
The medicine is available in a lot of forms-
- Powder for oral suspension
You should take amoxicillin exactly as prescribed by the doctor. You should also follow all the directions given on the label word-to-word and read the instruction sheet thoroughly.
One should take the medicine at the same hour of the day daily. If you are taking oral suspension, then shake the bottle before use. You can mix it with water, milk, baby formula, fruit juice or ginger ale.
In case you are taking tablets, do not crush, chew, or break the tablet before gulping it. Lastly, do not change the dose or schedule without consulting the doctor first.
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Is This The Correct Antibiotic
The good news is that most children with ear infections do get the right prescription. In a separate report in JAMA Internal Medicine, Dr. Adam Hersh of the University of Utah and colleagues found that 67 percent two-thirds of children with ear infections got the correct prescription. But only 37 percent of adults with sore throats and sinus infections did.
This study provides evidence of substantial overuse of nonfirst-line antibiotics.
The teams used two big national surveys from 2010 and 2011, which they said were the latest available. We do not have reason to believe practice patterns have substantially changed, Hershs team wrote.
Medical experts have been complaining about the misuse of antibiotics for two decades, but the message still is not getting through, Hyun said.
Patients also need to get tough on themselves and their doctors. Ask: Is an antibiotic really needed? Is this the correct antibiotic? he said.
The CDC says more than 2 million people are infected by drug-resistant germs each year, and 23,000 die of their infections
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Azithromycin Reviews & Ratings
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Can Sinus Headaches Be Prevented
To prevent sinus headaches, you can take steps to decrease the chance you will develop a sinus infection. These include:
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Treating seasonal allergies with antihistamines or nasal sprays.
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Treating nasal polyps. These can cause blockages that can lead to sinus infections. Polyps can be treated with corticosteroid nasal sprays like Flonase. Sometimes they need to be surgically removed if they arent getting better with nasal sprays.
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Cutting back or quitting smoking. Avoiding cigarette smoke can help prevent sinus infections.
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When To Seek Medical Care
See a doctor if you have:
- Severe symptoms, such as severe headache or facial pain.
- Symptoms that get worse after initially improving.
- Symptoms lasting more than 10 days without improvement.
- Fever longer than 3-4 days.
You should also seek medical care if you have had multiple sinus infections in the past year.
This list is not all-inclusive. Please see a doctor for any symptom that is severe or concerning.
Other conditions can cause symptoms similar to a sinus infection, including:
- Seasonal allergies
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What Drugs Interact With Zithromax
Zithromax may interact with arsenic trioxide, cyclosporine, pimozide, tacrolimus, theophylline, warfarin, other antibiotics, antidepressants, anti-malaria medications, cholesterol-lowering medicines, ergot medicines, heart or blood pressure medications, heart rhythm medicines, HIV medicines, medicine to prevent or treat nausea and vomiting, medicines to treat psychiatric disorders, migraine headache medicines, narcotics, sedatives, tranquilizers, or seizure medicines. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use.
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What Is The Prescribed Dosage
Clinical studies have shown that a three-day course of azithromycin is as effective as a 10 day course of penicillin-based drugs . The recommended dosage of azithromycin in the management of sinus infections is 500 mg per day for three days.
One study has shown that taking 2 g of azithromycin may be more effective than a longer course of amoxicillin.
However, clinical studies have also shown that azithromycin may not be the best choice of medicine in managing sinus infections as the improvement in symptoms is not because of the effect it has on the bacteria but is actually due to the inflammation fighting properties that it possesses.
Furthermore, azithromycin is not very effective against organisms such as Streptococcus pneumonia and Hemophilus influenza .
Research Into Antibiotics And Sinus Infections
The guidelines were triggered, in part, by studies finding that antibiotics may not make a difference. About 60% to 70% of people with sinus infections recover without antibiotics, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.
In one study of symptom relief, patients given antibiotics generally did no better than patients not given antibiotics.
This study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, observed 240 patients with sinusitis. They were given one of four treatments: antibiotics alone, nasal steroid spray alone to reduce tissue swelling, both antibiotics and the spray, or no treatment.
Patients who got no treatment were as likely to get better than those who got the antibiotics. The nasal spray seemed to help people with less severe symptoms at the beginning of their sinus problem, and seemed to make those with more intense congestion worse.
The patients all had sinus symptoms that suggested a bacterial infection. Sinus problems are also caused by viruses, for which antibiotics definitely offer no help.
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What Are The Best Antibiotics For Sinus Infection Do Doctors Prescribe For You
There are many antibiotics that your doctor or physician may prescribe to help treat your sinus infection. Some of these may even be familiar to you.
These antibiotics are effective in treating sinus infection, however, these drugs do carry side effects. You should only be taken according to what your doctor or physician has prescribed. Always follow their instructions to achieve the best results.
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