Dosage | Broad spectrum antibiotics

Dosage

The dosage of broad-spectrum antibiotics cannot be determined across the board. On the one hand, the dosage depends on the active substance used. For example, penicillins are dosed differently from cephalosporins, which in turn are dosed differently from macrolides.

The dosage also occasionally depends on the so-called form of application, i.e. the form in which the active substance enters the body. Therapy with broad-spectrum antibiotics in the form of tablets requires a different dosage than therapy via the vein. In addition, the dosage of the broad-spectrum antibiotic may depend on which other drugs the affected person is taking. If there is a risk of interactions, either a different class of antibiotics must be chosen, or alternatively, the dosage can be adjusted. Further dosage changes for broad-spectrum antibiotics must be observed, for example, in the case of deteriorated kidney or liver function, as the reduced performance of the organs can lead to reduced excretion of the active substances.

Price

The price of broad-spectrum antibiotics depends on the type of antibiotic. Dosage form and quantity. As a rule, however, antibiotics do not have to be paid for by the persons concerned themselves, so the costs are covered by the health insurance company. Only the co-payment of 5€ is often necessary if the medication has to be purchased in a pharmacy. If, on the other hand, a therapy with broad-spectrum antibiotics is carried out during an inpatient stay in hospital, the co-payment is not due

Broad-spectrum antibiotics and alcohol – is that compatible?

Broad-spectrum antibiotics and alcohol are usually not well tolerated. Alcohol is a substance that is mainly broken down in the liver. Since many antibiotics are also metabolized in the liver, there can be significant interactions between the active substance of the antibiotic and alcohol.

This often means that the substances remain in the body for longer because the liver cannot break them all down at the same time. As a result, a certain amount of alcohol has a much stronger effect because it cannot be broken down again from the body as quickly. In addition, regular use of antibiotics can lead to an increased level of effectiveness, which in turn causes other side effects (often in the gastrointestinal tract, but occasionally also in other organs such as the eyes and the hearing organ).

Alternatives to broad spectrum antibiotics

The group of broad-spectrum antibiotics comprises a large number of different active ingredients and groups of active ingredients. For this reason, the other broad-spectrum antibiotics are usually to be regarded as alternatives in the case of contraindications to one of the antibiotics. In addition, it is often possible to switch to a less broad-spectrum antibiotic once it has been established which germ is the cause of the infection.