Avelox for Tonsillitis: Effectiveness and Alternatives

Question
Will the drug Avelox help with tonsillitis?
Or any other sore troat problems.

Answer
Avelox is a fluroquinalone class of antibiotic and is NOT recommended as first line for pharangitis or tonsillitis.  The micro-organisms that cause tonsillitis are those that best respond to penicillin class (Amoxicillin) or macrolide class (Erythromycin) drugs.  However, MORE OFTEN, pharangitis or tonsillitis is caused by a viral illness which does not respond to antibiotic therapy.  Before treatment it is best to consult a physician for testing and prescriptions.

Avelox is useful in infections of the sinuses, urinary tract and lower respiratory tract (pneumonia, bronchitis, ...)

JP Saleeby, MD