Medications for urinary track infections.
A urinary track infection is usually caused by a bacterium known as  Escherichia Coli. Thus, the treatment is based on a wide range of antibiotics. Although the results are usually good and a urinary track infection can totally be cured, in a number of cases, the treatment may not be 100% effective. This can result in slow progress of recovery or in recurrence of the disease. Impaired treatment can occur because the E. coli is getting progressively resistant to antibiotics. Bacterial resistance to antibiotics is encountered quite often and it is a major concern for the clinicians. Apart from E. coli, this problem occurs with many other germs. Streptococcus and staphylococcus are two other typical examples of bacteria that are developing higher resistance to antibiotics overtime. Because of this phenomenon, larger amounts of prescribed antibiotics are required. Eventually, even these high doses get ineffective and new generations or kinds of antibiotics come in use to replace the old ones, when it comes to treatment of urinary track infections.
Below we will try to give some helpful information, about the medications that are used for treatment of urinary track infections. Click the relevant links, if you want to be guided, how to find online the described antibiotics.
Antibiotics for treatment of urinary track infections.
 Penicillins.
Amoxicillin and Ampicillin are included in this category and they used to be the predominant antibiotics for infections caused by E. Coli. Nowadays, although these medications are still prescribed, they are not as popular as they used to be among healthcare providers, since the E. Coli has gotten resistant to them. In nearly 30% of the cases, amoxicillin and ampicillin have been proved ineffective against the bacterium. A combination of amoxicillin-clavulanate (Augmentin) is often prescribed instead.
Trimethoprim - Sulfamethoxazole.
Bactrim, Septrin, Cotrim and Septra are the most common brand-names for preparations that contain trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole. When combined, these two antibiotics are far more drastic than penicillins. Although this can happen with any drug, severe allergic reactions to sulfamethoxazole have been reported.
Cephalosporins.
The second and the third generation of these antibiotics have a narrow and a wide spectrum of action respectively and they are used, when other antibiotics fail to control a urinary track infection. Ceclor, Cefaclor, Ceftin and Cefzil are the most commonly prescribed from the first group, whereas Suprax and Vantin belong in the second one.
Nitrofurantoin.
Furadantin or Macrodantin are the most common brand-names prescribed for this antibiotic. Nitrofurantoin is perhaps the most typical drug given in cases of urinary track infection.
Fluoroquinolones.
They are also referred to as quinolones. Tequin, Levaquin, Floxin, Noroxin, Unitor and Cipro are included in this category of antibiotics.
Tetracyclines.
This is another group of broad spectrum antibiotics. Tetracycline, Doxycycline or Vibramycin are the most often prescribed drugs of this category.
Skin reactions to sunlight and teeth discoloration are the characteristic side-effects of these agents.
Self-treatment of urinary track infections.
Women suffering recurrent urinary track infections, especially cystitis, have
gotten familiar with the symptoms and they are able to self-diagnose the problem. In such cases, they can start a course of antibiotics, without visiting their doctor. This course must be identical with the latest one prescribed, in terms of kind of the drug and dosage. Meanwhile, a urine test must be done to confirm the development of the urinary track infection. If the symptoms change or if they persist more than two days, the patient should contact her healthcare provider.
Some experts are against this self-treatment, because inappropriate use of antibiotics can result in development of further resistant strains of E.Coli. In any case, no antibiotics should be taken, without a physician's advice, during pregnancy.
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