Antibiotics for heart valve disease

Examples

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The following antibiotics are used individually or in combination.

Preventive antibiotics for endocarditis

Brand Name	Generic Name
Larotid	amoxicillin

Brand Name	Generic Name
Principen	ampicillin

Brand Name	Generic Name
Garamycin	gentamicin sulfate

Preventive antibiotics for endocarditis (if you are allergic to penicillin)

Generic Name

azithromycin

Brand Name	Generic Name
Ancef	cefazolin

Brand Name	Generic Name
Keflex	cephalexin

Brand Name	Generic Name
Biaxin	clarithromycin

Brand Name	Generic Name
Biaxin	clindamycin

Brand Name	Generic Name
Vancocin	vancomycin

Preventive antibiotics for rheumatic fever

Generic Name

benzathine

Generic Name

penicillin g

Generic Name

penicillin v

Generic Name

sulfadiazine

Preventive antibiotics for rheumatic fever (if you are allergic to penicillin)

Brand Name	Generic Name
Zithromax	azithromycin

Brand Name	Generic Name
E-Mycin	erythromycin

How It Works

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Antibiotics kill bacteria or stop bacteria from growing.

Why It Is Used

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Antibiotics in valve disease are generally used to lower the risk of endocarditis and rheumatic fever. These conditions can cause valve problems to get worse.

Many heart conditions put people at risk for endocarditis. But if you have certain heart conditions, getting endocarditis is even more dangerous for you. These heart conditions include:

• Artificial heart valves.
• Endocarditis in the past.
• Heart defects since birth (congenital heart defects).
• Heart valve problems after a heart transplant.

If you have any of these heart conditions, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics before you have certain dental or surgical procedures, to prevent endocarditis.

How Well It Works

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Antibiotics have been shown to reduce the risk of endocarditis and rheumatic fever.

Side Effects

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The most common side effects of antibiotics include:

• Nausea and vomiting.
• Diarrhea.
• Mild allergic reactions including skin rash, fever, and sometimes difficulty breathing.

See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug Reference is not available in all systems.)

What To Think About

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If your doctor decides that you need antibiotics, he or she will decide on the best antibiotics for you based on the level of your risk and any allergies to antibiotics that you may have.

People who receive gentamicin sulfate may develop hearing loss. Gentamicin or vancomycin may lead to kidney damage. Kidney damage usually clears up after the medicines are stopped.

Complete the new medication information form (PDF) (What is a PDF document?) to help you understand this medication.

Credits

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Author	Robin Parks, MS
Editor	Kathleen M. Ariss, MS
Associate Editor	Pat Truman, MATC
Primary Medical Reviewer	E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer	Stephen Fort, MD, MRCP, FRCPC - Interventional Cardiology
Last Updated	March 18, 2008