What is the best antibiotic to treat a sinus infection?
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on March 31, 2025.
An acute sinus infection, also called sinusitis, is usually caused by a virus. Most cases of sinusitis clear up within 10 days. Antibiotics are not needed for acute viral sinusitis.
If a secondary bacterial infection should develop, one treatment of choice is amoxicillin-clavulanate (Augmentin).
In patients who have severe allergy to penicillin-type drugs, doxycycline is a reasonable alternative.
Due to recent FDA warnings about joint pain and other issues with fluoroquinolones, such as ciprofloxacin (Cipro) or levofloxacin (Levaquin), this class of drug should be avoided when possible for less serious infections. Antibiotic treatment should always be guided by your physician.
Read next
What happens if antibiotics don’t work for UTI?
If an antibiotic does not treat a urinary tract infection (UTI), the bacteria may have developed antibiotic resistance and your infection may worsen. A UTI may start as a bladder infection (cystitis) and could worsen into a more serious kidney infection (pyelonephritis) or urosepsis (a serious infection throughout your body) that is a medical emergency. Contact your doctor.
Continue reading
How long does Cipro take to work?
Although ciprofloxacin starts working within hours of taking it, you may not notice an improvement in your symptoms for 2 to 3 days. For some infections, such as osteomyelitis (a bone infection), it may take up to a week before you show any improvement. Continue reading
Is Doxycycline safe for dogs? Uses, dosage, side effects
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
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Drug information
- Ciprofloxacin (937 reviews)
- Doxycycline (1,642 reviews)
- Augmentin (449 reviews)
- Levofloxacin (745 reviews)
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