Infectious prostatitis is a common disease of the prostate gland that can lead to complications. Antibiotics for prostatitis are the main focus of treatment and are selected based on test results. It is impossible to take antibacterial drugs without a doctor's prescription. Every man who is faced with this disease needs to know which groups of drugs exist and how they differ.
When do you need antibiotics?
Before using medications, you should definitely consult your doctor.
There are several types of disease:
- acute infectious (bacterial) prostatitis;
- chronic bacterial prostatitis;
- chronic non-infectious prostatitis.
Taking antibiotics is not always advisable. The drugs of this group are active only against pathogenic agents, but do not have a general anti-inflammatory effect.
Antibiotics for prostatitis are indicated only if the inflammation of the organ is caused by the activity of pathogenic microorganisms in the prostate gland. In all other cases, an antibiotic for prostatitis in a man will be ineffective.
The main problem with prostatitis treatment is that many men are wary of antibiotic therapy, considering such drugs harmful or dangerous. It is important to remember: neglected prostatitis is dangerous, and not a properly selected antibiotic taken on the recommendation of a doctor in compliance with the dosage and therapy regimen.
Antibiotic for prostatitis and adenoma is prescribed only in the presence of bacterial inflammation. The drugs of this group are effective only against bacteria, and do not show activity against viruses or fungi.
Antibiotics for chronic prostatitis are prescribed only if there is a chronic focus of infection in the prostate gland. Bacterial chronic prostatitis develops due to improper or insufficient treatment of acute bacterial prostatitis. Quite often, the disease becomes chronic due to the fact that the man self-medicated and took drugs that were ineffective against a certain pathogen. As a result, pathogenic microorganisms develop resistance to drugs and the disease becomes chronic, reminding of itself with periodic complications.
The main antibiotic indication for the treatment of prostatitis in men is acute bacterial inflammation in the prostate.
In case of congestive or chronic non-infectious prostatitis, such drugs are not advisable to take. This is due to the mechanism of development of such inflammation. Congestive prostatitis is a consequence of a sedentary lifestyle and other reasons leading to a violation of the trophism of the prostate and thickening of the prostatic secretion. The inflammation is due to the fact that the secret of the prostate cannot leave the lobules of the organ, it begins to accumulate and squeeze the gland. There is no infectious focus with such a disease, which means that it makes no sense to take antibiotics. To treat this form of inflammation, special anti-inflammatory drugs are used, which should not be confused with antibiotics.
The most effective drugs
No doctor will ever tell a patient about the existence of the best antibiotics for prostatitis, since there are simply no such drugs. There are several groups of antibiotics for men used in the treatment of prostatitis. In each group, there are many names of active substances that are active against various bacteria. An effective antibiotic for prostatitis is a drug selected taking into account the characteristics of the course of the disease in a particular man.
When prescribing a medicinal product, the following criteria are followed:
- causative agent of the disease;
- form of prostatitis;
- medications that the man has taken in recent months;
- presence of other chronic diseases.
To determine which antibiotic will be better for prostatitis, it is necessary to do a bacterial culture of prostate secretions. This analysis allows you to identify the causative agent of the disease and determine its sensitivity to various active substances.
In general, acute bacterial prostatitis is treated quite effectively with the right antibiotics. Usually a two-week course of therapy is enough to get rid of the disease forever.
Treatment of chronic bacterial inflammation is often complicated by the resistance of microorganisms to antibacterial drugs. In this case, either synthetic antimicrobial agents are prescribed, or combined antibacterial therapy with several different drugs at once. The first option is preferable, however, the course of therapy is increased to 28 days or more.
What are fluoroquinolones and when are they used?
Pills are convenient for treating prostatitis with antibiotics at home, although injections are usually more effective and faster. At the same time, it is important to choose a medicine that will effectively penetrate the tissues of the prostate, despite oral administration. Since recently men have begun to treat various diseases with antibiotics, often using drugs for other purposes, quite often resistant forms of pathogenic microorganisms are found that are not sensitive to conventional antibiotics. In this case, doctors give preference to drugs from the group of fluoroquinolones.
Fluoroquinolones are the only antibacterial drugs that have no natural analogues.
These drugs are completely synthetic, developed by chemists, and not taken in nature. They are distinguished by a wide spectrum of antimicrobial activity. The main advantage of using these drugs is that the causative agent of the disease cannot develop resistance to fluoroquinolones, which means that such drugs remain effective even with repeated treatment.
The distinctive features of this group of drugs are as follows:
- wide range of activities;
- no negative impact on the digestive tract;
- convenient release form;
- ease of use;
- minimum side effects;
- can be taken at any age;
- penetrate well into prostate tissue.
These drugs are convenient to take, as they are prescribed one tablet per day. However, the course of treatment, as a rule, is quite long, because despite the fact that the drug penetrates into the tissues of the prostate, its concentration increases slowly, so the course of administration usually lasts from several weeks. Since there are practically no side effects, this does not have a negative impact on health.
In addition, drugs of this group do not affect the functions of the liver and kidneys, therefore they can be used in the therapy of patients over 65 years old, but only after prior agreement with the attending physician.
The use of penicillins in the treatment of prostatitis
One of the oldest groups of antibacterial drugs is penicillin antibiotics. The drugs of this group are well studied, but today they are no longer effective enough, since most microorganisms very quickly develop resistance to the active substance.
The advantage of these drugs is their rapid elimination from the body and minimal effect on liver function. The main disadvantage is low bioavailability and poor penetration into prostate tissue.
To date, the only drug still used in the treatment of prostatitis is a combined penicillin antibiotic. It contains clavulanic acid, which enhances its action and provides some immunostimulating effect.
Preparations of this group should be used only in acute inflammation. Long-term administration of the drug is ineffective, since the causative agent of the disease quickly becomes resistant to its action. Usually the drug is prescribed for 7-10 days, no more.
Medicines from the tetracyclines group
Tetracycline antibiotics are often prescribed for bacterial prostatitis. The benefits of these drugs:
- variety of release forms;
- a wide range of antimicrobial activity;
- fast efficiency;
- low cost.
Most often, pills or injections are prescribed. If it is necessary to use suppositories with an antibiotic for prostatitis, such drugs can be found in the tetracyclines group.
The disadvantage of these drugs is their detrimental effect on the gastrointestinal tract. They should be taken in conjunction with antihistamines and probiotics, otherwise dysbiosis cannot be avoided.
Due to side effects and contraindications, urologists prescribe such drugs in a short course and only in acute inflammation.
What are the specialties of macrolides?
When asked which antibiotics are best for prostatitis, many doctors point to macrolides. The main feature of this group of drugs is their low toxicity and the absence of side effects. They are well tolerated by the body and do not cause allergic reactions. They are used as an independent agent, without the need for the simultaneous administration of hepatoprotectors, antihistamines or probiotics.
While some physicians actively prescribe macrolides for prostatitis, others argue that these drugs are ineffective for chronic bacterial inflammation.
Macrolides have several dozen names. The latest generation of drugs in this group is distinguished by an interesting form of release - a gel or a suspension. They are convenient to take, and the liquid form ensures rapid absorption of the drug. In addition, drugs in this group are highly bioavailable and penetrate well into the tissues of inflamed organs.
The main contraindications are mental disorders and depression. Long-term use of drugs in this group is potentially dangerous for the development of psychopathological syndromes in people with a tendency to such diseases.
When are cephalosporins effective?
Cephalosporins are good antibiotics for prostatitis. They perfectly treat bacterial prostatitis, leaving no chance for pathogenic microorganisms. The disadvantage is a rather impressive list of contraindications and side effects. In addition, drugs in this group require the correct selection of dosage, so they should be prescribed only by a doctor.
Benefits of drugs from this group:
- high efficiency against pyogenic bacteria;
- quick action;
- good penetration to prostate tissues;
- no negative impact on the microflora of the stomach.
The main disadvantage is the high hepatotoxicity and burden on the kidneys, and therefore drugs of this type are not prescribed to elderly patients. Another pressing problem is the large list of negative drug interactions. In other words, during therapy with these antibiotics, you should stop taking any other drugs.
Antibacterial suppositories
Having figured out which antibiotics for prostatitis are used, and which names may be useful for men in the future, you should pay attention to suppositories for infectious prostatitis with antibiotics.
Topical application is an advantage of such preparations. Suppositories act in the immediate vicinity of the prostate, so the active substance is rapidly absorbed by the walls of the rectum and penetrates directly into the tissues of the inflamed organ.
In addition to antibiotic suppositories, antiseptic drugs and anti-inflammatory suppositories can be prescribed for prostatitis.
Medication in the form of suppositories can be used in conjunction with antibiotic tablets. For example, chronic prostatitis is often treated with oral macrolides, in addition to suppository macrolides. You can also use drugs of the tetracycline series with suppositories.
The duration of the course of using rectal suppositories is set on an individual basis. They are usually prescribed for a period of two weeks or more.
Antibiotic suppositories for prostatitis can have side effects. Often, with prolonged use of this form of the drug, intestinal dysbiosis is observed.
Natural Antibacterials
In addition to pharmaceutical preparations, treatment can be carried out with natural remedies with antimicrobial properties. Of course, natural antibiotics are noticeably inferior in effectiveness to special drugs, but they can be used in chronic bacterial prostatitis to enhance the therapeutic effect of other drugs.
The most potent antimicrobial agent in nature:
- honey;
- propolis;
- garlic;
- celandine.
Honey has a pronounced immunostimulating effect. Men are advised to eat it both for the prevention and treatment of prostatitis. In addition, homemade suppositories are made from honey.
Propolis is a powerful natural antibiotic and antiseptic. You can make propolis suppositories yourself or purchase them at the pharmacy.
Garlic helps fight chronic prostatitis of an infectious and non-infectious nature. It is often suggested to be used for making candles, adding sea buckthorn oil, which accelerates tissue regeneration.
Celandine has a pronounced antimicrobial activity and is used as decoctions and microclysters.
Making suppositories at home
Garlic is good for treating prostate problems.
To prepare candles with antimicrobial action, you need to stock up on a solid base of fat. Cocoa butter or beeswax can also be used as a base for candles.
The base must be melted in a water bath, gradually adding the active ingredient. Then the product is mixed and poured into a mold. You can also pour the resulting mass onto cling film, then twist the ends to form a “sausage” and leave in the refrigerator for an hour. After the mixture has hardened, it is cut into small suppositories, approximately 3-4 cm long. The proportions depend on which active ingredient is used.
- To make candles with honey, you need 50 g of base and 25 g of honey. Before using such suppositories, intolerance to bee products should be excluded.
- One of the most effective remedies for prostatitis is a suppository with propolis and honey. To prepare the medicine, you need to take 50 g of beeswax, 25 g of honey and 10 g of propolis.
- Suppositories with sea buckthorn oil are recommended to reduce inflammation. To prepare them, melt 2 parts of the base and add one part of sea buckthorn oil to them. Using the same recipe, you can prepare candles based on pumpkin oil.
- Home treatments can be done with garlic. Squeeze out 3 cloves of garlic, pour 50 ml of sea buckthorn oil and leave in the refrigerator for 24 hours. Then 25 ml of garlic oil is mixed with 50 ml of cocoa butter and candles are formed.
Such suppositories should be used 1-2 times a day. They are injected into the rectum, after making a cleansing enema.
Peculiarities of antibiotic treatment
An antibiotic treatment regimen for prostatitis is compiled by a doctor on an individual basis. Typically, antibiotic treatment for chronic prostatitis takes 4-5 weeks, and acute prostatitis is treated within two weeks.
Each drug has its own characteristics, contraindications and side effects. They are detailed in the official instructions for use, which must be read before starting therapy.
Self-medication with antibiotics is not allowed. You need to take the prescribed drugs daily, without missing or stopping the intake until the end of the course.
It should be remembered that it is impossible to cure bacterial prostatitis without antibacterial drugs.