Question

Classification of antibiotics based on chemical structure

Answer 1

Antibiotics Side Effects and Types

Medical Author:

Everett Stephens, MD

Medical Editor:

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Medically Reviewed on 11/20/2017

Table of Contents

What Are Antibiotics? Which Infections Do They Treat?

What Are the Side Effects of Antibiotics?

What Are Symptoms of An Allegic Reaction to An Antibiotic?

7 Types of Antibiotics

How Should I Take Antibiotics?

What Drugs Interact with Antibiotics?

What Is Antibiotic Resistance? Am I At Risk?

Antibiotics (Side Effects, List, Types) Topic Guide

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What Are Antibiotics? Which Infections Do They Treat?

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Antibiotics are among the most frequently prescribed medications in modern medicine. Antibiotics cure disease by killing or injuring bacteria. The first antibiotic was penicillin, discovered accidentally from a mold culture. Today, over 100 different antibiotics are available to cure minor, and life-threatening infections.

Although antibiotics are useful in a wide variety of infections, it is important to realize that antibiotics only treat bacterialinfections. Antibiotics are useless against viral infections (for example, the common cold) and fungal infections (such as ringworm). Your doctor can best determine if an antibiotic is right for your condition.

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What Are the Side Effects of Antibiotics?

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Antibiotics may have side effects. Some of the more common side effects may include:

Soft stools or diarrhea

Mild stomach upset

You should notify your doctor if you have any of the following side effects:

Vomiting

Severe watery diarrhea and abdominal cramps

Allergic reaction (shortness of breath, hives, swelling of lips, face, or tongue, fainting)

Rash

Vaginal itching or discharge

White patches on the tongue



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What Are Symptoms of An Allegic Reaction to An Antibiotic?

Some people are allergic to certain types of antibiotics, most commonly penicillin. If you have a question about a potential allergy, ask your doctor or pharmacist before taking the medicine.

Allergic reactions commonly have the following symptoms:

Shortness of breath

Rash

Hives

Itching

Swelling of the lips, face, or tongue

Fainting

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7 Types of Antibiotics

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Although there are well over 100 antibiotics, the majority come from only a few types of drugs. These are the main classes of antibiotics.

Penicillins such as penicillin and amoxicillin

Cephalosporins such as cephalexin(Keflex)

Macrolides such as erythromycin (E-Mycin), clarithromycin (Biaxin), and azithromycin (Zithromax)

Fluoroquinolones such as ciprofolxacin (Cipro), levofloxacin(Levaquin), and ofloxacin (Floxin)

Sulfonamides such as co-trimoxazole (Bactrim) and trimethoprim(Proloprim)

Tetracyclines such as tetracycline(Sumycin, Panmycin) and doxycycline(Vibramycin)

Aminoglycosides such as gentamicin(Garamycin) and tobramycin (Tobrex)