Antibiotics are used to kill or slow the growth of bacteria. They come in various classes and can be administered orally, intravenously, or topically. Penicillin was the first antibiotic. Antihistamines target the immune system response that leads to allergy symptoms by preventing histamines from attaching to receptors, while decongestants relieve nasal congestion through vasoconstriction and come with potential side effects if used long term.
2. Antibiotics
ï‚ž Used to kill or slow down the growth of
bacteria
ï‚ž Most are semisynthetic variations of
natural compounds
ï‚ž Can be administrated orally,
intravenously, or topically
ï‚ž Penicillin was the first antibiotic
3. Uses
ï‚ž Do not fight:
ï‚— Colds
ï‚— Flu
ï‚— Most coughs and bronchitis
ï‚— Sore throats, (unless caused by strep)
4. Classes
ï‚ž Bactericidal- Target ï‚ž Fluoroquinolones
the bacterial cell wall, ï‚ž Sulfonamides
the cell membrane, or ï‚ž Tetracyclines
interfere with essential
enzymes ï‚ž Aminoglycosides
ï‚ž Bacteriostatic- Target
protein synthesis
ï‚ž Penicillin's
ï‚ž Cephalosporins
ï‚ž Marcolides
5. Antihistamines
ï‚ž Targets the immune system response
that leads to allergy symptoms
ï‚ž Reduce or block the action of histamines
by preventing them from attaching to
their receptors
ï‚ž Most common side effect is drowsiness
6. Forms
ï‚ž Comes in the forms of
ï‚— Tablets
ï‚— Capsules
ï‚— liquids
ï‚— Nasal sprays
ï‚— Eye drops
8. Decongestant
ï‚ž Used to relieve nasal congestion in the
upper respiratory tract
ï‚ž Pseudoephedrine or phenylephrine are
the active ingredients in most
ï‚ž Function by enhancing norepinephrine
and epinephrine
ï‚— This induces vasoconstriction of the blood
vessels in the nose, throat, and paranasal
sinuses
10. Side Effects
ï‚ž Should not be used for more than 3-5
days
ï‚ž Can cause insomnia
ï‚ž Increased blood pressure
ï‚ž Reduced movement of mucus out of the
nose
ï‚ž Nervousness or irritability