Bladder infections occur when bacteria invade the bladder and multiply. Bladder infection, also known by the medical term cystitis, is one of a group of infections called urinary tract infections, or UTIs. UTIs affect women 50 times more often than men in people between the ages of 20 and 50, notes the Merck Manuals. In many cases, the body can defeat the bacterial invasion. Still, doctors often prescribe antibiotics for bladder infections to eliminate the risk of progression to a kidney infection.
Sulfamethoxazole and Trimethoprim
Sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim, or SMZ-TMP DS, is the generic name for a combination antibiotic commonly prescribed for bladder infections and other urinary tract infections. Brand names include Bactrim, Septra, SMZ-TMP DS, and Sulfatrim Pediatric. The drug information website Drugs.com warns that people with allergies to either sulfamethoxazole or trimethoprim should not take SMZ-TMP DS, nor should pregnant or breast-feeding women.
Amoxicillin and Augmentin
Amoxicillin, a member of the penicillin group of antibiotics, is used to treat bladder infections and several other bacterial infections cause by the E. coli, P. mirabilis, or E. faecalis bacteria, notes RxList. As with other antibiotics, amoxicillin may cause diarrhea; if a person taking this antibiotic has watery diarrhea or notices blood in the stool, a doctor should be consulted.
Augmentin combines amoxicillin and clavulanate potassium. These work in combination to combat bacterial infections in the body. The clavulanate potassium works to thwart any bacterial resistance to the amoxylin.
Doxycycline
The tetracycline antibiotic known as doxycycline works to slow the growth of bacteria. Bladder infection symptoms may disappear before the end of the prescribed treatment period though it is important to continue taking the medication until the end of the cycle, warns Drugs.com. Some brands of these antibiotics should not be taken with milk or dairy products. Patients should consult their doctors and pharmacists about whether this restriction applies to the brand they use.
Fluoroquinolones
Fluoroquinolones are systemic antibiotics, meaning that they can attack infections in different parts of the body. These drugs either kill bacteria or stop them from growing. Drugs.com recommends that patients take these antibiotics with a glass of water and then drink a few more glasses of water during the day. Patients should also try to take the drugs at regularly spaced intervals and avoid missing doses. This helps to maintain a constant level of the antibiotic in the urine or blood, which allows for maximum effectiveness in eradicating a bladder infection.
