Amoxicillin and Augmentin are both first-choice options for treating bacterial sinus infections. Like all medications, they can cause side effects, like nausea and diarrhea.
Antibiotics are not needed for many sinus infections. Most sinus infections usually get better on their own without antibiotics. When antibiotics aren't needed, they won't help you, and their side effects could still cause harm. Side effects can range from mild reactions, like a rash, to more serious health problems.
But sometimes, antibiotics for sinus infections are needed
There are several sets of official guidelines, which are all similar. When a patient has thick, colorful nasal discharge and/or facial pressure or pain for at least 10 days, they meet criteria for antibiotic treatment.
The recommended choices are amoxicillin or amoxicillin/potassium clavulanate (Augmentin) for 5 to 10 days. Doxycycline is a good alternative for people with penicillin allergy, followed by levofloxacin or moxifloxacin.
Instead, your doctor looks largely at symptom duration to determine the source of your infection. A viral sinus infection will usually start to improve after five to seven days. A bacterial sinus infection will often persist for seven to 10 days or longer, and may actually worsen after seven days.
Even if the infection becomes bacterial, 70% of the time the infection will go away within two weeks without antibiotics. In the event of severe headache, toothache, or face pain or for persisting fevers greater than 102 degrees you should be seen by your health care provider.
Untreated sinusitis allows bacteria and other harmful pathogens to enter the bloodstream and travel all throughout the body, leading to the following potentially life-threatening conditions. Meningitis develops when infection targets the brain or spinal fluid. It requires immediate medical attention.
You don't necessarily need to treat sinusitis — it often goes away on its own. Very rarely, untreated sinus infections can lead to life-threatening infections. This happens if bacteria or fungi spread to your brain, eyes or nearby bone.
Whether sinusitis is caused by bacteria or by a virus, most people get better even if they don't take antibiotics. Home treatment for sinusitis can help relieve your symptoms. Here are some things you can do: Drink plenty of fluids to thin your mucus.
For example, scientists know viruses cause bronchitis, so health care professionals no longer use antibiotics to treat it. Likewise, over 90% of sinus infections are caused by viruses. Antibiotics are typically not used to treat a sinus infection unless it lasts longer than 10 days without improvement.
The typical amoxicillin dosage for a sinus infection is 500 mg every 8 hours, or 875 mg every 12 hours, taken for 5 to 10 days. This may vary based on the severity of your infection. Body weight will determine the dosage for children. You can take amoxicillin with or without food.
The established oral dose regimen for acute bacterial sinusitis in adults is an equivalent of 500 mg of amoxicillin and 125 mg of clavulanate given every 8 hours.
For adults, 5 to 7 days is enough
The IDSA guidelines still recommend children receive antibiotic treatment for 10 days to two weeks. Whether a sinus infection is bacterial or viral, decongestants and antihistamines are not helpful and may make symptoms worse, the guidelines say.
About 70 percent of the time, symptoms of acute bacterial sinus infections go away within two weeks without antibiotics. When sinusitis symptoms last seven to 10 days or more, it's a good idea to see a doctor to discuss treatment options.
Schedule an appointment with your doctor if:
See a doctor immediately if you have the following signs or symptoms, which could indicate a serious infection: Fever. Swelling or redness around your eyes. Severe headache.
As discussed, if your symptoms are caused by a virus (like a cold or flu virus), you won't need antibiotics. But if you have a sore throat due to bacteria — for instance, strep throat or bacterial tonsillitis — you will need antibiotics.
As your body works hard to fight off the sinus infection, you'll feel more tired than usual. Fatigue can be also be caused by head pain, a lack of adequate sleep, and difficulty breathing due to sinusitis.
Sinus infections can last many days. Viral sinus infections are usually the worst 3 to 6 days after they start, and then begin to get better by day 10.
An “acute” sinus infection lasts anywhere from ten days up to eight weeks. A “chronic” infection lasts even longer.