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What Antibiotics Are Good for a Sinus Infection?

Antibiotics are used to treat illnesses that are caused by bacteria. There are several different kinds of antibiotics that can be used to treat a sinus infection. Your doctor can help you find the right one, as the one that will work best for you is based on a variety of factors, such as your past reactions to antibiotics, the severity of your infection, and any allergies.

  1. Penicillin

    • Bacteria absorb nutrients from the body and as they grow they make more cell walls. Penicillin works by interfering with the cell wall function of the bacteria. As the bacteria grows too large for the cell wall that has been weakened by the penicillin, the cell wall bursts and the bacteria is killed. Amoxicillin is the type of penicillin that is commonly prescribed for sinus infections, and is commonly sold under the brand name Amoxil.

      Cephalosporins are very similar to penicillins and work in the same fashion, however they are much less likely to cause an allergic reaction in people that are allergic to penicillin.

    Macrolides

    • Macrolides hinder the bacteria's ability to make new proteins rather than killing the bacteria. The current bacteria in the body dies a natural death and prevents the multiplication of new bacteria. This allowed the body to recover from the infection to fight the infection and restore health. Macrolides do not have as many side effects as penicillins and cephalosporins. Common macrolides prescribed include erthromycin and clarithromycin, under the brand names Biaxin and Klacid MR.

    Fluoroquinolones

    • Fluoroquinolones are the newest antibiotics and work by interfering with the replication of the bacteria's DNA. Common fluoroquinolones include Avelox, Levaquin, and Cipro. Fluoroquinolones are prescribed only in serious cases, as there are many side effects associated with the use of these medications.

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