Drugs or Foods That React With Antibiotics

Antibiotics are one of the ultimate success stories in the development of healthcare in the 20th century.After Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin on a plate of mould in 1928, leading to the first prescription of antibiotics in the 1930s, they swiftly became incorporated into everyday language and used to treat patients around the globe.

They are now among the most frequently prescribed medications in modern medicine, curing diseases across the globe by killing or preventing the growth of bacteria. Some are used to treat a range of bacterial infections and are known as broad spectrum antibiotics. Amoxicillin, a form of penicillin often prescribed for children, fits in this category.

Some antibiotics such as penicillin are bacteriocidal, meaning that they kill bacteria by disrupting the chemical processes that the bacteria use to engineer cell walls. Other antibiotics are known as bacteriostatic. This means that they prevent bacteria from growing and multiplying and in the end what bacteria remains will eventually die out quickly.

Different Varieties Of Antibiotics

More than 100 different antibiotics are now available to doctors to cure a variety of health complaints from minor pains to life-threatening infections. Most will have two names, the trade or brand name created by the company that has created the drug, along with a generic name, based on the medicine's chemical structure or class.Patients should be aware that antibiotics treat bacterial infections only and that they are futile against viral infections such as the common cold and fungal infections including ringworm.

Some antibiotics can cause side effects including mild stomach upset and diarrhoea, but if this develops into vomiting and abdominal cramps, or if you start to suffer allergic reactions such as short breath and swelling around the face, then you should call your doctor. Only your GP can choose the best antibiotic for your problem.

Interactions

Antibiotics may have interactions with other prescription and non-prescription medications. The antibiotic biaxin, for example, should not be taken with the digestive system drug reglan. Penicillins can stop the contraceptive pill working properly and if you are suffering from diarrhoea or vomiting while taking an antibiotic, your pill might not be properly absorbed. In either case, it is advisable to use extra contraception while you are taking the antibiotic. Metronidazole, an antibiotic often used to treat dental infections, interacts severely with alcohol. This combination causes a violent vomiting reaction and even the slightest alcohol level can be problematic with this agent.

Patients should opt for the right diet when using antibiotics because some will interact with food. Orange Juice and milk should be avoided when taking antibiotics. The acidity in orange juice decreases the effectiveness of antibiotics, as does milk.There are also potential risks when taking levaquin and cipro. These drugs belong to a strand of antibiotics known as quinolones. Quinolones are absorbed less when dairy, calcium, antacids, green leafy vegetables, or vitamins with minerals are taken within a couple of hours. Be sure your doctor and pharmacist know about all the other medications you'll be taking while on your antibiotics.

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