What Is The Treatment For Gonorrhea?
After a confirmed diagnosis of gonorrhea, your healthcare provider explains the several options of gonorrhea treatment available. Gonorrhea being a sexually transmitted disease (STD) is fortunately curable with prevention and the use of antibiotics. The most commonly present treatment option for gonorrhea is a single shot of ceftriaxone, an antibiotic, and a similar dose of azithromycin, which is an oral medication. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides a well-established format of guidelines for the treatment of STDs including gonorrhea. (9)
At present. There are no certain at-home treatment options for the treatment of gonorrhea. The healthcare providers and a number of specialists in epidemiology suggest that it is important to seek proper care from a certified physician. If gonorrhea goes without any proper treatment, which is possible as people tend not to report STDs out of embarrassment, it can lead to complications. Such complications of untreated gonorrhea patients can cause deleterious health effects including death as well.
Gonorrhea medications
There are two classes of drugs that are most famously in practice to treat and cure patients of gonorrhea, which include cephalosporin and macrolide antibiotics.
Cephalosporin antibiotics
Cephalosporins are a type of antibiotic class known as beta-lactams that are known to destroy bacteria. Ceftriaxone, usually famous for its brand name Rocephin is one of the most common in practice drugs in the class of cephalosporins to cure gonorrhea. Usually, a single dose of Rocephin is enough for treating gonorrhea patients. A doctor injects a single dose of Rocephin either into a large muscle such as the buttocks (Intramuscularly, IM) or into a vein (Intravascularly, IV). There are some possible side effects of the injection including shortness of breath, tenderness at the injection site, rash, nausea, diarrhea, or vomiting.
Cephalosporin antibiotics are the first front of treatment for gonorrhea patients as the gonorrhea bacteria might develop antibiotic resistance to a majority of other options. It is important to contact a doctor immediately if you are experiencing any of the possible side effects of the Rocephin shot or otherwise not feeling well. Cephalosporins were in practice for oral prescriptions only for gonorrhea patients up until 2012. However, according to a Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), the CDC renewed the guidelines for sexually transmitted diseases treatment guidelines to switch oral doses with combination therapy having a single dose of intramuscular ceftriaxone 250 mg along with a single dose of azithromycin 1 g orally twice a day for 7 days.
Macrolide antibiotics
Another type of antibiotic that is common in practice for the treatment of gonorrhea patients is macrolide antibiotics, especially azithromycin comes under the brand name Zithromax. Macrolides function by ceasing the ongoing multiplication and growth of bacteria. A single dose of macrolide antibiotic tablet along with a ceftriaxone shot is enough to treat gonorrhea. however, if a patient vomits within an hour of taking the azithromycin tablet, then they must contact their healthcare provider immediately to find out if they need another dose of the antibiotic. Similar to all drugs, there are certain side effects of taking macrolide antibiotics as well. Some of the possible side effects of taking macrolide antibiotics include headache, nausea, and diarrhea. Some of the more severe side effects can be swelling, rash, or vomiting. Although if you feel any of these side effects after taking a macrolide antibiotic then seek out medical advice immediately.
Tetracycline antibiotics
Just like macrolide antibiotics, tetracycline antibiotics in a single dose tablet in combination with another antibiotic injection of ceftriaxone are potentially effective to treat gonorrhea patients. Tetracycline antibiotics also help in stopping the growth of bacteria. The generic drug doxycycline is a part of the tetracycline antibiotics class that helps to treat gonorrhea and comes under the brand name Vibramycin. Some of the possible side effects of tetracycline antibiotics include nausea, rash, and headache.
Fortunately, gonorrhea is one of the few common sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) that are easy to treat. However, you must seek medical help as soon as possible after a confirmed diagnosis of gonorrhea. If a person prolongs the required treatment for gonorrhea, it can lead to a number of long-lasting health issues for both men and women. The combination of oral azithromycin tablets with an injection of gentamicin or an oral tablet of gentamicin can be helpful if a person is allergic to the third-generation antibiotic ceftriaxone. In addition, never share your prescribed medication with anyone, and be sure to discuss with your doctor about all your drug allergies if you have any. Also, discuss with your doctor the possible side effects of the antibiotics and what to do if you experience any negative side effects.
Treating babies with gonorrhea
Infants with symptoms of gonorrhea infection during birth or others who are at a higher risk of infection as their mother is a carrier of gonorrhea will usually receive antibiotics right after their birth. Gonorrhea treatment or medications does not harm the baby in any way yet help to prevent blindness and some other severe complications of gonorrhea.
After treatment precautions
You and your partner must wait at least for 7 days after you both complete your gonorrhea treatments to carry on with any sexual activity. The doctors also advise the patients to follow up for frequent testing to ensure that the infection goes completely. Another round of antibiotics starts for gonorrhea recurrence if:
- The follow-up tests show gonorrhea
- There is an increased chance of you having gonorrhea, even if your tests show otherwise
- Your sexual partner has a diagnosis of gonorrhea
In the case of female patients, the issue of heavy bleeding or bleeding between periods must improve by the time of your next menses. Seeking a follow-up checkup every week or two after completion of treatment is a usual recommendation by most doctors. The main cause of gonorrhea transmission is sexual contact, so it is important to refrain from having any thorough intimate sexual activity with your recent or any current sexual partners. It is also important to ask for gonorrhea or other STIs testing from your future sexual partners to stay safe from gonorrhea. (10)