Antibiotics

Drug Common Uses Side Effects

Aminoglycosides

Amikacin Infections caused Hearing loss

Gentamicin by gram-negative Dizziness
Kanamycin bacteria, such as Kidney damage
Neomycin (NEO-RX) Escherichia coli and
Klebsiella species
Netilmicin
Streptomycin
Tobramycin ( TOBREX)

Carbapenems

Ertapenem (INVANZ) Gangrene, Seizures

sepsis, (especially with
pneumonia, imipenem)
Doripenem (DORIBAX) abdominal and Confusion
urinary
Imipenem-cilastatin infections,
Meropenem (MERREM) infections due to
susceptible
bacteria resistant
to other
antibiotics, and
(except for
ertapenem
Pseudomonas
infections

Cephalosporins, 1st generation

Cefadroxil ( DURICEF) Mainly skin and Gastrointestinal

soft-tissue upset and
infections diarrhea
Cefazolin (ANCEFKEFZOL) Nausea
Allergic reactions
Cephalexin (KEFLEX)

Cephalosporins, 2nd generation

Cefaclor Some respiratory Gastrointestinal

Cefoxitin (MEFOXIN) and, for cefoxitin upset and
SOME TRADE diarrhea
NAMES Nausea
Cefprozil (CEFZIL) MEFOXIN Allergic reactions
, abdominal
Cefuroxime ( CEFTINZINACEF) infectionss

Loracarbef

Cephalosporins, 3rd generation

Cefixime (SUPRAX) Given by mouth: Gastrointestinal

Broad coverage upset and
of many bacteria diarrhea
Cefdinir (OMNICEF) for people with Nausea
mild-to-moderate Allergic reactions
Cefditoren (SPECTRACEF) infections,
including skin
Cefoperazone and soft-tissue
Cefotaxime (CLAFORAN) infections
Given by
injection: Serious
Cefpodoxime (VANTIN)
infections (such
as meningitis or
Ceftazidime infections
(FORTAZTAZICEF)Ceftibuten(CEDAX) , Ceftizoxime(CEFIZOX),Ceftriaxone acquired in a
(ROCEPHIN) hospital)

Cephalosporins, 4th generation

Cefepime ( MAXIPIME) Serious infections Gastrointestinal

(including upset and
Pseudomonas diarrhea
infections), Nausea
particularly in Allergic reactions
people with a
weakened
immune system
and infections
due to
susceptible
bacteria resistant
to other
antibiotics

Cephalosporins, 5th generation

Ceftobiprole Complicated skin  

infections,
including foot
infections in
people with
diabetes, due to
susceptible
bacteria, such as
Escherichia coli,
Pseudomonas
aeruginosa, and
methicillin-
resistant
Staphylococcus
aureus (MRSA)

Fluoroquinolones

Ciprofloxacin ( CILOXANCIPRO) Sepsis, urinary Nausea (rare)

tract infections, Nervousness,
bacterial tremors, and
Levofloxacin (LEVAQUINQUIXIN)
prostatitis, seizures
bacterial Inflammation or
Lomefloxacin diarrhea, and rupture of
Moxifloxacin( AVELOX) gonorrhea tendons
Abnormal heart
rhythms
Norfloxacin (NOROXIN)
(arrhythmias)
Antibiotic-
Ofloxacin (FLOXINOCUFLOX) associated
diarrhea and
Trovafloxacin inflammation of
the colon (colitis)
With
trovafloxacin,
sometimes fatal
liver damage

Glycylcycline

Tigecycline (TYGACIL) Complicated Gastrointestinal

 abdominal upset
infections and Sensitivity to
complicated skin sunlight
infections due to Permanent
susceptible staining of teeth
bacteria, such as in the fetus if
Escherichia coli, used late in
Staphylococcus pregnancy or in
aureus (including children under 8
those resistant to years of age
methicillin), and
anaerobes

Macrolides

Azithromycin (ZITHROMAX) Streptococcal Nausea,

infections, vomiting, and
syphilis, diarrhea
Clarithromycin (BIAXIN)
respiratory (especially at
infections, higher doses)
Dirithromycin mycoplasmal Jaundice
Erythromycin ( E-MYCINERYTHROCIN) , Troleandomycin infections, and Abnormal heart
Lyme disease rhythms

Monobactam

Aztreonam (AZACTAM) Infections caused Allergic reactions

by gram-negative Can be used in
bacteria patients allergic
to antibiotics
such as
penicillins,
cephalosporins,
and carbapenems

Penicillins

Amoxicillin (AMOXILTRIMOX) Wide range of Nausea,

infections, vomiting, and
including diarrhea
Ampicillin (PRINCIPEN)
streptococcal Allergy with
infections, serious
Carbenicillin (GEOCILLIN) syphilis, and anaphylactic
Lyme disease reactions
Brain and kidney
Cloxacillin (CLOXAPEN)
damage (rare)

Dicloxacillin
Nafcillin
Oxacillin (BACTOCILL)

Penicillin G
Penicillin V (VEETIDS)

Piperacillin
Ticarcillin

Polypeptides*

Bacitracin BACIIM Ear, eye, skin, or Kidney and nerve

bladder infections damage (when
Usually applied given by
Colistin COLY-MYCIN M
directly to the injection)
skin, and rarely
Polymyxin B given by injection

Sulfonamides

Mafenide( SULFAMYLON) Urinary tract Nausea,

infections (except vomiting, and
Sulfacetamide (BLEPH-10) sulfasalazine diarrhea
, sulfacetamide Allergy (including
, and mafenide) skin rashes)
Sulfamethizole
For mafenide Crystals in urine
Sulfasalazine (AZULFIDINE)
only topically for (rare)
burns Decrease in white
Sulfisoxazole (LIPO GANTRISIN) blood cell and
platelet counts
Sensitivity to
Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole
sunlight
Possibly
increased
tendency to bleed
if used along with
warfarin

Tetracyclines

Demeclocycline (DECLOMYCIN) Syphilis, Gastrointestinal

chlamydial upset
infections, Lyme Sensitivity to
Doxycycline (VIBRAMYCIN)
disease, sunlight
mycoplasmal Staining of teeth
Minocycline (MINOCIN) infections, and in children under
rickettsial 8 years old or in
infections the fetus if used
Oxytetracycline
late in pregnancy
Tetracycline (SUMYCIN)

Miscellaneous antibiotics

Chloramphenicol (CHLORAMPHENICOL) Typhoid, other Severe decrease

salmonellal in white blood
infections, and cell count (rare)
meningitis

Clindamycin (CLEOCIN) Streptococcal and Antibiotic-

staphylococcal associated
infections, diarrhea and
respiratory inflammation of
infections, and the colon (colitis)
lung abscess

Daptomycin (CUBICIN) Complicated skin Gastrointestinal

infections, upset
bloodstream Muscle pain and
infections, and weakness
certain heart
valve infections
(endocarditis)
due to
susceptible
bacteria,
including
methicillin-
resistant
Staphylococcus
aureus (MRSA)
Not used when
infection involves
the lungs

Ethambutol (MYAMBUTOL) Tuberculosis Vision

disturbances

Fosfomycin (MONUROL) Bladder Diarrhea

infections

Isoniazid Tuberculosis Nausea and

vomiting
 Jaundice

Linezolid (ZYVOX) Serious infections Nausea

caused by gram- Headache
positive bacteria Diarrhea
that are resistant Anemia and low
to many other white blood cell
antibiotics and platelet
counts
Numbness and
tingling in the
hands and feet
(peripheral
neuropathy)
Visual
disturbances
Confusion,
agitation,
tremors or coma
in some people
who also use
selective
serotonin-release
inhibitors (SSRIs)

Metronidazole( FLAGYL) Vaginitis caused Nausea

by Trichomonas Headache
or Gardnerella (especially if the
species and drug is taken
pelvic and with alcohol)
abdominal Metallic taste
infections Numbness and
tingling in the
hands and feet
(peripheral
neuropathy)
Dark urine

Nitrofurantoin Urinary tract Nausea and

(FURADANTINMACRODANTIN) infections vomiting
Allergy

Pyrazinamide (RIFATER) Tuberculosis Liver dysfunction

Gout
(occasionally)

Quinupristin-dalfopristin Serious infections Aching muscles

caused by gram- and joints
positive bacteria
that are resistant
to other
antibiotics

Rifampin( RIFADINRIMACTANE) Tuberculosis and Rash

leprosy Liver dysfunction
Red-orange
saliva, sweat,
tears, and urine

Spectinomycin TROBICIN Gonorrhea Allergy

Fever

Telithromycin (KETEK) Mild to moderate Visual

community- disturbances
acquired Liver damage
pneumonia (possibly fatal)
Worsening of
symptoms in
people with
myasthenia
gravis (possibly
fatal)
Vancomycin (VANCOCIN) Serious Flushing, itching
infections, Allergic reactions
especially those Decrease in white
due to MRSA or blood cell and
Enterococcus, platelet counts
and those
resistant to other
antibiotics

*Polypeptide antibiotics are usually applied directly to the skin or eye and are rarely given by injection