Antibiotics have prevented millions of deaths and radically changed healthcare during the last century. There are dozens of different types of antibiotics, with each of them grouped into different classes. The following list includes eight of the most common classes of antibiotics, what they are generally used for and some of the potential side effects.

A Guide to the 8 Most Common Classes of Antibiotics
Antibiotics have prevented millions of deaths and radically changed healthcare during the last century. There are dozens of different types of antibiotics, with each of them grouped into different classes. The following list includes eight of the most common classes of antibiotics, what they are generally used for and some of the potential side effects.
1. Penicillins
Alexander Fleming discovered in 1928 that mold derived from penicillin stopped the growth of bacteria. There are now over a dozen types of penicillins that can treat a wide variety of bacterial infections. A few include amoxicillin, ampicillin, piperacillin, and penicillin G. There are also subgroups of penicillins such as carbenicillin. Carbenicillins are effective against certain urinary tract infections. Penicillin is the most widely prescribed of all antibiotics, usually in the form of amoxicillin. It is also considered one of the strongest. It is usually the first choice for those suffering from infections such as pneumonia, tonsillitis and dental abscesses. Other common bacterial infections treated with penicillins include strep throat and urinary tract infections.
Featured Penicillins
SKU Product Name
A-2751 Amoxicillin, Trihydrate
A-1414 Ampicillin Sodium Salt
C-1385 Carbenicillin Disodium Salt
P-2863 Piperacillin Sodium Salt
P-2831 Penicillin G Sodium SaltGeneral side effects can include nausea, diarrhea, fever and skin rashes. It's important to note that penicillins may interfere with the effectiveness of birth control pills. Some individuals exhibit a severe allergic reaction to penicillin known as anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis is a potentially life-threatening condition that causes dysfunction in several body systems.
2. Cephalosporins
Cephalosporins were first discovered and isolated in 1945. These types of antibiotics are usually grouped into categories that are called generations. There are five generations of cephalosporins. The first generation of these antibiotics is elavil 25mg tablets usually used for infections that are easier to treat. The latter generations are for more serious bacterial elavil 50mg without a prescription infections.

Cephalosporins are often used for strep throat, meningitis, pneumonia, urinary tract infections and ear infections. The fifth generation of cephalosporins is called Ceftaroline and is used for antibiotic resistant infections such as MRSA. The cephalosporins that are primarily prescribed include cephalexin, cefaclor and ceftriaxone (as an injection). Cefazolin, cefuroxime and cefoxitin are not used as often and normally prescribed for individuals with cystic fibrosis or those undergoing dialysis.
Featured Cephalosporins
SKU Product Name
C-2749 Cephalexin Monohydrate
C-2741 Ceftriaxone, Disodium Salt, Hemiheptahydrate
C-2735 Cefazolin Sodium Salt
C-2743 Cefuroxime Sodium SaltSide effects are similar to those experienced with penicillin. These include nausea, diarrhea, rash and thrush. If someone is allergic to penicillins it is likely they will be allergic to cephalosporins since they are similar in molecular structure. Depending on how severe the allergy is, some individuals may be able to still take third, fourth or fifth generation cephalosporins.
3. Sulfonamides
Sulfonamides were initially developed as early as 1906 but were not used for antimicrobial purposes until the 1930s. There are several specific brands of sulfonamides in the United States and Canada. A few brands in this class include Sulfazine and Azulfudine. These antibiotics are used for general bacterial infections such as bronchitis and bladder infections. They are also used for less common conditions such as malaria and rheumatic fever.

There are a variety of potential side effects associated with these types of antibiotics. Elderly individuals can be particularly sensitive to sulfonamides and are usually advised not to take these medications. Pregnant women are also not advised to use these medications as they are known to pass into breast milk. Itching and skin rash are two common side effects. There are dozens of medications that have the potential to interact with sulfonamides, making it extremely important for patients to also discuss with their doctor if they are able to take this antibiotic and at what dosage.
4. Fluoroquinolones
Fluoroquinolones are divided based on pharmacology and their antimicrobial spectrum. The older group of fluoroquinolone antibiotics includes ofloxacin, norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin. The newer group includes moxifloxacin, levofloxacin, delafloxacin and gemifloxacin. Fluoroquinolones work by destroying the DNA replication in bacteria. Several new antibiotics in this class were removed and taken off the US market due to toxicity. Some of these included grepafloxacin that contributed to cardiac toxicity and temafloxacin associated with acute renal failure. It is generally recommended to use these antibiotics only after other courses of treatment have failed. Fluroquinolones have also been linked in recent years to mental health problems, disturbances with blood sugar and specifically aortic ampicillin 500mg online pharmacy aneurysms. Within the last year the FDA has required labeling changes to strengthen the warnings. There may be some cases, however, such as when treating bacterial pneumonia, that the potential benefits outweigh the risks. Serious cases of pneumonia and abdominal infections may require the use of fluoroquinolones.


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