Gonorrhea is treated with antibiotics. A variety of treatments are available for gonorrhea. In uncomplicated cases, the usual treatment is a single dose of a medication such as ceftriaxone* injected into the muscle, or cefixime, a pill, plus a dose of oral azithromycin. People with gonorrhea often have chlamydia, and this treatment treats chlamydia as well. Ask your doctor how long you should wait before beginning sexual contact again after the treatment.
Fluoroquinolones, penicillins, or tetracyclines used to be effective therapies, but many of the strains today have developed resistance to these antibiotics. It is very important to take medications exactly as prescribed, and some people will require a follow-up test after finishing treatment. All people treated for gonorrhea will need to follow up with their doctor in 6 months.
Symptoms sometimes remain for a while after treatment. Men can suffer from postgonococcal urethritis (inflammation of the urethra, the tube running down the centre of the penis). This condition is usually caused by chlamydia that didn't respond to an earlier treatment. Treatment with different antibiotics will usually solve this problem.
You can prevent gonorrhea in the same way you prevent any sexually transmitted infection. Use protection and choose your partners carefully. If you think you might already have a sexually transmitted infection, you should avoid sex until you've talked to your doctor. Sexual partners should be referred to a doctor for evaluation even if they do not have any symptoms.
*All medications have both common (generic) and brand names. The brand name is what a specific manufacturer calls the product (e.g., Tylenol®). The common name is the medical name for the medication (e.g., acetaminophen). A medication may have many brand names, but only one common name. This article lists medications by their common names. For information on a given medication, check our Drug Information database. For more information on brand names, speak with your doctor or pharmacist.
All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2022. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/condition/getcondition/Gonorrhea