5 Antibiotics That Can Treat Strep Throat and Help You Feel Better Faster

Most of the time, a sore throat is caused by a viral infection. But strep throat is common, and it’s caused by a bacteria called group A Streptococcus. Children between the ages of 5 and 15 years are most likely to get strep throat. But adults can get strep throat, too, especially if they live or work with children.

People who get strep throat often get sick all of a sudden, developing fever and throat pain from one day to another. Strep throat can be painful and make it hard to eat, drink, and swallow. 

Strep throat will usually get better on its own after a few days. But without antibiotic treatment, strep throat can lead to serious health complications like ear and neck abscesses, joint infections, kidney problems, neuropsychiatric conditions, and a heart condition called rheumatic fever. 

Treatment with antibiotics can prevent these complications. If you’ve recently been diagnosed with strep throat, here are five antibiotics that can treat your strep throat.

1. Penicillin

Penicillin, the first true antibiotic, was discovered in 1928. And despite antibiotic resistance, penicillin can still be used to treat strep throat. Penicillin V comes as either a pill or a liquid (suspension). For strep throat, you’ll need to take penicillin either 2 or 3 times a day for 10 days. 

There are several benefits to taking penicillin for strep throat. Penicillin has a narrow spectrum of activity. This means that while it will kill off any strep bacteria, it won’t do much damage to the other healthy bacteria that live in your gut. This lowers the risk of antibiotic resistance and other antibiotic side effects like upset stomach and diarrhea. Another benefit is that penicillin is very affordable. 

EXPERT PICKS: WHAT TO READ NEXT

• When do you need antibiotics for a sore throat? Antibiotics can help treat bacterial infections, like strep throat. But a virus is usually the cause of a sore throat.

• Home remedies for strep throat: At-home remedies, like saltwater gargles, soft foods, and cold fluids, can help you manage symptoms of strep throat.

• Does your kid keep getting strep? Strep throat affects children more than adults, and sometimes it comes back. Learn about recurring strep and what you can do.

Penicillin is also available as an injection, called Penicillin G. You need only a single injection of penicillin to treat strep throat. Penicillin G can be a good option for people who have a hard time getting, taking, or storing medication. But injectable penicillin is more expensive and can be hard to find. It also causes injection site reactions, making it a less popular option than the pill or liquid forms. 

2. Amoxicillin

Amoxicillin is an antibiotic similar to penicillin and comes in pill and liquid forms. It can be used to treat strep throat and other common infections like ear infections. Penicillin works just as well as amoxicillin to treat strep throat. But people often prefer amoxicillin for two reasons:

• You only need to take amoxicillin 1 to 2 times per day for 10 days to treat strep throat. So, if you have a hard time remembering to take medication several times per day (as many people do), you may prefer amoxicillin. 

• Amoxicillin liquid tastes better than penicillin liquid. The improved taste makes amoxicillin the better option for children and people who can’t swallow pills. 

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3. Cephalexin

Cephalexin is a common antibiotic that can treat many types of bacterial infections. It’s available as a pill and liquid. For strep throat, you’ll need to take cephalexin twice a day for 10 days. Common side effects include diarrhea, nausea, stomach pain, dizziness, fatigue, and headache. Most cephalexin side effects are mild and should go away once your prescription is finished.

Cephalexin has a wider spectrum of activity than penicillin and amoxicillin, so it can contribute to antibiotic resistance. For that reason, cephalexin isn’t the go-to antibiotic for strep throat. But cephalexin is used to treat strep throat in cases where people have a mild penicillin allergy, since they can’t take penicillin or amoxicillin to treat strep throat. 

Cephalexin belongs to a class of antibiotics called cephalosporins. Other cephalosporins can also treat strep throat. If cephalexin isn’t available, healthcare professionals may prescribe a different cephalosporin antibiotic to treat strep throat, such as cefdinir (Omnicef). 

4. Azithromycin (Z-Pack)

Azithromycin (Zithromax) is another common antibiotic that belongs to a class called macrolides. It comes as both a pill and a liquid. Unlike the other antibiotics used to treat strep throat, you only need to take azithromycin, or a Z-Pak, once a day for 5 days. The shorter course and single daily dose make azithromycin an attractive option. But there’s growing antibiotic resistance to azithromycin, which means it may not always work to cure strep throat.

For this reason, azithromycin is only used in situations where people can’t take penicillin, amoxicillin, or cephalosporin. People who have severe penicillin allergies or who have experienced anaphylaxis after taking penicillin or cephalosporins may be prescribed azithromycin. People with severe delayed reactions to penicillin may also be prescribed azithromycin. 

Clarithromycin is another macrolide antibiotic that can be used to treat strep throat in people with severe penicillin allergies. But clarithromycin is a less popular option than azithromycin because it tends to cause more gastrointestinal upset. 

5. Clindamycin

Clindamycin (Cleocin) is the final antibiotic that can be used to treat strep throat. It comes as a liquid or pill. People need to take clindamycin 3 times a day for 10 days to treat strep throat. 

Clindamycin isn’t a commonly prescribed antibiotic for strep throat for several reasons:

• It can cause side effects like diarrhea and stomach upset. 

• The liquid form has a very strong taste, making it unpopular among children and people who can’t take pills. 

• The bacteria that causes strep throat is becoming resistant to clindamycin, which means the antibiotic may not work to cure strep throat.

Clindamycin is often a last-choice option. People who can’t take penicillin, amoxicillin, or cephalosporins may need to take clindamycin. 

When do people start feeling better after starting antibiotics for strep throat?

Most people start to feel better 24 to 48 hours after starting antibiotics for strep throat. But it can take 2 to 5 days for strep throat symptoms to go away completely. Make sure to take all doses of whichever antibiotic you’re prescribed, even if you feel better after only a few days.

If your symptoms are getting worse or haven’t started to get better after 48 hours of antibiotics — you should see a healthcare professional right away.

Strep throat is contagious. You should stay home from work and school until the antibiotics have a chance to work so you don’t pass the bacteria to others. You can return to work or school once your fever has gone away and you’ve been taking antibiotics for 12 to 24 hours. 

What home remedies are recommended to treat strep throat?

There are no home remedies to cure strep throat. If you have strep throat, a prescription antibiotic is the best way to reduce your risk of long-term effects like rheumatic fever. 

That said, antibiotics don’t work immediately. And while you’re waiting for the antibiotics to kick in, everyday actions like swallowing liquids and food can be pretty miserable. Here are some home remedies for strep that can help make your symptoms more manageable: 

• Use an over-the-counter pain reliever. Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) can help relieve symptoms like fever and sore throat. 

• Gargle warm salt water. Gargling with salt water can help ease pain from a sore throat.

• Drink plenty of water. Cold fluids can slightly numb your throat and lessen discomfort.  

• Eat soft foods. Soft foods are easier to swallow than hard, crunchy foods. So eating foods like yogurt, oatmeal, and mashed vegetables will be more gentle on your throat. It’ll also help to avoid acidic, spicy, and sour foods. 

• Use a humidifier. Dry air can irritate your sore throat, so adding moisture to the air you breathe can have a soothing effect.

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Written by:

Shiv Sudhakar, MD

Shiv Sudhakar, MD, is a fellow of the Infectious Disease Society of America and works as a physician in California. He has co-authored over 10 peer-reviewed research articles, published several short stories, had a script recently optioned, and presented 20 scientific presentations, two of which placed in the top 3 at the American College of Physicians.

Edited by:

Alex Eastman, PhD, RN

Alex Eastman, PhD, RN, is a California-based registered nurse and staff medical editor at GoodRx, where he focuses on clinical updates and Latino health.

Reviewed by:

Kerry R. McGee, MD, FAAP

Kerry McGee, MD, FAAP, has over a decade of experience caring for babies, children, and teenagers as a primary care pediatrician. She has a special interest in adolescent health, particularly in adolescent mental health.

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