What type of antibiotics are there

Anyone who has an allergic reaction to an antibiotic must tell their doctor or pharmacist. Reactions to antibiotics can be serious and sometimes fatal. They are called anaphylactic reactions. People with reduced liver or kidney function should be cautious when using antibiotics. This may affect the types of antibiotics they can use or the dose they receive.

Likewise, women who are pregnant or breast-feeding should speak with a doctor about the best antibiotics to take. Individuals taking an antibiotic should not take other medicines or herbal remedies without speaking with a doctor first. Certain OTC medicines might also interact with antibiotics. Some doctors suggest that antibiotics can reduce the effectiveness of oral contraceptives. However, research does not generally support this. Nonetheless, people who experience diarrhea and vomiting or are not taking their oral contraceptive during illness because of an upset stomach might find that its effectiveness reduces.

People must not stop a course of antibiotics halfway through. If in doubt, they can ask their doctor for advice. People usually take antibiotics by mouth. However, doctors can administer them by injection or apply them directly to the part of the body with infection.

Most antibiotics start combating infection within a few hours. Complete the whole course of medication to prevent the return of the infection. Stopping the medication before the course has finished increases the risk that the bacteria will become resistant to future treatments. The ones that survive will have had some exposure to the antibiotic and may consequently develop resistance to it. An individual needs to complete the course of antibiotic treatment even after they see an improvement in symptoms.

Do not take some antibiotics with certain foods and drinks. Take others on an empty stomach, about an hour before meals, or 2 hours after. Follow the instructions correctly for the medication to be effective. People taking metronidazole should not drink alcohol. Avoid dairy products when taking tetracyclines, as these might disrupt the absorption of the medication.

Read the article in Spanish. This means it can have an effect that is different to what you expected. If you want to check that your medicines are safe to take with your antibiotics, ask your GP or local pharmacist. Some antibiotics need to be taken with food, while others need to be taken on an empty stomach. You should always read the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine.

You should completely avoid alcohol while taking the antibiotics metronidazole or tinidazole, and for 48 hours afterwards, as this combination can cause very unpleasant side effects, such as:. It's recommended that you don't drink alcohol while taking antibiotics. However, as long as you drink in moderation, alcohol is unlikely to interact significantly with your medication. Some antibiotics, such as rifampicin and rifabutin, can reduce the effectiveness of the combined oral contraceptive pill.

If you're prescribed rifampicin or rifabutin, you may need to use additional contraception, such as condoms , while taking antibiotics. Speak to your GP, nurse or pharmacist for advice. Some of the medications you may need to avoid, or seek advice on, while taking a specific class of antibiotic are outlined below. It's usually recommended that you avoid taking penicillin at the same time as methotrexate, which is used to treat psoriasis , rheumatoid arthritis and some forms of cancer.

This is because combining the two medications can cause a range of unpleasant and sometimes serious side effects. However, some forms of penicillin, such as amoxicillin, can be used in combination with methotrexate. You may experience a skin rash if you take penicillin and allopurinol, which is used to treat gout. Cephalosporins may increase the chance of bleeding if you're taking blood-thinning medications anticoagulants such as heparin and warfarin.

If you need treatment with cephalosporins, you may need to have your dose of anticoagulants changed or additional blood monitoring. The risk of damage to your kidneys and hearing is increased if you're taking one or more of the following medications:. The risk of kidney and hearing damage has to be balanced against the benefits of using aminoglycosides to treat life-threatening conditions such as septicaemia.

In hospital, blood levels are carefully monitored to ensure the antibiotic is only present in the blood in safe amounts. If aminoglycosides are used properly in topical preparations, such as ear drops, these side effects don't occur.

You should check with your GP or pharmacist before taking a tetracycline if you're currently taking any of the following:. It's highly recommended that you don't combine a macrolide with any of the following medications unless directly instructed to by your GP, as the combination could cause heart problems:. You should check with your GP or pharmacist before taking a fluoroquinolone if you're currently taking any of the following:.

Some fluoroquinolones can intensify the effects of caffeine a stimulant found in coffee, tea and cola , which could make you feel irritable, restless and cause problems falling asleep insomnia. You may need to avoid taking medication that contains high levels of minerals or iron, as this can block the beneficial effects of fluoroquinolones.

This includes:. Home Tests and treatments Medicines and medical aids Types of medicine Antibiotics. Antibiotics See all parts of this guide Hide guide parts 1. Introduction 2. Uses 3. Special considerations 4. Side effects 5. Interactions with other medicines. Introduction Antibiotics are used to treat or prevent some types of bacterial infection. When antibiotics are 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 People at a high risk of infection may also be given antibiotics as a precaution, known as antibiotic prophylaxis.

How do I take antibiotics? Doses of antibiotics can be provided in several ways: oral antibiotics — tablets, capsules or a liquid that you drink, which can be used to treat most types of mild to moderate infections in the body topical antibiotics — creams, lotions, sprays or drops, which are often used to treat skin infections injections of antibiotics — these can be given as an injection or infusion through a drip directly into the blood or muscle, and are usually reserved for more serious infections It's essential to finish taking a prescribed course of antibiotics, even if you feel better, unless a healthcare professional tells you otherwise.

Missing a dose of antibiotics If you forget to take a dose of your antibiotics, take that dose as soon as you remember and then continue to take your course of antibiotics as normal.

There's an increased risk of side effects if you take 2 doses closer together than recommended. Accidentally taking an extra dose Accidentally taking one extra dose of your antibiotic is unlikely to cause you any serious harm. Side effects of antibiotics As with any medication, antibiotics can cause side effects. The most common side effects include: being sick feeling sick bloating and indigestion diarrhoea Some people may have an allergic reaction to antibiotics, especially penicillin and a type called cephalosporins.

Considerations and interactions Some antibiotics aren't suitable for people with certain medical conditions, or women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Read more about how antibiotics interact with other medicines Types of antibiotics There are hundreds of different types of antibiotics, but most of them can be broadly classified into six groups. These are strains of bacteria that have developed resistance to many different types of antibiotics, including: methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus MRSA Clostridium difficile C.

Accessing medicines self-help guide Visit our self-help guide on accessing medicines if you have difficulty getting the medicines you need. Uses Antibiotics are used to treat or prevent some types of bacterial infections. People at risk of bacterial infections Antibiotics may also be recommended for people who are more vulnerable to the harmful effects of infection.

This may include: people aged over 75 years babies less than 72 hours old with a confirmed bacterial infection, or a higher than average risk of developing one people with heart failure people who have to take insulin to control their diabetes people with a weakened immune system — either because of an underlying health condition such as HIV infection or as a side effect of certain treatments, such as chemotherapy Antibiotics to prevent infection Antibiotics are sometimes given as a precaution to prevent, rather than treat, an infection.

For example, it may be used if you're going to have: some types of eye surgery — such as cataract surgery or glaucoma surgery joint replacement surgery breast implant surgery pacemaker surgery surgery to remove the gall bladder surgery to remove the appendix Your surgical team will be able to tell you if you require antibiotic prophylaxis.

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.

Since , Antibiotic Awareness Day has been marked annually on November 18 in Hong Kong as a public health initiative to raise awareness about antimicrobial resistance threat and prudent antibiotic use. Take your medicines at the same fixed time every day as far as possible. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as possible unless it is almost time for the next scheduled dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and take the next dose as directed.

Do not take double doses. Do not stop taking your medicine even if you feel better as you will need to finish the whole course of treatment. Do not drink alcohol as it may affect the effectiveness or increase the risk of side effects of your antibiotics. The Centre for Health Protection CHP strongly advises the public to ask the right questions and use antibiotics smartly.

Antibiotics should only be used under medical supervision. Tell your doctor your medical history and the drugs you are also taking because other drugs may interact with the antibiotics and some diseases may warrant special precautions. Inform your doctor if you are or have been found to be allergic to any medicines. Some antibiotics may have cross sensitivity and you may need to avoid certain antibiotic medicines even if you have never taken them.

Inform your doctor if you are taking oral contraceptives as some antibiotics may affect the effectiveness of your pills and you may need additional method of contraception.

Different antibiotics may act on your body differently and hence you may encounter varied side effects; your doctor will prescribe the most appropriate drugs for you after considering your condition and your response to the drugs.

Seek medical advice as soon as possible if you experience any symptoms or side effects suspected to be related to your antibiotics. Your doctor may review your type of medications. Inform your doctor if you are pregnant as some antibiotics may affect fetus and should not be used during pregnancy. Medicines should be stored in a dark, cool and dry place. Unless specified on the label, medicines should not be stored in refrigerators.

Furthermore, medicines should be kept properly in places unreachable by children to prevent accidental ingestion. Bacterial Infections A significant number of human infections are caused by bacteria. Treatment Antibiotics are medicines used in the treatment and prevention of bacterial infections, either by killing the bacteria or stop them from multiplying. Some of the most commonly used classes of oral antibiotics are : 1. Penicillin and its derivatives Hypersensitivity reactions, ranging from maculopapular rash to angioedema Diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting Caution for patients with history of allergies including asthma, eczema and hay fever since their risk of developing a serious allergic reaction is higher Patients with kidney disease may need reduced dosages patients allergic to cephalosporins may also be allergic to penicillins Caution in patients with history of developing diarrhoea after antibiotic use 2.

Cephalosporins Hypersensitivity reactions, ranging from maculopapular rash to angioedema Should not be used for patients who are allergic to penicillin as cross-sensitivity may occur Caution in patients with kidney disease Caution for patients with history of allergies including asthma, eczema and hay fever since their risk of developing a serious allergic reaction is higher Caution in patients with history of developing diarrhoea after antibiotic use 3. Macrolides Nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea, abdominal discomfort Caution in patients who might be predisposed to Long QT Syndrome, e.

Avoid prolonged sunlight exposure and use appropriate sunscreen 5. Sulfonamides Nausea and vomiting Headache Hypersensitivity reactions, including rash Stevens Johnson Syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis have been reported rarely May need to monitor blood count with prolonged treatment due to possible risk of blood dyscrasia Use with caution in patients with impaired liver or kidney function Contraindicated in acute porphyria 6. Quinolones Nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea, dyspepsia, abdominal pain Tendinitis, tendon damage May exacerbate muscle weakness in patients with myasthenia gravis Rash QT interval prolongation photosensitivity Avoid in patients with myasthenia gravis Not suitable for children and adolescents Not recommended in pregnant or breastfeeding women Antibiotics Resistance Inappropriate use of antibiotics can lead to antibiotics resistance, i.

General advice on taking antibiotics It is very important that you follow the directions of use for your medicine. Communication with your doctor The Centre for Health Protection CHP strongly advises the public to ask the right questions and use antibiotics smartly.

Storage of drugs Medicines should be stored in a dark, cool and dry place.