Antibiotics are antimicrobial compounds used to treat bacterial illnesses such as strep throat, sinusitis, and urinary tract infections (UTIs). Antibiotics require a doctor’s prescription and may be obtained from a drugstore. Antibiotics can cost anywhere from $12 to $380 without insurance, but there are actions you can take to lower the amount you must spend.
How costly is antibiotic?
How Much Do Antibiotics Cost Without Insurance? The prices shown here are approximations of what you may expect to spend for common antibiotics if you do not have health insurance and instead pay the standard cash price (the cash price assigned to a drug by the pharmacy).
| Generic Drug Name | Typically Used to Treat | Generic Drug Price | Brand Name Drug | Brand Name Drug Price | Dosage |
| Amoxicillin | Pneumonia; bronchitis; infections of the nose, ear, eye, throat, and urinary tract | $10 for four capsules | n/a | n/a | 500 mg |
| Cephalexin | Pneumonia; infections of the bone, skin, ears, genitals, and urinary tract | $11 for four capsules | Keflex | $63 for 20 capsules | 500 mg |
| Doxycycline | Pneumonia; rosacea; acne; infections of the lymphatic, intestinal, genitals, and urinary systems | $13 for two tablets | Mondoxyne NL | $52 for 60 capsules | 100 mg |
| Azithromycin | Bronchitis; pneumonia; sexually transmitted diseases; infections of the ears, lungs, sinuses, skin, throat, and reproductive organs | $32 for three tablets | Zithromax | $73 for 18 tablets | 500mg |
| Levofloxacin | Pneumonia; bronchitis; infections of the kidney, prostate, urinary tract, sinuses, and skin | $18 for three tablets | Levaquin | $27 for one tablet | 500mg |
Official response from Drugs.com Oral over-the-counter (OTC) antibiotics are not generally authorized in the United States. Nevertheless, there are a few over-the-counter topical antibiotics that may be applied to the skin to prevent infections from small scrapes, burns, and wounds, including:
- Bacitracin, neomycin, and polymyxin B. ( Neosporin and generics),
- bacitracin/polymyxin (Polysporin and its generic counterparts) and
- Neomycin/polymyxin/pramoxine (Neosporin Plus), which contains the mild anesthetic pramoxine.
Antibacterials such as benzoyl peroxide are also available over-the-counter for persons with moderate acne. Benzoyl peroxide has a drying effect and is available as a generic as well as under brand names such as Clearskin, Oxy-10, and Proactiv.
How can I determine if I require antibiotics?
The majority of sinus infections are caused by viruses and do not require medicines Strep throat is a bacterial infection and should be treated with antibiotics CNN — You’re ill. You don’t know exactly what it is, but you’d really like to get rid of this achy sensation, stuffy head, or severe cough.
- So you visit the doctor and demand medication.
- If recent study is any indicator, your doctor will likely give you an antibiotic despite the fact that it will not hasten your recovery.
- Amanda Helberg, a physician’s assistant at Scott & White Lago Vista Clinic in Lago Vista, Texas, stated, “This abuse of antibiotics has led to’superbugs,’ and now bacterial resistance is on the rise.” Helberg stated, “Research has revealed that some common diseases do not require antibiotics, yet we continue to use them unnecessarily.” According to a 2014 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, clinicians prescribe antibiotics for acute bronchitis around 70% of the time, despite decades of research proving that these medications are ineffective against respiratory infection.
“Despite clear evidence, guidelines, quality measures, and more than 15 years of educational efforts stating that the antibiotic prescribing rate should be zero, physicians continue to prescribe costly, broad-spectrum antibiotics,” wrote Brigham and Women’s Hospital’s Dr.
- Michael Barnett and Dr.
- Jeffrey Linder.
- Nowing which common diseases require medicines and which do not will save you money at the doctor’s office.
- Upper respiratory infections, sometimes known as the common cold, and influenza are caused by viruses.
- Antibiotics simply eliminate bacteria. Dr.
- John Joseph, a family care physician at the Scott & White Killeen Clinic in Killeen, Texas, stated, “Antibiotics are unnecessary and of little help for cold and flu.” According to the CDC, the best approach to avoid the flu is to be vaccinated annually.
Consult your physician about taking an antiviral medication to expedite your recovery if you have it. Helberg stated that colds often last seven to ten days and resolve on their own with adequate rest and drinks. A number of the symptoms can be alleviated by over-the-counter drugs.
- According to the journal article, “acute bronchitis in generally healthy persons does not require antibiotic treatment,” noted Joseph.
- There are, however, exceptions.
- Patients with aggravating conditions such as emphysema or chronic obstructive lung disease may be prescribed antibiotics because they are more likely to acquire secondary bacterial infections,” he added.
It’s generally preferable to let your doctor make the call on ear infections. Joseph stated that the only definitive approach for establishing the source of an ear infection is to pierce the eardrum and culture the fluid. In the United States, most physicians treat with antibiotics instead of acquiring a culture.
- According to WebMD, some experts encourage waiting to see whether the infection clears up on its own, while others fear that leaving germs untreated might cause further damage.
- According to the Mayo Clinic, bacteria, viruses, and fungus are capable of causing pneumonia.
- Antibiotics will work if the doctor has identified the precise type of bacteria causing your sickness.
Antiviral medicines can also be used to treat viral pneumonia. Sinusitis is inflammation of the sinuses, according to the Cleveland Clinic, The infection may be caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, or allergies. Most sinus infections are caused by viruses, Joseph explained, and do not require medication.
Once again, there are exceptions. Antibiotics may be prescribed by your doctor if your symptoms are severe and include high fever, nasal discharge, and a strong cough. Antibiotics may also be recommended if you feel better after a few days and then your symptoms return or if the illness lasts more than a week.
As a bacterial illness, antibiotics are essential to treat strep throat, as stated by Helberg. However, only a small percentage of sore throats are caused by strep throat, so ensure that your doctor gets the correct diagnosis based on a physical examination and lab test.
What is the most costly antibiotic?
The cephalosporins are among the most costly antibiotics now in use; thus, their usage must be justified by reduced toxicity, higher effectiveness, or both in contrast to less expensive medications.