Do I need antibiotics for a sinus infection?
Many people don’t need antibiotics for a sinus infection, but it depends on your individual situation. Viruses cause most sinus infections, and so antibiotics won’t help. If your symptoms don’t improve after 10 days, you may have a bacterial sinus infection. In that case, your provider may prescribe antibiotics.
Do I need antibiotics for strep throat?
Yes, you need antibiotics to treat strep throat. This type of common bacterial infection can lead to serious complications (like rheumatic fever) without proper treatment.
Do I need antibiotics for UTI?
Yes, you’ll most likely need antibiotics to clear a urinary tract infection (UTI). Rarely, a minor UTI may go away on its own. But it’s always safest to check with a healthcare provider. Don’t try to diagnose an infection as “minor” on your own.
If you have symptoms of a UTI, including pain when you pee, call a healthcare provider right away. They may order tests, like a urinalysis and urine culture, to look for signs of an infection and see what type of bacteria is causing it.
Antibiotics your provider may prescribe include nitrofurantoin or sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim.
Can I get over-the-counter antibiotics?
In the U.S., you need a prescription from a healthcare provider to legally get oral antibiotics. This is for your safety and protection. A prescription makes sure you receive the correct medication for your infection and one that’s safe for you based on your medical history.
You can get some forms of topical antibiotics (like those that treat minor skin cuts) over the counter.
Can you drink alcohol while taking antibiotics?
To be on the safe side, you may want to avoid beverages containing alcohol while you’re taking antibiotics. Some antibiotics probably won’t interact with alcohol, while others might.
These antibiotics may cause adverse reactions, some of which may be severe, and liver problems:
- Cefamandole.
- Cefmetazole.
- Cefoperazone.
- Cefotetan.
- Ceftriaxone (injection).
- Erythromycin.
- Griseofulvin.
- Isoniazid.
- Ketoconazole.
- Pyrazinamide.
It’s always best to ask your healthcare provider what you should avoid while taking a specific antibiotic. You should also read the package insert closely and ask your provider if anything’s unclear. Some specific questions you may want to ask your provider regarding alcohol and antibiotics include:
- Will drinking alcohol make this antibiotic less effective for me?
- Are there side effects I might experience from drinking alcohol while taking this antibiotic?
- Should I be concerned about damage to my liver?
- When will it be safe for me to drink alcohol after finishing this medication?
Can you take antibiotics while pregnant?
Some antibiotics are safe to take during pregnancy. But others — like tetracyclines — aren’t safe while pregnant or breastfeeding (chestfeeding). Tell your healthcare provider if you’re pregnant or could be pregnant before taking any antibiotics or other medications.
Is amoxicillin an antibiotic?
Yes, amoxicillin is an antibiotic. It’s part of the penicillin class of antibiotics. Providers may prescribe amoxicillin to treat bronchitis, an ear infection or a sinus infection in certain situations.
How common are antibiotics?
Antibiotics are an extremely common and life-saving form of medication. In 2021, healthcare providers in the U.S. wrote out over 211 million prescriptions for oral antibiotics to outpatients (people not staying in a hospital). This translates to about 636 in 1,000 people receiving a prescription.
Antibiotics are even more common in hospital settings. Researchers estimate that healthcare providers prescribe antibiotics to about 1 in 3 people staying in a hospital.
Penicillins are by far the most commonly prescribed class of antibiotics, followed by cephalosporins and macrolides.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
When your head is clogged and you can’t stop blowing your nose, it can be upsetting to hear you can’t have antibiotics. You may remember taking them a few years back for strep throat and feeling like a new person after just a couple of days. Why can’t that happen now for this miserable cold?
We all want to feel better instantly when sickness strikes. But viruses, not bacteria, are the culprits in many common infections, like colds and flu. No matter how awful your symptoms are, taking antibiotics for a cold simply won’t work. It’s like putting a bandage on sunburn or rubbing aloe onto a paper cut. The fix doesn’t match the problem. It won’t help, and it might even make things worse.
Talk to your healthcare provider any time you have questions or concerns about treatments, including antibiotics. They can help explain why you need or don’t need certain medicines and how best to care for yourself at home.
