Antibiotics for pneumonia

Treatment of any form of pneumonia is almost impossible without prescribing antibiotics. Due to the fact that today you can see a fairly wide range of this type of drug, doctors can choose the right medicine for each individual case. But antibiotics for pneumonia sometimes have a negative effect on the body, especially if they are taken incorrectly.

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Indications for the use of antibiotics for pneumonia

To cure pneumonia, doctors often prescribe antibiotics with an antimicrobial effect. But it is worth understanding that the use of such drugs should be under the supervision of a specialist. It is also necessary to remember some important rules for taking antibiotics. Firstly, if you have already started the course, you must complete it. Moreover, it is important to adhere to the exact dose prescribed by your doctor. Indications for the use of antibiotics for pneumonia depend entirely on the severity of the disease, as well as on the type of microbes or bacteria that caused it. Today, antibiotics with a broad spectrum of action are especially popular. They can be divided into the following types:

1. Penicillins: oxacillin, penicillin, augmentin, ampicillin, amoxicillin).
2. Cephalosporin type: cefexime, cephalexin, cefilim.
3. Macrolide: clarithromycin, erythromycin.
4. Aminoglycoside: azithromycin, kanamycin, gentamicin.
5. Tetracycline type: minoxycycline, doxycycline, tetracycline.
6. Fluoroquinolone: ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin.

Only after the cause of the infection has been established can a specialist prescribe a course of treatment.

Release form

Antibiotics for pneumonia can come in a variety of forms. Today, antibiotics are available in powder, tablet, capsule, and injection form. Depending on the severity of pneumonia and what exactly caused the inflammation, different medications are prescribed. Injection solutions have recently become the most popular, but they do not make patients too happy. The latter can be explained by the fact that antibiotic treatment courses usually last seven days. Powders are quickly absorbed by the body, so the patient may feel significant relief within the first 24 hours after administration, but you should not interrupt treatment or reduce the dose of powder prescribed by your doctor. Tablets and capsules do not act as quickly as solutions and powders. They are prescribed for mild stages of pneumonia when the patient is treated at home.

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Pharmacodynamics

Antibiotics for pneumonia are different drugs that are prescribed in a variety of cases. Their pharmacodynamics may differ from each other. We decided to show you the main properties of drugs of this type using the popular antibiotic "Ceftriaxone" as an example.

This drug is a third-generation semi-synthetic cephalosporin antibiotic. Due to its chemical structure, it is highly effective against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. The antibiotic quickly inhibits membrane synthesis in cells.

Pharmacokinetics

The pharmacokinetics of different antibiotics used for pneumonia can be completely different. Therefore, we will consider it using the popular drug "Ceftriaxone" as an example.

This antibiotic is absorbed by the body quite quickly after intramuscular administration. Its greatest amount in the blood plasma is noticeable 90 minutes after administration. It is half-excreted from the body after eight hours. This period increases in infants and reaches a day. During the next 24 hours, a high bactericidal concentration of the drug remains in the blood. It penetrates tissues very quickly and without problems, and is visible in small quantities on the mucous membranes. Two days after administration, it is partially (50%) excreted with urine.

Names of antibiotics for pneumonia

Here, everything depends on the degree of pneumonia. In case of hospital-acquired pneumonia, when the patient is simply obliged to remain in the hospital under the supervision of doctors, the following antibiotics are usually prescribed.

Amoxicillin. An antibiotic with an antibacterial effect, which is a semi-synthetic penicillin. It is indicated for use in severe pneumonia. Due to its high acid resistance, it is absorbed in the intestines quite quickly and without consequences. Before prescribing the drug, the doctor must find out whether the person is sensitive to it. For this, a special analysis is carried out. The dose is usually set individually and depends on many factors. It is prescribed to adults and children over ten years of age. Among the main side effects, it is worth highlighting possible allergic reactions (mainly urticaria), rhinitis, Quincke's edema, fever, conjunctivitis. The drug is contraindicated in patients with erythema, infectious mononucleosis. It is also not recommended for pregnant women.

Ticarcillin. This antibiotic is also a semi-synthetic penicillin. It has an antibacterial effect against a large number of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. The drug is not recommended for use during pregnancy, as well as for those with impaired renal function. The antibiotic is usually sold as an injection solution. The course of treatment depends on the patient. Side effects include the following: hypokalemia, vomiting with nausea, diarrhea, allergic reactions on the skin. When the drug is administered to the body, a burning sensation, pain, and redness may appear.

If the initial regimen does not produce the expected results, these antibiotics are used for pneumonia.

Cefepime. It is a powerful antibacterial agent. It helps to cure pneumonia caused by gram-positive, gram-negative bacteria, as well as those that are already resistant to third-generation drugs. It enters the affected cell very quickly. It effectively fights many infectious diseases. It is usually released as an injection solution and is administered intravenously or intramuscularly (depending on the individual situation). The main feature of the drug is the fact that it can be prescribed to small children and even infants from two months. The course of treatment is usually seven to ten days. There were practically no side effects from the drug, as it is well tolerated. It should not be prescribed to patients with allergic reactions to the main substances of the antibiotic.

In case of community-acquired pneumonia, when the patient can be treated at home, the following antibiotics are prescribed.

Azithromycin. The drug has a broad spectrum of action. As a rule, it is prescribed to patients with mild forms of pneumonia. Before the doctor prescribes you an antibiotic, it is necessary to conduct a sensitivity test for your body. It is taken on an empty stomach (it can be before meals or two hours after meals). It is available in tablet form. The drug can be prescribed to children weighing at least 10 kg. Among the main side effects, it is worth highlighting possible diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, allergic rashes. The drug cannot be taken during pregnancy and breastfeeding. It is prescribed with caution to patients with improper kidney function.

Clarithromycin. Quite a strong antibacterial drug. It is usually prescribed to cure various infectious processes caused by bacteria. It is available in tablet form, which can be taken regardless of food intake. It is very important to complete the entire course of treatment prescribed by the doctor. Usually, the duration of treatment depends on the severity of the disease and is 4-12 days. Among the main side effects, it is necessary to highlight: allergic skin rashes, stomatitis, nausea and vomiting, glossitis, changes in taste, dizziness, headache, insomnia, tachycardia, hypoglycemia. It should not be taken by children under twelve years of age, as well as those who may be allergic to the drug.

Antibiotics for pneumonia in tablets

Among the main antibiotics for pneumonia in tablets, it is worth highlighting:

1. Ciprofloxacin. An antibiotic in tablet form that acts on a fairly wide range of different bacteria. Very often prescribed for pneumonia. Absorbed faster if taken on an empty stomach. The standard course of treatment is from five to fifteen days, depending on the severity of the disease. The antibiotic is quite well tolerated. In some cases, allergic reactions, abdominal pain, facial swelling, voice changes, nausea, and loss of appetite are possible. The drug is contraindicated for patients with epilepsy, during pregnancy and breastfeeding, and in childhood.
2. Doxycycline. An antibacterial drug that belongs to semi-synthetic tetracyclines. It has a broad spectrum of action. It is used to treat infections caused by bacteria that are sensitive to the components of the drug. It is available in the form of tablets or capsules that must be taken after meals. It is very important to drink plenty of liquid with the drug. Usually, the course of taking the drug lasts up to fourteen days. After taking the antibiotic, some patients experienced nausea, headache, vomiting, diarrhea, allergies, swelling, and itching. The drug should not be taken in the second half of pregnancy or while breastfeeding. It is prohibited to prescribe to children under nine years of age, patients with leukopenia, liver failure, and porphyria.

Antibiotics for pneumonia in the form of injections

Among the main antibiotics in the form of injections that are used to treat pneumonia, we can highlight:

1. Benzylpenicillin. An antibiotic that is often prescribed to patients with pneumonia. It has a broad spectrum of action on most bacteria that can cause pneumonia. It is usually prescribed for severe cases of the disease. It is available in powder form, which is used to make a solution for injections. During pregnancy, it is prescribed only if the mother's life is threatened by a severe form of pneumonia. Side effects include allergic reactions, eosinophilia, rashes, swelling, vomiting and nausea, headache. The course of treatment is strictly individual.
2. Ceftriaxone. The antibiotic is available in powder form, which is used to prepare a solution for injections. It is usually administered intramuscularly, after which it is very well absorbed. Sometimes, in individual cases, it is administered intravenously. Side effects do not always occur, since the drug is very well tolerated by patients. In some cases, vomiting, nausea, headache or diarrhea may occur. Allergic skin reactions also occur. The course of treatment is prescribed depending on the severity of the disease. Sometimes candidiasis may develop. The drug should not be taken during pregnancy or in case of liver failure.

Antibiotics for pneumonia in adults

The basic basis of any treatment for pneumonia is the prescription of antibiotics. Antibiotics for pneumonia in adults are treated for approximately seven to ten days. It is very important to take exactly the amount of medication prescribed by your doctor. The duration of the course usually depends on many factors: the form of the disease, how weak the patient's immune system is, and his general condition. As a rule, the following treatment regimen is used to cure pneumonia in adults:

1. First, antibiotics are prescribed that have a fairly wide range of action on various bacteria (ceftriaxone or suprax). Until the exact pathogen is identified, it is very important that a small amount of these antibacterial drugs is constantly present in the body. An individual course is selected accordingly.
2. If the patient has symptoms similar to so-called atypical infections, it is necessary to immediately prescribe special antibiotics (clarithromycin, sumamed). At the same time, you should not refuse the drugs that were prescribed earlier.
3. To achieve an effective result, whole combinations of different drugs are often prescribed. The most popular recently are: sumamed and suprax, ceftriaxone and clarithromycin (or vice versa).
4. Sometimes the inflammation begins to progress, moving to other segments of the lungs. In this case, the best option would be such combinations: amikacin and ceftriaxone or augmentin with suprax.
5. At the same time, adults are prescribed antibiotics that help to quickly remove phlegm and eliminate alveolar inflammation (for example, ambroxol).
6. If pneumonia is accompanied by a high temperature, it is also necessary to use antipyretic drugs.

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Antibiotics for pneumonia in children

Bacterial pneumonia in children requires mandatory use of antibiotics. Before the results of tests for the types of bacteria that caused the disease are received, antibiotics with a broader scope of action are used (sumamed, augmentin, cefazolin, ceftriaxone). In addition, it is important to determine the clinical type of the disease in order to prescribe another drug, depending on it (immunal or berodual). Before prescribing drugs, it is necessary to make sure that the child is not allergic to their components. Antibiotics for pneumonia in children are taken for no more than ten days. Even if wheezing and fever have disappeared, it is necessary to continue taking the drugs for another two to three days.

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Methods of use and dosage of antibiotics for pneumonia

Usually, the methods of application and doses of antibiotics for pneumonia are prescribed individually, depending on the patient's condition, the severity of the disease and accompanying symptoms. Sometimes the course can last even up to 15 days. But remember, if you do not see an improvement in your condition after three or four days after starting the course, it is better to change the course of treatment.

Using Antibiotics for Pneumonia During Pregnancy

Despite the fact that this is quite a serious disease, with the right selection of antibiotics and other drugs, pneumonia is treated quickly and without complications during pregnancy. It is very important to remember that not all antibiotics can be safely used by expectant mothers. Of course, mild drugs that treat the early stages of the disease do not harm pregnant women. They usually do not even have side effects. In severe pneumonia, antibiotics can be prescribed only when there is a risk to the mother's life.

Contraindications for use

Some types of antibiotics used to treat pneumonia may have contraindications for use. That is why it is very important to talk about this with your doctor before he or she prescribes a course. Usually, antibiotics for pneumonia have such contraindications as: allergic reaction to the components of the drug, renal or hepatic insufficiency, childhood, pregnancy. More specific information can always be found in the package insert.

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Side effects

Some antibiotics do not have serious side effects. Sometimes patients report skin rashes, facial swelling, headaches, dizziness, panic attacks, insomnia, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting. If you experience any of the above, you should immediately stop taking antibiotics and contact your doctor so that he or she can change the course of treatment.

Overdose

Since the course of antibiotics for pneumonia is prescribed strictly by a doctor, an overdose is almost impossible. Do not try to increase or decrease the dose, this can lead to serious consequences.

Interactions with other drugs

Most antibiotics for pneumonia are prescribed in combination with other drugs (antipyretics, anti-inflammatory, sputum). Therefore, it can be said that they interact well with other drugs.

Storage conditions

The storage conditions for antibiotics depend on the form they are released in. Usually, injection solutions and powders are used in a shorter time. It is also worth remembering that an opened drug with a solution cannot be reused, even if there is some drug left in it. More detailed information can be found in the instructions, which always come with the drug.

Best before date

First of all, it is worth understanding that taking antibiotics with an expired shelf life is unacceptable. This can lead to serious consequences. Expired drugs cause side effects more often than others. No doctor can accurately predict how such a drug will behave in the body. That is why always check the expiration date of antibiotics, which is usually written on the packaging of the drug.

The best antibiotic for pneumonia

It is difficult to say that any particular drug is better than others for the treatment of pneumonia. But recently the following antibiotics have proven themselves well: Tavanic, Avelox, Loxof. They are usually taken one tablet once a day. It is best to combine antibiotics with other drugs (for example, with Augmentin or Amoxiclav). Within ten to fourteen days of such a course of treatment, you will be able to completely overcome pneumonia. If even on the fourth day of taking antibiotics you do not see an improvement in your condition, and your body temperature remains high, you should contact your doctor. In such cases, Azithromycin or Sumamed are often prescribed instead of Augmentin.