Antibiotics are prescription drugs that help treat infections caused by bacteria. Some of the more common infections treated with antibiotics include bronchitis, pneumonia, and urinary tract infections.
Antibiotics work by killing the bacteria causing the infection or by stopping the bacteria from growing and multiplying.
Antibiotics only work to treat bacterial infections. They don't work for infections caused by viruses, which can include the common cold, runny nose, most coughs and bronchitis, most sore throats, and the flu
There are many different groups, or classes, of antibiotics. All of these classes have a side effect, which typically affects men and women in the same way. However, certain side effects are more common in some antibiotics than in others.
Stomach upset is the more common side effect.
Many antibiotics cause stomach upset or other gastrointestinal side effects. These can include:
Nausea
Vomiting
Cramps
Diarrhea
Macrolide antibiotics, cephalosporins, penicillins, and fluoroquinolones may cause more stomach upset than other antibiotics.