According to the Hershey Medical Center website, a bladder infection involves inflammation of the inner lining of the urinary bladder. This happens when bacteria enter the urethra and travel to the bladder. Factors that put women at risk of a bladder infection include sexual intercourse, use of a diaphragm for birth control and poor personal hygiene, says the Hershey Medical Center. For men, prostate infections and kidney problems often lead to bladder infections. MedlinePlus notes that mild bladder infections are effectively treated with fluoroquinolone and penicillin-type antibiotics.
Levofloxacin (Levaquin)
Drugs.com explains that levofloxacin is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic that you take orally as a treatment for a bacterial infection of the bladder. You can take levofloxacin tablets with or without food, and the oral, adult dose is 250 mg once a day for three to 10 days, depending on how complicated your bladder infection is. You should be aware that levofloxacin may cause damage to the Achilles' tendon of your heel or to tendons at other joints in the body, cautions Drugs.com. If you are over the age of 60, you are particularly susceptible to this problem. Consult your doctor immediately if you have joint pain or swelling while taking levofloxacin. Other side effects include diarrhea, nausea, a restless or anxious feeling, headache, dizziness, and muscle pain.
Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim)
The Mayo Clinic describes trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole as a combination antibiotic that can treat urinary tract infections, such as a bladder infection. The medication is available by prescription, and you take it orally as a tablet or suspension. You take 160 mg of trimethoprim and 800 mg of sulfamethoxazole every 12 hours for a period of 10 to 14 days. You should drink several 8-oz. glasses of water each day of the treatment regimen to help prevent side effects, says the Mayo Clinic. Signs of a serious allergic reaction to this medication are rash; itching; swelling of the face, tongue and throat; shortness of breath; and chest pain. Call your doctor immediately if you experience these symptoms. Common side effects include flatulence, increased sensitivity to sunlight, irritability, lack of feeling or emotion, discouragement, and trouble sleeping.
Amoxicillin (Amoxil)
Amoxicillin is an oral, penicillin-type antibiotic prescription that can treat bacterial infections of the urinary tract, explains MedlinePlus. It is prescribed in the form of tablets or capsules, and you take it either twice a day or three times a day, at evenly spaced intervals. MedlinePlus notes that if you have diabetes, you should not use Clinitest to assay the sugar in your urine, because amoxicillin can interfere with test results. Common side effects include upset stomach, vomiting and diarrhea.
