Skip to main content

What are the best antibiotics for pneumonia?

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Oct 2, 2023.

Official answer

by Drugs.com

Many different types of antibiotics can be used to treat community-acquired pneumonia. Your doctor will select the most appropriate antibiotic based on your infection and other medical conditions, the patterns of local antibiotic resistance, cost, and other patient-specific characteristics such as your age, weight, allergies, and previous antibiotic treatment.

First-line antibiotics that might be selected include the macrolide antibiotics azithromycin (Zithromax) or clarithromycin (Biaxin XL); or the tetracycline known as doxycycline.

Other appropriate antibiotics may include the fluoroquinolone antibiotics such as levofloxacin (Levaquin); or combined therapy of a beta-lactam such as amoxicillin or amoxicillin/clavulanate (Augmentin) with a macrolide antibiotic.

See also: Medications to treat pneumonia

Read next

Doxycycline is usually well tolerated and is considered safe for dogs. It is widely prescribed for a range of different conditions such as bacterial infections and oral gum disease. Continue reading

Doxycycline, a tetracycline antibiotic, is used to treat many different bacterial infections and skin conditions such as acne and rosacea. Different doxycycline products may have different instructions for how to take the medication. In general, most brands of doxycycline may be taken with food. Continue reading

Black hairy tongue is often caused by an overgrowth of papillae (taste buds) on the tongue. It results in a dark, furry appearance of dead skin cells on the surface of the tongue that can be stained from bacteria, food, or tobacco. Although it may be unpleasant, it doesn't usually require medical treatment and it's temporary and harmless. Continue reading

Related medical questions

Related support groups

Medical Disclaimer