What Antibiotics Cure a Bladder Infection?

Bladder infections (also known as urinary tract infections or cystitis) are an inflammation of the urinary system. They are caused by the spread of bacteria normally found on the skin or in the intestinal tract, such as E. coli. Fortunately, there are a variety of antibiotic cures available.

Trimethoprim

• Trimethoprim is an antibiotic that is used for bladder infections, marketed under the brand names Proloprim, Monotrim and Triprim. It is the most widely prescribed drug for bladder infections because few infection strains are resistant to it. You should not take trimethoprim if you are also taking dofetilide, methotrexate or cyclosporine because it can cause dangerous interactions.

Trimethoprim/Sulfamethoxazole

• A trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole combination is a synthetic antibacterial product that is marketed as Bactrim, Septra and Cotrim. It can be taken orally or as injections. The combination of these two drugs blocks two consecutive steps in the bacteria's synthesis of protein, inhibiting it from reproducing. These antibiotics begin working about 24 hours after you take them. If you are taking warfarin, procainamide or sulfonlylureas, you should not take this antibiotic, to avoid serious side effects.

Amoxicillin

• Amoxicillin is an antibiotic from the penicillin group of drugs, used for many types of infections. Ear infections, gonorrhea and pneumonia can all be cured with amoxicillin. It can be prescribed as a suspension liquid or a tablet, both to be taken orally. This antibiotic works best on an empty stomach but can be taken with food if you need to. Like many antibiotics, it can reduce the effectiveness of the birth control pill and cause unplanned pregnancies. You should also avoid taking methotreate, probenecid or tetracyclines with amoxicillin to avoid severe side effects.

Nitrofurantoin

• Nitrofurantoin is an antibiotic used to treat bladder infections and is sold under the names Macrobid and Macrodantin. It prevents bacteria from forming cell walls and limits their ability to survive and reproduce. Nitrofurantoin is administered in a suspension liquid taken orally and should be taken with food or milk. It should not be taken in combination with probenecid or magnesium salts to avoid adverse reactions. A common side effect is the discoloration of the patient's urine. Expect your urine to be orange or brown as long as you are taking this medication.

Ampicillin

• Ampicillin is an antibiotic known by the brand names Ampicillin Sodium and Principen. It prevents bacteria from synthesizing cell walls, making it unable to survive. Ampicillin should not be taken with allopurinol, atenolol or tetracyclines because the combination can cause serious side effects. It can also cause oral contraceptives to stop working, so you should practice other contraceptive methods while taking ampicillin. It works best on an empty stomach, but you can take it with food if you need to.