Antibiotics for Strep Throat -- An Overview
Strep throat is a throat infection caused by bacteria. Because of this, healthcare providers use antibiotics to cure the infection.
Before deciding on the best antibiotic to prescribe, healthcare providers will consider the person's:
- Age
- Possible allergies
- Other medical conditions.
Specific Types of Antibiotics That Cure Strep Throat
In most cases, penicillin is the antibiotic of choice for treating this infection in adults. It is effective, safe, and inexpensive. Two options to receive the medicine are as a shot or pills.
Penicillin V is the treatment of choice for strep throat. It is taken by mouth either two or three times a day for 10 days. For adults, the standard dosage is 500 mg.
Symptoms usually start to improve after several days on the medicine. As with all antibiotics, though, it is important to finish the prescription, even when you start to feel better. Stopping the treatment too early or skipping a dose could allow the bacteria to become resistant to the medication, which could allow the infection to spread. This may require longer treatment.
Antibiotics to Treat Strep Throat in Children
As in adults, the treatment of choice for
strep throat in children is oral penicillin. Children also take this medicine for 10 days, although in a smaller dosage than for adults (250 mg two to three times a day).
As an alternative, children may be prescribed
amoxicillin (
Amoxil®). The liquid form of amoxicillin is easier for children to swallow and can also help treat a coexisting middle
ear infection (otitis media), which occurs in up to 15 percent of children diagnosed with strep throat.
Adolescents (12 years old or older) may be prescribed once-a-day amoxicillin (
Moxatag™).
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