Colds can be caused not only by viruses. Quite often, the cause of ill health are bacteria, which can only be combated with antibiotics. Many inexpensive antibiotics belong to the old generation and act on selected pathogens. Consider the most effective drugs in this category.
When are antibiotics needed?
Almost every person encounters symptoms of the common cold several times a year. Nasal congestion, slight fever, sore throat are the first signs of SARS. In this case, even inexpensive antibiotics are not necessary. The active ingredients that are contained in such preparations do not affect the viability of viruses.
In the absence of proper treatment for a viral disease, complications often arise in the form of a bacterial infection. This can be determined by the deterioration of the condition, fever, swollen lymph nodes, severe pain in the throat. Coughing, ear pain, and a plaque on the tonsils may also appear. Similar symptoms usually occur on the 5-6th day of the development of SARS.
Antiviral drugs are not able to withstand staphylococci and streptococci. Pathogens, in turn, can penetrate deeper into the respiratory tract, which will only aggravate the situation and prolong the recovery period. To prevent the development of complications, it is necessary to start taking antibiotics for colds in time. Inexpensive and effective medications are prescribed by the doctor, taking into account the type of causative agent of the ailment, the patient's age and the characteristics of the course of the disease. Usually they are recommended to be used as part of complex therapy.
Types of Antibiotics
Existing antibacterial drugs can inhibit the reproduction of pathogenic microbes or cause their death. In the first case, it is a bacteriostatic effect, and in the second, a bactericidal effect. Modern antibiotics have one and the other mechanism of influence on the vital activity of pathogenic microbes. What kind of medication is suitable in a particular case can only be determined by a doctor.
In the fight against colds, the following types of antibiotics are prescribed:
- Penicillins are low toxic agents that can be used in large doses. They can be natural, semi-synthetic and synthetic. Rarely cause side effects and have a minimum of contraindications. This group includes drugs such as Amoxicillin, Ospamox, Amoxiclav, Flemoxin Solutab.
- Cephalosporins are relatively inexpensive antibiotics. With a cold, they are most often prescribed in the form of injections (intravenously or intramuscularly). In tablet form (“Cephalexin”, “Zinnat”, “Supraks”, “Cefixime”), drugs have a different degree of therapeutic effect.
- Macrolides are one of the safest antibiotics. "Erythromycin", "Clarithromycin", "Azithromycin" is prescribed for intolerance to the penicillin group of drugs.
- Fluoroquinols - have a bactericidal effect and create high concentrations in tissues. The drugs of the latest generation (Ciprofloxacin, Levofloxacin) are used for respiratory diseases of a chronic course.
How to choose?
Choosing an inexpensive broad-spectrum antibiotic without the help of a specialist is quite difficult. Each drug produces its own therapeutic effect, has contraindications for use and a number of side effects. Therefore, without consulting a specialist, using this group of medications for treatment is highly not recommended.
Preparations of the old generation group of cephalosporins and penicillins mainly prevent the further propagation of pathogenic agents, and tetracyclines, fluoroquinols and macrolides are able to completely suppress protein synthesis in microbial cells. Some are more often used to treat inflammatory processes in the respiratory system, while others will help with diseases of the genitourinary or digestive system.
Antibiotics for colds
Inexpensive and effective antibacterial drugs are produced mainly by domestic pharmaceutical companies. However, experts most often prescribe more expensive foreign analogues. For example, with bacterial angina, it is possible to use not only Augmentin, but also inexpensive Ampicillin for treatment. In general, penicillin-type antibiotics are considered the most effective in inflammatory processes in the organs of the upper respiratory system. They are also used in pediatric practice.
Cephalosporins have a powerful therapeutic effect and are often prescribed for the treatment of bronchitis, pneumonia, sinusitis in adult patients. "Cephalexin", "Cefaclor", "Cefazolin" are inexpensive antibiotics with high bactericidal activity. The first and second generation of these medicines has a narrow spectrum of effects. Cephalosporins of the 3rd and 4th generations are highly active with respect to gram-positive, gram-negative bacteria and anaerobes.
"Amoxicillin": description of the medication
Amoxicillin is a semi-synthetic penicillin antibiotic. Like any other drug, it can be used for treatment strictly in the presence of certain indications.
The product is available in the form of a suspension for oral administration, tablets, capsules and a dry substance for the preparation of injections. This is an inexpensive antibiotic of a wide range of therapeutic effects, which will be effective in diseases of the respiratory and digestive systems, skin pathologies.
Streptococci, staphylococci, gonococci, meningococci, chlamydia, salmonella, klebsiella, shigella, anaerobic microorganisms are sensitive to the active substance. Amoxicillin is used to treat the smallest patients, calculating the dosage depending on the weight of the child.
Contraindications and side effects
The drug is prohibited to use in the following cases:
- intolerance or hypersensitivity to penicillins;
- the need for treatment of mononucleosis, lymphocytic leukemia;
- history of severe liver disease;
- disruption of the digestive system against a background of severe infection.
The inexpensive broad-spectrum antibiotic Amoxicillin, like other penicillins, more often than other antibiotics causes some side effects. This usually manifests itself in the form of allergic reactions: urticaria, itching, redness of the skin. Less commonly, nausea, headache, diarrhea, runny nose, and increased tearing occur.
The drug "Cephalexin"
Another inexpensive antibacterial agent from the group of cephalosporins of the 1st generation. The drug is most active against streptococci, Proteus, Escherichia and Klebsiella. You should not use it if the causative agent of the disease are gram-negative bacteria, enterococci. “Cephalexin” is produced in the form of tablets with a dosage of 250 and 500 mg, as well as in the form of granules for the preparation of a suspension.
It is necessary to use an antibacterial agent for infectious lesions of the ENT organs and respiratory system, diseases of the genital area, purulent pathologies of the skin. It is worth paying attention to this tool if inexpensive antibiotics are needed.
For colds, it should be used with extreme caution. The active substance can cause a number of side effects: dysbiosis, abdominal pain, allergic skin reactions, dry mouth. The medication is taken in large dosages, which can provoke the development of candidiasis of the genitals and intestines, colitis, vaginitis, diarrhea, nausea, cramps.
"Azithromycin": instructions for use
"Azithromycin" is an inexpensive antibiotic with a wide therapeutic effect related to macrolides. In the form of tablets, the medicine contains 250 and 500 mg of the active substance. Also, the product is released in the form of a powder for the preparation of a suspension. In 20 ml of the prepared solution there are 100, 200 or 500 mg of azithromycin dehydrate.
Use of "Azithromycin" for colds is necessary only if there are serious indications. The antibiotic is prescribed for angina, sinusitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, otitis media, tonsillitis, scarlet fever. The active component is able to cope with most gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, microorganisms that synthesize beta-lactamase.
Reviews about the drug
Inexpensive antibiotics for adults and children can be used in the treatment of a wide variety of diseases of bacterial etiology. Means "Azithromycin" has not only a powerful antimicrobial effect, but also has an immunostimulating and anti-inflammatory effect. The drug rarely causes side effects. Unlike other antibiotics (penicillins and cephalosporins), you need to take it for 3-5 days.