It is rather difficult to answer the question of which medication is better. Both of them enjoy a good reputation with doctors and patients. They have a pronounced therapeutic effect.
For the treatment of diseases of the respiratory tract of mild to moderate severity, an antibiotic of the penicillin series is better. It is softer and safer.
People who do not tolerate injections should also opt for Amoxiclav. It is available in a variety of formats and the patient will choose the best option for treatment at home.
Patients with an allergy to Ceftriaxone will not be suitable for both medicines. This is due to the fact that Amoxiclav has cross intolerance with cephalosporin antibiotics.
In cases where a severe infection develops in the body and the pathogen is unknown, Ceftriaxone will become the drug of choice.
Also, Ceftriaxone injections will be prescribed if the patient has no improvement within two days after treatment with Amoxiclav.
In any case, the choice of an antibacterial drug, the calculation of its dosage should be carried out by the doctor after an objective assessment of the clinical picture and the severity of the patient’s condition.
Infectious diseases caused by pathogenic bacteria, at least once in a lifetime, every person has encountered.
So, for example, it is the bacteria that provoke the development of pneumonia, as complications after a viral infection. Otitis and tonsillitis are also the result of the pathogenic activity of bacteria.
Often a bacterial infection joins a severely progressing viral disease, especially against a background of weakened immunity. This can turn into very serious consequences for the patient, up to a dramatic outcome.
The main task of physicians in the event of a bacterial infection in the body is to prevent further propagation of pathogens.
For this purpose, antibacterial drugs (antibiotics) are prescribed to patients . Most often, antibiotic agents of the cephalosporin or penicillin group are used. The worthy representatives of these groups are Ceftriaxone and Amoxiclav. But, in some cases, it is not always clear which of the medications will better cope with the disease. To answer this question, it is necessary to consider and compare the characteristics of these drugs.
“Ceftriaxone”: characteristics of the drug
Ceftriaxone is a broad-spectrum antibiotic drug. It is a representative of the third generation of cephalosporin antibiotics.
Cephalosporins are by far the most powerful antibiotics.
Due to this, Ceftriaxone has a powerful bactericidal effect. Its spectrum of exposure extends to anaerobic, aerobic, gram-positive, gram-negative types of bacteria. Only a few types of microorganisms have resistance to this drug.
The mechanism of bactericidal action is associated with damage to the cell membranes of bacteria that are in the process of reproduction. As a result of drug exposure, autolytic enzymes are released, due to which a defect forms in the membrane of bacterial cells.
A damaged membrane becomes unable to protect the microorganism from environmental influences, which contributes to its death. The active ingredient in the drug is ceftriaxone (in the form of a sodium salt).
It is produced in the form of a crystalline powder for the preparation of a solution for intravenous and / m injections. This drug has no other forms of release (pills, suspensions, etc.). This is because the drug, due to its chemical properties, cannot be absorbed through the gastric mucosa. And besides, it irritates the gastrointestinal mucosa.
Packaged in transparent glass bubbles with hermetically sealed lids. One vial may contain 0.5 gr., 1 gr., Or 2 gr., Of the active component.
Available in Russia and the Republic of Belarus. Sometimes in pharmacies you can see a product made in Portugal, China, Ukraine, India.
Indications and contraindications
Ceftriaxone is used in the form of injections for the treatment of such infectious diseases as:
- Pneumonia.
- Pyelonephritis.
- Meningitis.
- Complicated cystitis and urethritis.
- Retroperitoneal abscess.
- Lyme disease.
- Sepsis.
- Pancreatitis
- Endocarditis.
- Abscess of the lung.
- Empyema of the pleura.
- Septic arthritis.
- Osteomyelitis.
- Sinusitis
- Syphilis.
- Bacterial prostatitis.
- Peritonitis.
- Pyoderma.
- Exudative pleurisy.
- Phlegmon.
- Otitis media (purulent).
- Erysipelas.
- Carbunculosis and furunculosis.
- Mastoiditis.
In addition, the drug is often used to prevent the occurrence of purulent complications after surgery.
There are relatively few contraindications to the administration of Ceftriaxone, but nevertheless, as with any medicine, they exist.
An absolute contraindication to use is the patient’s allergy to antibiotics of a number of cephalosporins and penicillins, as well as the first three months of pregnancy.
Limit the use if there is a history of gastrointestinal diseases, in particular, ulcerative colitis (ULC) or enteritis associated with the use of previously antibiotic agents.
Caution and constant medical monitoring requires the appointment of a medication for patients with impaired renal function and in newborns with high bilirubin in the blood.
Side effects
The list of side effects is quite extensive, but due to the fact that the cephalosporin group is not toxic, they arise relatively rarely.
The list of possible side effects may include:
- Headache, dizziness.
- Nausea.
- Diarrhea.
- Vomiting
- Allergic manifestations (rash, skin itching, Quincke’s edema).
- Lowering platelet count.
- Candidiasis.
- Colpitis.
- Pseudomembranous colitis.
- Dysbacteriosis
Local reactions can also be observed: when injected into a muscle, it hardens and pains at the injection site, when administered intravenously, inflammation of the vein wall (phlebitis).
“Amoxiclav”: characteristics of the drug
Amoxiclav is a combined broad-spectrum antibiotic. Belongs to the fourth generation of antibacterial agents of the penicillin group.
It has high bactericidal activity against many strains of gram-negative and gram-positive microorganisms. Particularly effective in the destruction of pathogenic microflora sensitive to amoxicillin.
It is a first-line drug in the treatment of infectious lesions of the respiratory tract and ENT infections.
The main active ingredients of the medication are amoxicillin (semi-synthetic penicillin) and clavulanic acid (in the form of a potassium salt).
This combination of components allows Amoxiclav to be highly active in eliminating even those bacteria that are capable of producing beta-lactamase, an enzyme that resists penicillins.
Clavulanic acid is able to withstand this enzyme and protect the antibiotic from destruction.
The therapeutic effect of the drug is based on blocking the synthesis of peptidoglycan, a structural component of a bacterial cell.
The cell wall, which plays a key role in protecting and ensuring the survival of microorganisms, is thinning and losing strength. This leads to cell lysis and the death of pathogenic microflora.
The drug is produced in Slovenia, the famous pharmaceutical company “LEK”. The manufacturer provides for various forms of release of the drug. They are represented by tablets, freeze-dried powder for injection and powder for the manufacture of a suspension.
Indications and contraindications
An indication for use is infectious and inflammatory diseases provoked by microorganisms sensitive to this antibiotic agent:
- Tonsillitis.
- Pharyngitis.
- Pharyngeal abscess.
- Bronchitis.
- Pneumonia.
- Sinusitis.
- Pyelonephritis.
- Cholecystitis.
- Odontogenic infections.
- Bacterial cystitis.
- Endometritis.
- Infections of the skin.
- Septic abortion.
- Gonorrhea.
- Empyema.
- Osteomyelitis.
Antimicrobial medicine has also been widely used in dentistry in the treatment of periodontal inflammation and stomatitis.
Amoxiclav should not be prescribed to patients with hypersensitivity to drug components, as well as those with a history of allergy to penicillins and cephalosporins. This is an absolute contraindication.
Also contraindications for use will be: lymphocytic leukemia, impaired liver function against the background of the previous intake of amoxicillin, infectious mononucleosis, age up to 12 years (for tablets).
It requires caution in the appointment of patients with gastrointestinal pathologies, liver failure, pseudomembranous colitis, severe kidney diseases, as well as women during pregnancy and lactation.
Side effects
Treatment with an antibacterial medication can provoke the occurrence of adverse reactions. The patient may experience:
- Hives.
- Exudative erythema.
- Angioneurotic edema.
- Dermatitis.
- Loss of appetite.
- Change of stool.
- Cholestatic jaundice.
- Pseudomembranous colitis.
- Steven Jones Syndrome.
- Violation of the liver.
- Candidiasis.
- Nausea, vomiting.
- Insomnia.
- Cramps (rare).
- Hyperactivity.
In the vast majority of cases, negative reactions of the body are weakly expressed and are temporary.
What are the drugs like?
The presented medications have quite a few similar parameters:
- Both are antimicrobials. They are used in the treatment of infectious diseases of bacterial etiology.
- Perform the same task – the destruction in the human body of pathogenic bacterial microflora.
- They have high efficiency and a wide range of bactericidal action.
- Both have high bioavailability, of the order of 90-100% with parenteral administration.
- They have a similar list of indications and contraindications. In the list of side effects, there is also a coincidence for a number of points.
- They are considered low toxic and exhibit a sparing effect on the body.
- Allowed for admission to children from birth.
- The duration of treatment coincides. It is 5 to 14 days.
- Available by prescription only.
What is the difference
Differences between these antibiotic drugs also exist, and are quite significant.
- “Ceftriaxone” is a single drug, contains only one active component. Amoxiclav has two active ingredients and a number of auxiliary, structure-forming components.
- Despite belonging to the class of antibiotics, the groups of drugs are different. The first belongs to cephalosporins, the second to penicillins.
- They differ in chemical composition and mechanism of action.
- Produced by different manufacturers.
- Amoxiclav has various forms of release. It is suitable for both inpatient and home care. Ceftriaxone is almost always used in a clinic setting.
- Cephalosporin antibiotic has a higher spectrum of activity and a stronger therapeutic effect.
- Penicillin medication affects microorganisms more weakly.
- Despite the milder effect, Amoxiclav more often causes adverse reactions (mainly allergic).
There is a difference in the cost of medications. A box with 10 vesicles of Ceftriaxone costs 170-220 rubles. Amoxiclav will cost from 211 to 460 rubles, depending on the form of release.
