Anthrax Treatment

The preferred way to treat anthrax is with antibiotics. The goal of antibiotics is to destroy the infection and prevent complications and death.

• Many antibiotics are effective against B anthracis and include the following:
  
  
  • Doxycycline (Vibramycin)
    
    
  • Penicillin
    
    
  • Amoxicillin (Trimox, Amoxil, Biomox)
    
    
  • Ampicillin (Marcillin, Omnipen, Polycillin, Principen, Totacillin)
    
    
  • Ciprofloxacin (Cipro)
    
    
  • Levofloxacin (Levaquin)
    
    
  • Gatifloxacin (Tequin)
    
    
  • Chloramphenicol (Chloromycetin)
  
  
• Severely ill people may be given medications through an IV. Treatment may continue for several weeks.
  
  
• People exposed to anthrax may be given preventive antibiotics usually to be taken for 60 days.