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Antibiotics for cough

Medical expert of the article

Pulmonologist
, medical expert
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025

Antibiotics for coughs are medications that allow you to quickly cure a cough and eliminate the first symptoms of a cold. Let's look at the features of treatment with antibiotics, types of antibiotics and the most effective drugs for coughs.

As a rule, antibiotics for cough are prescribed by a doctor, but very often these drugs are bought independently, at the discretion of the patient. When choosing antibiotics, there are certain nuances and features. Let's look at the rules for choosing antibiotics for cough.

  1. Taking antibiotics for cough should be justified. Remember that antibiotics are medicines that are aimed at fighting bacteria. Antibiotics for cough and colds should be taken for bacterial bronchitis, pneumonia, tracheitis and other diseases that are accompanied by a cough. Taking antibiotics will speed up the recovery process and improve your well-being. But do not forget that a cough can be caused not only by colds, but also by heart or nervous system diseases.
  2. Antibiotics for cough must be selected correctly. Thus, doctors have a special card with diseases and bacterial pathogens. Thanks to this, you can immediately select an effective antibiotic to which bacteria have increased sensitivity. If the cough is with phlegm, then before taking antibiotics, it is advisable to take a flora test. If it is not possible to seek medical help, but the cough lasts for three days and gets worse, then you need a broad-spectrum antibiotic. Such drugs include: amoxiclav, flemoklav. But antibiotics can cause a number of complications, turn the cough into a chronic form and cause allergic reactions.
  3. It is important to know how to take antibiotics. It is necessary to follow the dosage of the drug and not increase or decrease it during the treatment. Increasing the dose of the antibiotic will not lead to a faster recovery, but will only cause allergic reactions. If a day after taking the drug there is no relief, then the antibiotic must be changed. When taking an antibiotic, it is necessary to follow the course of treatment. If the instructions say that the drug is taken for 5-10 days, then you cannot take antibiotics longer than the allotted time. Since with prolonged use of the drug, bacteria develop resistance, and treatment becomes difficult.

Read also: Antibiotics for bronchitis

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Pharmacological group

Средства, применяемые при кашле и простудных заболеваниях

Pharmachologic effect

Противокашлевые (тормозящие кашлевой рефлекс) препараты

Do you need antibiotics for a cough?

Do you need antibiotics for a cough? Of course you do, as these are effective drugs that successfully fight bacterial infections. But you should only take antibiotics as prescribed by your doctor. Self-medication can worsen the course of the disease, and taking antibiotics will help bacteria get used to the drug, which will complicate treatment in the future.

In order to choose a good antibiotic for a cough, you need to see a doctor. The doctor will take a sputum sample for culture. This will allow you to choose a narrow-spectrum antibiotic that will destroy your bacteria. Without tests, broad-spectrum antibiotics are prescribed, usually penicillin drugs. But the body does not always need antibiotic treatment. If the disease is uncomplicated, then it is enough to supply the body with a dose of vitamins, fresh vegetables and fruits.

Names of antibiotics for cough

If you have caught a cold and have all the symptoms of ARVI, then you need to know the names of antibiotics for cough. First of all, it is worth knowing that when treating a cold, it is very important to choose those drugs that act on the cause of the disease, that is, the bacterial pathogen. This type of treatment is called etiological. If the patient takes expectorants, antitussives and immunostimulants, then this is the second and no less important stage of treatment.

Almost 90% of all colds are accompanied by a cough, which is caused by viruses, so treatment with antibiotics will be unjustified and ineffective.

Antibiotics are needed to treat a cold that lasts more than 5-7 days. In this case, the disease is caused by a bacterial infection, so taking antibiotics is necessary.

Let's look at the most effective and commonly used antibiotics for coughs:

  • Penicillin group antibiotics – augmentin, ampiox, amoxiclav.
  • Cephalosporin antibiotics – cefpirome, cefotaxime, cefazolin.
  • Macrolide antibiotics – azithromycin, roxithromycin, clarithromycin.

In case of colds with cough, taking bactericidal drugs will be effective. Since the action of such antibiotics is aimed at destroying bacteria. But taking antibiotics for cough too often is not recommended, since this causes the body to become accustomed to them. In addition, antibiotics can cause allergic reactions and contribute to the chronic form of the disease, including cough.

What antibiotic should I take for a cough?

What antibiotic to take for a cough? A question that interests those who have encountered the first signs of a cold. Before buying antibiotics, you should know that taking such drugs is effective only if the causative agent of the disease is bacteria. To determine the type of bacteria, it is necessary to take tests of the separated sputum. It is equally important to conduct an analysis of the susceptibility of bacteria to various types of antibiotics. This allows you to choose the most correct and effective antibiotic drug.

If you have not taken tests and do not know which antibiotic to take for a cough, you can buy broad-spectrum antibiotics. Such drugs will ease the course of the disease and help cure the cough.

Antibiotics for dry cough

Antibiotics for dry cough are the best medicine. Almost all patients who encounter colds think so, but is it really so? Antibiotics have a powerful effect, but they do not always show it, so their use may be inappropriate for dry cough. Let's consider the features of choosing and taking antibiotics for dry cough.

  • With a strong dry cough, taking antibiotics has a detrimental effect on an already weakened body. The immune system is exposed to powerful chemical influences, which complicates the recovery process after the disease.
  • Cough is a protective reaction of the body to the actions of a bacterial infection. This means that antibiotics for dry cough should be selected so that they have an effective suppressive effect on bacterial agents.
  • It is not recommended to take antibiotics on your own, that is, without a doctor's prescription. Since this can lead to a number of adverse effects. In addition, incorrectly selected antibiotics for dry cough will only worsen the course of the disease.
  • Frequent use of antibiotics can cause allergic reactions, intestinal dysbacteriosis. The disease can become chronic and manifest itself with the slightest weakening of the immune system.
  • When choosing cough remedies for children, it is worth giving preference to syrups, as they do not act as aggressively on the body.
  • It is important to remember that any antibiotic has a number of contraindications and warnings. Therefore, before taking any medications, do not forget to read the instructions for use.

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Antibiotics for severe cough

Antibiotics for severe cough do not affect the cough, but the infection. Therefore, complex treatment will be effective, that is, taking antibiotics and strengthening the immune system.

In case of a severe cough, it is important to treat not only the cough, but also the infection that provoked it. Thus, a severe cough is a symptom of a viral infection. In this case, "Immunal" will help. If a severe cough is accompanied by the release of sputum, then the infection is in the bronchi and is most likely of a bacterial nature. In this case, taking antibiotics such as "Amoxiclav", "Suprax" or "Macropen" will be effective. Only a doctor can determine which antibiotic is most effective for a severe cough. Therefore, do not delay going to qualified medical help.

An effective medicine for severe cough is the drug "Codelac", which contains codeine, sodium bicarbonate, licorice roots, and lanceolate thermopsis herb. It will help get rid of both severe and dry cough. Also, it is worth taking "Pectusin" tablets, they will reduce the cough and give you a chance to rest.

Antibiotics for cough with phlegm

Antibiotics for cough with phlegm are potent drugs, many of which are not available without a prescription. If the cough is accompanied by phlegm, then this is the first sign of a life-threatening disease that requires professional treatment and a course of antibiotics will not help here. Bloody, purulent, yellow-green or rust-colored phlegm is especially dangerous.

In this case, the patient is prescribed drugs that dissolve phlegm, that is, mucolytics. Such drugs allow the lungs to be cleared of phlegm, that is, they have an expectorant effect. In addition to taking antibiotics, do not forget about preventive procedures that can be carried out independently at home.

  • To remove phlegm, drink more water.
  • Regular humidification of the air will calm inflammatory processes, soften phlegm and promote its rapid removal.
  • Avoid lung irritants, especially tobacco smoke.
  • As soon as a strong cough begins, sit up straight, this position will facilitate the expansion of the lungs and help remove phlegm.
  • The phlegm must be spit out, but under no circumstances swallowed. It would also be a good idea to follow hygiene rules so that other people do not catch the infection.

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Antibiotics for persistent cough

Antibiotics for a long cough are needed if the cough lasts more than 8-10 weeks. If the cough lasts much less, then, as a rule, the cause of its occurrence is hyperreactivity of the airways, which very often occurs in patients after infectious diseases or lung infections.

  • A long-term cough can be caused not only by an infection or bacteria, but also by various cancers or bronchial asthma. Therefore, it is very important to have an X-ray of the chest organs. This is especially important for adult patients.
  • Before choosing antibiotics for a long-term cough, it is necessary to determine the cause of the cough. The most common causes are: chronic bronchitis, sinusitis, bronchial asthma, sarcoidosis, silicosis, asbestosis, infectious lung diseases, tuberculosis, heart failure, cancer, complications after previous illnesses or surgeries.
  • Antibiotics for prolonged cough fight infections such as whooping cough, mycoplasma pneumonia, chlamydial pneumonia.
  • Long-term cough is best treated with antibiotics in children, but in adults, antibiotic treatment does not produce the desired result.

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Antibiotics for children with cough

Many parents are sure that antibiotics for children with coughs do their job perfectly and do not cause any harm to the child's body. But is this true? Every parent should know that no antibiotic can cure the disease, it will only temporarily relieve the symptoms and create a lot of trouble for the child. Thus, antibiotics can cause dysbacteriosis, damaged intestinal microflora, and problems with the immune system.

If the child has just started coughing, then instead of antibiotics it is better to give the baby hot tea and vitamins to strengthen the immune system. If the disease is serious, then only a pediatrician can prescribe the necessary antibiotics after examining the child and conducting a series of tests. You cannot buy antibiotics for children on your own, as this is fraught with consequences for the fragile child's body. Particular attention should be paid to such antibiotics as:

  • Levomycetin - just one tablet of this antibiotic can cause aplastic anemia, that is, suppression of hematopoiesis.
  • Tetracycline antibiotics are strictly prohibited for children. These include doxycycline, minocycline, and tetracycline. These drugs disrupt the formation of tooth enamel.
  • Fluoroquinolones – ofloxacin, pefloxacin and others. These drugs disrupt the process of joint cartilage formation.

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Antibiotics for cough in adults

Antibiotics for cough in adults are prescribed by a doctor after examination. But do not forget that antibiotics will only remove the symptoms of the disease, while the underlying cause will continue to destroy the immune system. For cough in adults, an effective antibiotic is considered "Flemoxin" or other drugs from the amoxicillin group. Taking antibiotics should be supplemented with medical procedures, compresses, ointments, inhalations.

Mucaltin, Bromhexine, and Ambrobene are good - these drugs quickly relieve cough. But don't forget that all medications have side effects. Therefore, when treating cough in adults, it is recommended to give preference to natural preparations. A good natural antibiotic cough remedy can be made from radish. Take one radish, chop it, squeeze out the juice, and take one spoon at a time until the cough disappears completely.

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Antibiotic cough syrup

Cough syrup with bactericidal effect is an effective and, most importantly, pleasant remedy for treating coughs and colds. Most often, syrups with antibiotics are prescribed to children, as many manufacturers have taken care to ensure that the syrup is not only effective in treatment, but also pleasant to taste. Let's look at the most popular and effective cough syrups that are no worse than antibiotics.

  1. Plantain syrup is a natural remedy that makes cough disappear in 3-5 days. The syrup tastes good, so it can be taken by children. Dry cough becomes wet thanks to the syrup, which helps remove phlegm faster. But this syrup cannot be used as an emergency treatment and is prohibited for children under two years of age.
  2. Lazolvan syrup - this syrup is considered a second-line drug, i.e. it is taken if inhalations and medicinal infusions have not cured the cough. The drug stimulates the body to produce protective flora in the bronchi, which reliably protects against the disease in the future. The syrup contains ambroxol, which relieves fever and fatigue. It is suitable for both children and adults.
  3. Broncholitin syrup is quite effective, but can only be taken as prescribed by a doctor. The syrup contains glaucine hydrobromide, common basil oil, citric acid monohydrate and other auxiliary substances, which only improves and strengthens its medicinal properties. The syrup suppresses even the most severe cough, both in adults and children. The syrup contains ephedrine hydrochloride, so it is very important to follow the dosage of the drug.
  4. Doctor Mom syrup is a medicinal product with herbal components. The effect of the syrup increases gradually. It is suitable for treating coughs in both children and adults. The only downside of the syrup is its long action, so it is recommended to use it in combination with other medicinal products.

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Antibiotic for cough during pregnancy

Antibiotics for cough during pregnancy are strictly contraindicated, as are other medications. The thing is that antibiotics have an adverse effect on the development of the baby, which in the future can cause pathology.

If a pregnant woman develops a cough, it should be treated with natural medicinal infusions and folk medicine methods. But it would not be superfluous to visit a doctor for tests. This will allow you to find out what caused the cough and choose the most effective remedy for its treatment. As for treatment with herbs and infusions, here too, a doctor's consultation is needed, since some herbs are contraindicated for pregnant women.

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Cough after antibiotics

Cough after antibiotics may occur if the disease is not completely cured. The disease has become chronic or antibiotics have caused an allergic reaction. In this case, you need to seek medical help. Remember that cough after antibiotics cannot be treated with new antibiotics, in this case only proven folk remedies will help, let's consider them.

  • A medicinal vitamin syrup that does not cause side effects and effectively eliminates cold symptoms is a great remedy for coughs. Take one lemon, cut it into slices and sauté over low heat for about 10 minutes. Once the lemon softens and releases juice, add a couple of spoons of glycerin and honey. For a rare cough after antibiotics, take 1 teaspoon a day; for a strong cough or one that bothers you at night, take one spoon in the morning and before bed.
  • If a cough after antibiotics is accompanied by a high temperature, then a medicinal tincture of linden blossom will help to eliminate it well. Brew linden leaves and flowers with boiling water, hold in a steam bath and let it brew for 2-3 hours. After this, the infusion must be cooled and taken 1 glass during the day, preferably after meals.
  • If a cough after antibiotics appears in children, then a simple but effective recipe will cope with it. You will need carrot and radish juice, milk and honey. Mix the ingredients in equal proportions and give the child one spoon every 2-3 hours.
  • Another natural remedy for cough after antibiotics is prepared from radish. Cut the radish into thin slices, sprinkle each piece well with sugar, put it in a bowl and leave it overnight. Overnight, the radish will release juice, which should be taken by the teaspoon every hour.

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How to cure a cough without antibiotics?

How to cure a cough without antibiotics and is it possible? Of course, it is possible, the main thing is to know what and how to treat. In this case, treatment is recommended to be carried out using natural plant ingredients, that is, traditional medicine. Let's look at several effective recipes for treating cough without antibiotics.

  1. Carrot and milk syrup is a great cough remedy for both adults and children. Mix carrot juice and milk in equal proportions. The drink should be taken every two hours during the day.
  2. Onion syrup – to prepare the syrup you will need 500 grams of onions and the same amount of sugar. The onion must be peeled and chopped. Add sugar to the chopped onion and cook over low heat for 3-4 hours. After the syrup has cooked, add a couple of spoons of honey and mix well. Store the medicine in a glass jar and take one tablespoon every two hours.
  3. Garlic-onion remedy – take 10 small onions and one head of garlic. Boil them in milk until they become soft. Grind the mixture with a blender, add a couple of spoons of honey and mint juice. It is recommended to take a spoon every hour. The remedy effectively helps in the treatment of severe and dry cough.
  4. Medicinal viburnum - mix viburnum berries with sugar, let it brew and take at the first sign of a cough.

Antibiotics for cough are effective medications that fight infection and quickly relieve symptoms of the disease. But taking antibiotics also has a negative side, which can cause allergic reactions and complications. Before taking antibiotics, be sure to consult a doctor, this will be a guarantee that your body is not in danger and the treatment is correct.


Attention!

To simplify the perception of information, this instruction for use of the drug "Antibiotics for cough" translated and presented in a special form on the basis of the official instructions for medical use of the drug. Before use read the annotation that came directly to medicines.

Description provided for informational purposes and is not a guide to self-healing. The need for this drug, the purpose of the treatment regimen, methods and dose of the drug is determined solely by the attending physician. Self-medication is dangerous for your health.

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