Antibiotics for Bronchitis

One of the common disorders of the lungs is what is known as bronchitis. This condition gets its name from its nature to affect the structures which act as the transporter of oxygen to and from the lungs. These structures are known as bronchial tubes, and when they get inflamed and irritated, the condition is known as bronchitis. It may occur in two forms; some people may have acute bronchitis, while some may complain against recurring bronchitis symptoms which may indicate that they have chronic form of the condition; which unfortunately is incurable. Speaking of the chronic form first, the major cause for it is long-term smoking. Long-term exposure to air pollution, dust or toxic gases in the environment or workplace may also cause the same. Now speaking of acute bronchitis, it may be a repercussion of a bacterial infection, viral infection, or it may also result from inhaling foreign matters into the lungs. More often than not, acute bronchitis follows an episode of cold and flu, which may imply that a viral infection that causes these infections, also causes bronchitis. However, in some cases, a bacterial infection can get diagnosed as the causal agent. And this is when, antibiotics are used for the treating the condition.

Commonly Prescribed Antibiotics for Bronchitis

• Amoxicillin, (Amoxil, Dispermox)
• Azithromycin, (Zithromax)
• Clarithromycin, (Biaxin, Biaxin XL)
• Cephalexin (Keflex, Biocef)
• Doxycycline (Doryx, Monodox)
• Erythromycin (Eryc, EryPed)

When is Bronchitis Treated With Antibiotics?

If the infection has been caused by a bacterial infection, then antibiotics may be recommended to be used. However, if the affected individual has no other health complaints except bronchitis, then antibiotics may not be the first line of defense. A person's age, risk of complications and overall health are some important factors which influence a doctor's discretion in prescribing antibiotics.

Dosage and Side Effects of Antibiotics

This segment is on the recommended dosage of the antibiotics commonly administered for the treatment of bronchitis. It also lists down the possible side effects that may get triggered in the body after the use of these drugs. Note that, dosage of some of these drugs are not specified as they depend on factors such as age, severity, and the causal agent. Also, some of them share similar side effects.

Amoxicillin

Dosage:

Dosage (mg)	Frequency	Span
Not standardized	NA	NA

Side Effects:

• Diarrhea; may be watery or may contain blood in it
• Jaundice
• Yeast infection in the vagina or the mouth (oral thrush)
• Seizures
• Increased anxiety
• Allergic responses such as hives, itching, swelling, and breathing problems

Azithromycin

Dosage:

Dosage (mg)	Frequency	Span
250 - 500	Once daily	3 - 5 days

Side Effects:

• Nausea/vomiting
• Pain in the abdominal region
• Headache
• Allergic reaction characterized by skin rash that develops for no apparent reason
• Diarrhea

Clarithromycin

Dosage:

Dosage (mg)	Frequency	Span
Not standardized	NA	NA

Side Effects:

• The patient may develop an abnormal taste in his mouth
• Indigestion may be caused by the antibiotic
• Heartburn
• Pain in the stomach or abdominal region
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Headache

Cephalexin

Dosage:

Dosage (mg)	Frequency	Span
250 - 1000	4 times a day	7 - 14 days

Side Effects:

• Sores may develop in the mouth including the throat area; may make swallowing difficult
• Stools may contain blood
• Itching
• Wheezing
• Breathing difficulty
• Swollen throat
• Easy bleeding and bruising
• Hives
• Abnormal peeling of the skin

Doxycycline

Dosage:

Dosage (mg)	Frequency	Span
100 - 200	Once a day	7 - 14 days

Side Effects:

• The skin may become increasingly sensitive to sunlight
• Heart burn; may be accompanied by indigestion
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Hunger may get suppressed

Erythromycin

Dosage:

Dosage (mg)	Frequency	Span
400 - 800	every 6 - 12 hours	Not standardized

Side Effects:

• Pain in the abdomen
• Feeling nauseous
• Diarrhea
• Poor feeding
• Vomiting

As you can see, some side effects are common in all these medications. In most cases, doctors recommend antibiotics to treat acute bronchitis. However, chronic bronchitis, although is not usually caused by a bacterial infection, antibiotics may still be recommended to prevent any secondary bacterial infection.