Medicines to Treat Pneumonia

Definition

As the name of the disease suggests, pneumonia is an acute or chronic inflammatory process affecting the lung; more precisely, it is an "inflammation that involves the interstitial tissue and / or the alveolar spaces of the lung.

Causes

Most often, pneumonia results from viral, fungal, or bacterial infections; however, lung inflammation can be caused by fungi, parasites or, again, by the inhalation of toxic substances. Finally, mechanical damage to the lung can also become a possible trigger for pneumonia.

Risk factors for pneumonia: abuse of cortisone drugs, diabetes, neonatal or senile age, renal / heart failure, debilitating chronic diseases, cancer

Symptoms

Generally, pneumonia appears suddenly, bringing back the typical symptoms of flu: chills, severe chest pains and cough (dry in viral pneumonia, oily with greenish phlegm in bacterial pneumonia). Pneumonia is characterized by: halitosis, weakness, dyspnoea, muscle aches, headaches, sweating, faster breathing.

Diet

Information on Pneumonia - Pneumonia Treatment Drugs is not intended to replace the direct relationship between health professional and patient. Always consult your doctor and / or specialist before taking Pneumonia - Pneumonia Treatment Drugs.

Medicines

We have seen that, in most cases, pneumonia depends on bacterial or fungal infections: in the first case, the disease is treated with targeted or broad-spectrum antibiotics. When pneumonia is caused by fungal infections, the patient is treated with antifungals; when, on the other hand, the responsible agent is a virus, the patient is advised to take large quantities of fluids and possibly undertake a therapeutic process based on the intake of antiviral drugs.
Clearly, before taking medications, the physician must assess the severity of the infection, the severity of the symptoms and the patient's health status.
In more severe forms of pneumonia, supportive respiratory therapy may be necessary; antitussive drugs and painkillers are eventually useful to calm the cough and to relieve pain.

Do not abuse antitussives: cough, in fact, represents a valid help to favor the elimination of the pathogen

The following are the classes of drugs most used in the therapy against pneumonia, and some examples of pharmacological specialties; it is up to the doctor to choose the most suitable active ingredient and dosage for the patient, based on the severity of the disease, the state of health of the patient and his response to treatment:

Drugs for the treatment of uncomplicated pneumonia

Amoxicillin (eg. Augmentin, Klavux): belonging to the penicillin class, treatment with the drug should be continued for 7-10 days, taken at a dosage of 500 mg 3 times a day (alternatively, take 875 mg of the drug 2 times a day. day).
Ampicillin (eg Ampilux, Amplital, Unasyn) administer 1-2 g of drug intravenously every 4-6 hours for 7-10 days. Often times, ampicillin must be combined with other drugs, depending on the nature of the infection.
Benzylpenicillin (eg. Benzyl B, Penicillin G) take 1-2 million units of drug intravenously every 4 hours for one or two weeks, depending on the nature of the infection. In case of severity take 250-500 mg of drug every 6 hours.
Telithromycin (eg Ketek) the antibiotic drug (macrolide class), available in 400 mg tablets, is indicated for the treatment of mild or medium-sized pneumonia, as well as being useful for the treatment of pharyngitis. It is recommended to take one tablet once a day, before or after meals, for 7-10 days.

The drugs just described are generally used for the treatment of uncomplicated pneumonia in the absence of previous lung disease. In case of allergy to penicillin, erythromycin (eg Erythrocin, Erythro L, Lauromycin), Clarithromycin (eg Biaxin, Macladin, Klacid, Soriclar, Veclam) or azithromycin (eg Azithromycin, Zitrobiotic, Rezan, Azitrocin).

Flucloxacillin (eg Flucacid, Liderclox, Nepenic): the drug is used in case of suspected or confirmed staphylococcal pneumonia (eg measles-dependent pneumonia). Pharmacological treatment should be continued for 14-21 days.

Drugs for the treatment of pneumonia of unknown etiology

When pneumonia is suspected but the cause is unknown, doctors usually prescribe:

Cefuroxime (class: cephalosporins. Eg Cefoprim, Tilexim, Zoref, Zinnat): for the treatment of uncomplicated pneumonia, take the drug at a dosage of 750 mg intravenously or intramuscularly every 8 hours. In case of complications, take the drug at a dosage of 1.5 g, three times a day. When a marked improvement in symptoms is observed, the physician may modify parenteral therapy so that the patient can continue taking the drug orally (250-500 mg orally every 8 hours for 7-21 days). Cefuroxime can also be associated with erythromycin, as prescribed by the doctor (generally, the associated therapy lasts 10 days).

In case of suspected infection with Staphylococcus, also associate flucloxacillin: continue the therapy for 14-21 days, also for legionella infections.

Medicines for the treatment of atypical pneumonia

Erythromycin (eg Erythrocin, Erythro L, Lauromycin) administer this drug (macrolide) at a dosage of 250-500 mg every 6 hours when dealing with a moderate form of pneumonia. If the lung infection is more severe, it is recommended to administer the drug intravenously at a dosage of 1-4 g divided into 4 doses (every 6 hours).
Clarithromycin (eg. Biaxin, Macladin, Klacid, Soriclar, Veclam) it is recommended to take the drug at a dosage of 250-500 mg every 12 hours (in case of suspected infection with Haemophilus influenzae, take 500 mg of the drug). Therapy should be continued for 7-14 days in the case of pneumococcal pneumonia, and for 14-21 days when the pneumonia depends on "another nature. In any case, it is good to remember that the duration of therapy must always be established by the doctor on the basis of the etiological factor and severity of the infection.
Azithromycin (eg. Azithromycin, Zitrobiotic, Rezan, Azitrocin) this macrolide is particularly useful in case of legionella pneumonia. It should be administered intravenously once a day at a dosage of 500 mg. After 2 days of therapy, take the drug orally (500 mg) once a day for 7-10 days.
Rifampicin (eg Rifampic) in case of Legionella pneumonia, take the antibiotic at a dose of 600 mg orally or intravenously. Erythromycin can be combined. Consult your doctor.
Tetracycline (eg. Tetrac C, Pensulvit, Ambramycin) in case of co-infection with chlamydia or Mycoplasma, in the "context of influenza", take the drug at a dosage of 500 mg every 6 hours for 10-21 days, depending on the nature of the infection .
Cefotaxime (eg Cefotaxime, Aximad, Lirgosin) in case of pneumonia from Pseudomonas, take this antibiotic (cephalosporin) intravenously or intramuscularly (1-2 g) every 6-8 hours. Do not exceed 2 grams i.v. every 4 hours. The duration of therapy is 7-21 days.

N.B. it is important to complete the therapy even when the symptoms disappear after a few days: this procedure is essential to reduce the risk of relapses and the development of antibiotic resistance.

Therapeutic Aids to Relieve Pneumonia Symptoms:

Painkillers: they are particularly useful for relieving the pain deriving from pneumonia and to relieve inflammation.

Naproxen (eg Aleve, Naprorex): it is recommended to take one capsule of 550 mg twice a day (every 12 hours, unless otherwise instructed by the doctor), as needed.
Ibuprofen (eg. Brufen, Kendo, Moment): take orally from 200 to 400 mg of active ingredient (tablets, effervescent sachets) every 4-6 hours, as needed. In some cases, the analgesic can be given intravenously (400 to 800 mg every 6 hours).
Paracetamol (or acetaminophen, eg Tachipirina, Efferalgan, Sanipirina) for acute pneumonia pain associated with alteration of body temperature. Taken orally in the form of tablets, syrup, effervescent sachets, or suppositories, the drug is generally administered at a dosage of 325 - 650 mg every 4-6 hours for 6-8 consecutive days, in order to lower the fever.

Antitussives: useful for reducing cough, which often accompanies pneumonia. Although already noted above, it is good to remember that in case of pneumonia, antitussive drugs should not be taken in excessive quantities, since cough is a defensive mechanism that helps the body to eliminate the pathogen responsible for the infection.
For example, Dextromethorphan (Eg Aricodiltosse, Bisolvon Tosse, Ozopulmin) can be useful: the drug is usually administered in the form of syrups or tablets, at a dosage of 15-60 mg 2-3 times a day. Do not exceed 120 mg per day. At a dose of 200-300 mg per day the drug creates visual hallucinations and possible alteration of the heart rhythm.
Among the natural remedies against cough, we remember honey, acacia extract and licorice, useful for exerting an antitussive-peripheral action in the context of pneumonia.