Q. What medicines are used to treat tonsillitis?
Doctor Answer is medically reviewed by SecondMedic medical review team.
Tonsillitis is an infection of the tonsils, which are a pair of lymph nodes located in the throat that help protect against viruses and bacteria. Treatment for tonsillitis usually depends on the cause and severity, but typically involves antibiotics to fight off bacterial infections or medications to reduce inflammation.
The most commonly prescribed medications for treating tonsillitis include:
Penicillin V (Bicillin) - For bacterial infections, penicillin V is typically prescribed as it can be taken orally instead of administered via injection. It helps kill bacteria by hindering their ability to form cell walls.
Amoxicillin (Amoxil) - This antibiotic has a broad-spectrum of activity against many types of bacteria and can be used in both adults and children aged three months or older who have mild to moderate cases of tonsillitis caused by Streptococcus pyogenes (sore throat causing strep).
Clindamycin (Cleocin) - Clindamycin is mainly used when other antibiotics such as penicillin or amoxicillin aren't effective due to resistance to these drugs from certain strains of bacteria like Staphylococcus aureusor group A streptococci that can lead to more serious illnesses like rheumatic fever or glomerulonephritis .
Cephalosporins - These antibiotics are definitely not first line treatments for tonsilitis due to increasing ratesof drug resistance among common pathogens found in the pharynx; however, cephalosporins may be recommended for severe cases with suspected complications such as abscesses or cellulites caused by resistant organisms that cannot be treated with regular oral agents like penicillins or amoxicllin-clavulanate combinations .
Other medications commonly used when treating tonsillitis include antipyretics such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen which help reduce fever if present; antihistamines like loratadine which can ease sore throat symptoms; decongestants such as pseudoephedrine sulfate tabletsfor relief from nasal congestion; mucopectoral gels/ lozenges suchas Chlorasepticto soothe inflamed throats ;and GABA agonistslike Gabapentinwhich may provide relief from associated ear pain too!