Appendicitis Medications
Appendicitis occurs when the appendix becomes inflamed. The appendix is a small pouch located in the colon. When healthy, the appendix measures about as long as a finger and is located on the lower right hand side of the abdomen.
Sufferers of appendicitis will experience pain on the right side of their abdomen. On occasion, the pain starts in the abdomen and then moves downward and to the right. As the inflammation progresses then the pain increases until it becomes very severe. It usually occurs in people between the age of 10 to 30 years old.
Types of Medications & How They Work
An appendicitis is treated by complete removal of the appendix. Antibiotics are usually administered before and after an appendectomy. On rare occasions, antibiotics may be administered in place of surgery.
- Cefotetan (Cefotan) – Cefotetan is part of a group of medications called cephalosporin. The antibiotic actively kills and hinders the growth of bacteria.
- Piperacillin and Tazobactam (Zosyn) Injections – Piperacillin and tazobactam are a combination antibiotic injection.
- Cefotaxime – Cefotaxime is an injectable antibiotic used to prevent infection after an appendicitis.
- Ampicillin/sulbactam – Ampicillin/sulbactam is a combination of two antibiotics that effectively kills bacteria by hindering their production of a protective coating and by blocking enzymes that often occur in antibiotic resistance.
- Ceftriaxone (Rocephin) – Ceftriaxone is an injectable antibiotic used to treat bacterial intra-abdominal infections.
- Cefepime – Administered as an injection, cefepime belongs to a group of cephalosporin antibiotics that stop the growth of bacteria.
- Meropenem – Meropenem is a go-to antibiotic used to treat peritonitis and appendicitis that occurs as a result of infection from the viridans group streptococci. It is a single-use therapy.
- Gentamicin – Gentamicin is frequently used to treat severe infections of the appendix. This medication should never be used if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Metronidazole (Flagyl) – Metronidazole is classified as a nitroimidazole antibiotic it works by attacking the bacteria’s DNA which halts its growth and causes it to die.
- Ertapenem – Ertapenem is often used in combination with other antibiotics or singularly. The antibiotic works by hindering and killing bacteria. It is given both before or after an appendectomy surgery.
- Clindamycin – Clindamycin belongs to the lincomycin class of antibiotics. It is used to treat bacterial infections. Clindamycin should always be used with caution because it can cause dangerous bacterial growth within the large intestine which could lead to colitis.
- Levofloxacin – Belong to the group of quinolone antibiotics, levofloxacin halts the growth of bacteria.
- Pain Medications – Before and following an appendectomy most patients will require some form of pain medication such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen. In some situations, a physician may also prescribe narcotic pain medications.
