“What antibiotics help with a sinus infection?”

Amoxicillin, augmentin

Sinus infections, also known as sinusitis, can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. Antibiotics are typically prescribed for bacterial sinus infections. The choice of antibiotic depends on the specific bacteria causing the infection and your individual health factors.

Common antibiotics used to treat bacterial sinus infections include:

Amoxicillin
Augmentin (amoxicillin/clavulanic acid)
Cefuroxime
Doxycycline
Levofloxacin
It's important to note that antibiotics should only be taken under the guidance of a healthcare professional. They will determine the most appropriate antibiotic based on factors such as the severity of the infection, previous antibiotic use, and any potential allergies or interactions with other medications.

If you suspect you have a sinus infection, it's essential to consult with a healthcare provider who can assess your symptoms, perform any necessary tests, and prescribe the appropriate treatment. Avoid self-prescribing antibiotics, as improper use can contribute to antibiotic resistance and may not effectively treat your specific infection.

It depends on the type of sinus infection. You should see a provider that can determine whether or not the infection is bacterial. If it's bacterial and you've not already been treated for it, it's not uncommon to see a drug from the penicillin, aminopenicillin, or first-generation cephalosporin classes be prescribed.

It's not wise to try and self-medicate with antibiotics if they're left over. Some of them interact with other drugs or have serious side effects, and if the dosing is incorrect you may not effectively treat the infection but still suffer the side effects.

Sinus infections can be viral or bacterial. Also severe allergies can feel as infections in some cases. Many times sinus infections are from a virus, this can lead to clear discharge or thin mucous with sometimes very severe congestion and sinus pressure. Yellow-green thick discharge with fever, chills, increased heart rate, and headache could be considered more likely bacterial. If you have black discharge, which could happen in someone with uncontrolled diabetes, then other causes could be considered. In the case of a viral sinusitis no antibiotic is recommended, and rather symptom management. In the case of bacterial sinusitis the gold standard depends on your region and resistance patterns to antibiotics. Generally the standard treatment consists of an augmented amoxicillin called amoxicillin-clavulanic acid. The amount of mg depends on your age and kidney function. If you are allergic to penicillin another option is Levofloxacin, though this has a black box warning and can cause serious side effects even when used as intended. Adjunctive treatment I frequently recommend are sinus rinses, steroids in nasal spray form or if too congested in oral form, and other over the counter sprays or oral remedies containing decongestant and mucous dissolvers. Most infections last about a week to 10 days for full recovery. Sometimes a viral sinusitis, after improving, suddenly worsens which is considered a "double-worsening" which is classic for the onset of a bacterial sinusitis right after a viral one which can happen in some cases.