Class Drug Uses Side Effects Considerations
Carbapene Imipenem (Primaxin) Resp. infections, UTI’s, GI upset, rash, itching Do not take with
blood/ skin/ bone antivirals. Do not use in
ms End in
infections CNS disorders
‘penem’
Cephalosporins Cephalexin (Keflex) Resp., skin, bone, and GI upset, dark urine, May cause kidney
ear infections, UTI’s rash, oral candidiasis problems, especially if
Start with
taken with
‘cef/ceph’ metformin
Fluroquinolon Ciprofloxacin (Cipro) UTI’s, resp./ skin GI upset, dizziness, blurred May cause peripheral
Levofloxacin (Levaquin) infections, vision, photosensitivity neuropathy, avoid NSAIDs,
es End in
sinusitis, caffeine, and warfarin
‘floxacin’ bronchitis
Glycopeptides Vancomycin (Vancocin) MRSA, C-diff, resp. Dizziness, Monitor kidneys, avoid
infections, septicemia chills, loop
thrombophlebi diuretics, require peak and
tis trough levels, ^fluid intake
Macrolides Azithromycin (Zithromax) Resp./ ear infections, Gi upset, photosensitivity, May interact with
Erythromycin (E-mycin) STI’s, UTI’s, acne, dizziness anticoagulants, digoxin,
End in
tonsilitis and
‘romycin’ antacids. Avoid fruit juice
Monobacta Aztreonam (Azactam) Severe blood, urinary, GI upset, HA, blurred Monitor for seizures,
lung, skin, and stomach vision superinfection and renal
ms End in
infections impairment
‘actam’
Nitroimidazole Metronidazole (Flagyl) Fungal infections of the Gi upset, HA, hypokalemia, Monitor kidneys/ renal
Fluconazole (Diflucan) skin and mucosa tinnitus, dizziness, fatigue function. No caffeine
s End in
herbal products, or
‘idazole’ warfarin
Oxazolidinone Linezolid (Zyvox) Skin infections, Diarrhea, HA, dizziness, Monitor BP/HR. Can
pneumonia rash, thrombocytopenia cause peripheral
s End in
neuropathy and
‘zolid’ visual disturbances
Penicillin’s Amoxicillin (Amoxil) Skin, resp. infections, GI upset, dizziness, HA, Decreases effectiveness
UTI’s rash of contraceptives, avoid
End in
fruit juice. Increased
‘cillin’
bleeding
with anticoagulants
, Sulfonamid Trimethoprim/ UTI’s, STI’s, otitis GI upset, vertigo, Monitor for anemia/
sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim) media, pneumonia depression, neutropenia, may cause
es ‘Sulfa
photosensitivity bleeding/ bruising
drugs’
Tetracyclines Doxycycline (Vibramycin) UTI’s, STI’s, acne, Gi upset, HA, rash Take on empty stomach,
resp./ intestinal stay upright, may cause
End in
infections candida infection or
‘cycline’
blisters
Carbapene Imipenem (Primaxin) Resp. infections, UTI’s, GI upset, rash, itching Do not take with
blood/ skin/ bone antivirals. Do not use in
ms End in
infections CNS disorders
‘penem’
Cephalosporins Cephalexin (Keflex) Resp., skin, bone, and GI upset, dark urine, May cause kidney
ear infections, UTI’s rash, oral candidiasis problems, especially if
Start with
taken with
‘cef/ceph’ metformin
Fluroquinolon Ciprofloxacin (Cipro) UTI’s, resp./ skin GI upset, dizziness, blurred May cause peripheral
Levofloxacin (Levaquin) infections, vision, photosensitivity neuropathy, avoid NSAIDs,
es End in
sinusitis, caffeine, and warfarin
‘floxacin’ bronchitis
Glycopeptides Vancomycin (Vancocin) MRSA, C-diff, resp. Dizziness, Monitor kidneys, avoid
infections, septicemia chills, loop
thrombophlebi diuretics, require peak and
tis trough levels, ^fluid intake
Macrolides Azithromycin (Zithromax) Resp./ ear infections, Gi upset, photosensitivity, May interact with
Erythromycin (E-mycin) STI’s, UTI’s, acne, dizziness anticoagulants, digoxin,
End in
tonsilitis and
‘romycin’ antacids. Avoid fruit juice
Monobacta Aztreonam (Azactam) Severe blood, urinary, GI upset, HA, blurred Monitor for seizures,
lung, skin, and stomach vision superinfection and renal
ms End in
infections impairment
‘actam’
Nitroimidazole Metronidazole (Flagyl) Fungal infections of the Gi upset, HA, hypokalemia, Monitor kidneys/ renal
Fluconazole (Diflucan) skin and mucosa tinnitus, dizziness, fatigue function. No caffeine
s End in
herbal products, or
‘idazole’ warfarin
Oxazolidinone Linezolid (Zyvox) Skin infections, Diarrhea, HA, dizziness, Monitor BP/HR. Can
pneumonia rash, thrombocytopenia cause peripheral
s End in
neuropathy and
‘zolid’ visual disturbances
Penicillin’s Amoxicillin (Amoxil) Skin, resp. infections, GI upset, dizziness, HA, Decreases effectiveness
UTI’s rash of contraceptives, avoid
End in
fruit juice. Increased
‘cillin’
bleeding
with anticoagulants
, Sulfonamid Trimethoprim/ UTI’s, STI’s, otitis GI upset, vertigo, Monitor for anemia/
sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim) media, pneumonia depression, neutropenia, may cause
es ‘Sulfa
photosensitivity bleeding/ bruising
drugs’
Tetracyclines Doxycycline (Vibramycin) UTI’s, STI’s, acne, Gi upset, HA, rash Take on empty stomach,
resp./ intestinal stay upright, may cause
End in
infections candida infection or
‘cycline’
blisters
