Antibiotics
Antibiotic tablets, capsules and eye drops for bacterial infections, grouped by class: amoxicillin and Augmentin, azithromycin, cephalosporins, ciprofloxacin, doxycycline, nitrofurantoin, metronidazole and more.
Amoxicillin
Amoxicillin
250/500mg
Amoxicillin tablets in 250mg and 500mg, a penicillin-type antibiotic for bacterial chest, ear, throat, skin and urinary infections, sold in packs from 30 to 360 tablets.
Azithromycin
Azithromycin
250/500/1000mg
Azithromycin tablets in 250mg, 500mg and 1000mg, a macrolide antibiotic for bacterial chest, throat, ear and skin infections, in packs from 20 to 360 tablets.
Cefadroxil
Cefadroxil
250/500mg
Cefadroxil capsules in 250mg and 500mg strengths: a cephalosporin antibiotic for urinary tract, skin, throat and sinus infections, usually taken once or twice a day.
Cefpodoxime
Cefpodoxime
100/200mg
Cefpodoxime 100mg and 200mg tablets, a third-generation cephalosporin antibiotic for bacterial infections of the respiratory tract, skin and urinary tract, in packs from 30 tablets.
Cefuroxime
Cefuroxime
250/500mg
Cefuroxime tablets in 250mg and 500mg strengths, a cephalosporin antibiotic used for chest, urinary tract and skin infections, available in packs of 12 to 92.
Cephalexin
Cephalexin
500mg
Cephalexin 500mg tablets are a cephalosporin antibiotic for bacterial chest, skin and urinary tract infections, sold here in packs of 30 to 270 tablets.
Ciprofloxacin
Ciprofloxacin
250/500mg
Ciprofloxacin tablets in 250mg and 500mg, a fluoroquinolone antibiotic used for bacterial infections of the urinary tract, chest, gut, skin, and bones and joints.
Clarithromycin
Clarithromycin
250/500mg
Clarithromycin 250mg and 500mg tablets are a macrolide antibiotic used for bacterial chest, throat, sinus and skin infections, stocked here in packs of 28 or more.
Clindamycin
Clindamycin
150/300mg
Clindamycin capsules are an antibiotic for bacterial infections of the skin, lungs and other organs, available in 150mg and 300mg strengths in packs of 30 capsules or more.
Co-trimoxazole
Sulfamethoxazole, Trimethoprim
400/80/800/160mg
Co-trimoxazole tablets combine sulfamethoxazole with trimethoprim, in 400/80mg and 800/160mg strengths, for urinary tract infections and other bacterial illness.
Doxycycline
Doxycycline
100mg
Doxycycline 100mg tablets, a tetracycline antibiotic taken for bacterial infections and for acne, supplied in packs from 30 to 270 tablets.
Erythromycin
Erythromycin
250/500mg
Erythromycin 250mg and 500mg tablets, used to treat bacterial infections. A macrolide antibiotic.
Levofloxacin
Levofloxacin
250/500/750mg
Levofloxacin tablets in 250mg, 500mg and 750mg strengths, a fluoroquinolone antibiotic for bacterial chest, sinus, urine, prostate and skin infections, in packs of 30 to 360 tablets.
Metronidazole
Metronidazole
200/400mg
Metronidazole 200mg and 400mg tablets, an antibiotic and antiprotozoal for bacterial vaginosis, trichomoniasis and other anaerobic infections, sold here in packs of 30 to 360 tablets.
Nitrofurantoin
Nitrofurantoin
50/100mg
Nitrofurantoin 50mg and 100mg tablets, an antibiotic for bladder and other lower urinary tract infections, available in packs from 30 up to 360 tablets.
Ornidazole
Ornidazole
500mg
Ornidazole 500mg tablets are an antimicrobial used for amoebic gut and liver infections, giardiasis, trichomoniasis and anaerobic bacterial infections, supplied in packs of 30 to 120.
Terramycin
Oxytetracycline
250mg
Terramycin sold here is generic oxytetracycline 250mg capsules, a tetracycline antibiotic used for bacterial infections, in packs of 60 or 90 capsules.
Tetracycline
Tetracycline
500mg
Tetracycline 500mg capsules are an antibiotic used for acne and for some bacterial chest and urinary tract infections, sold in packs of 60 or 90 capsules.
Tinidazole
Tinidazole
500mg
Tinidazole 500mg tablets treat infections caused by certain parasites and anaerobic bacteria, including trichomoniasis, bacterial vaginosis, giardiasis and amoebiasis.
Vibramycin
Doxycycline
100mg
Vibramycin is a doxycycline 100mg antibiotic tablet used for bacterial infections and acne, sold here in packs of 30 to 360 tablets.
Zithromax Dispersible
Azithromycin
100mg
Zithromax Dispersible is azithromycin 100mg in tablets that dissolve in water, used for bacterial infections of the chest, throat, ears, skin and genitals.
Antibiotics act on bacteria only, so they are for chest, sinus, skin, urinary and gut infections with a bacterial cause, not for colds or flu. This page sorts the range by medicine class, which is the quickest way to find the family you are after and to see which strengths and forms are on offer.
Penicillins and amoxicillin combinations
Amoxicillin is the broad everyday penicillin. Amoxicillin itself comes as 250mg and 500mg tablets, and the capsule versions are sold as Amoxil, Cenmox and Trimox. Augmentin adds clavulanate, a partner drug that blocks the enzyme some bacteria use to break amoxicillin down; it is listed for sinusitis and runs from 250mg up to 875mg of amoxicillin per tablet. Advent DT pairs 400mg of amoxicillin with 57mg of clavulanic acid. Penicillin allergy rules all of these out, and a new rash partway through a course is worth treating as a possible allergy. Loose stools are the other common complaint with amoxicillin.
Cephalosporins, macrolides and clindamycin
Cephalosporins are relatives of the penicillins. Cephalexin and Keflex cover skin, chest and urinary infections; Cefadroxil, Cefuroxime, Cefpodoxime, Cefixime and Omnicef (cefdinir) fill in the range as capsules and tablets.
Macrolides are the usual alternative when penicillin does not suit. Azithromycin is listed as 250mg, 500mg and 1000mg tablets and as Zithromax, with Zithromax Dispersible in 100mg. Clarithromycin and Erythromycin come in 250mg and 500mg. Clindamycin capsules (150mg, 300mg) sit alongside them. Azithromycin courses are short, a few days in many cases, which suits people who dislike long schedules. Someone allergic to penicillin can also react to a cephalosporin, so that overlap matters when choosing.
Fluoroquinolones and tetracyclines
Ciprofloxacin and Cipro treat urinary and other infections; Levofloxacin is listed for pneumonia and sinusitis, Avelox (moxifloxacin) for pneumonia and sinus infections, and Floxin is ofloxacin. All of this family carry a known risk of tendon injury. For bacterial conjunctivitis there are 0.3% eye drops: Ciloxan and Ocuflox.
Tetracyclines include Doxycycline and Vibramycin at 100mg, which also treat acne, plus Minocin and Minomycin in 50mg and 100mg. Tetracycline, Sumycin and Terramycin (oxytetracycline) are capsules. Milk, calcium, iron and antacids reduce how much tetracycline is absorbed, so keep them apart from the tablet.
Urinary, gut, tuberculosis and specialist antibiotics
If your problem is a bladder infection, these are the ones to look at. For cystitis, Nitrofurantoin and Macrobid (50mg, 100mg), Co-trimoxazole and Bactrim (both sulfamethoxazole with trimethoprim, 400mg/80mg and 800mg/160mg) are the focused choices.
Metronidazole, Flagyl, Tinidazole and Ornidazole cover anaerobic bacteria and protozoa; alcohol is off the menu during the course and for a couple of days afterwards. Rifaximin and Xifaxan are gut antibiotics for traveller's diarrhoea.
Tuberculosis and leprosy have their own listings: Rifampin, Myambutol (ethambutol) and Lamprene (clofazimine). Zyvox (linezolid, 600mg) is kept for serious infections such as pneumonia and complicated skin infections.
Sources
- Antimicrobial resistance - World Health Organization (WHO) — World Health Organization (WHO)
- Antibiotic Use and Antimicrobial Resistance Facts - CDC — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Which antibiotics can I buy online in Hong Kong?
You can buy amoxicillin and generic Amoxil tablets, amoxicillin with clavulanate as generic Augmentin tablets, azithromycin and generic Zithromax tablets, plus generic Ciloxan eye drops for bacterial conjunctivitis. These cover penicillins, macrolides and eye drop forms.
Which amoxicillin and amoxicillin-with-clavulanate forms are listed?
Amoxicillin comes as 250mg and 500mg tablets, with generic Amoxil also available as 250mg to 1000mg capsules. Amoxicillin with clavulanate is generic Augmentin, a combination tablet ranging from 250/125mg to 875/125mg. Both are tablet forms, but the combination adds clavulanate.
How are antibiotics delivered to Hong Kong?
Orders arrive in plain, unbranded packaging. Tracked courier takes 5–9 business days; standard airmail takes 14–21 business days and is untracked. See delivery and ordering details.
Do antibiotics work for colds and flu?
No. Colds and flu are caused by viruses, and an antibiotic has no effect on them. Antibiotics are for infections caused by bacteria, such as bacterial sinusitis, urinary infections or bacterial conjunctivitis, and finishing a course helps stop resistant bacteria surviving.
What is the difference between amoxicillin and Augmentin?
Both contain amoxicillin. Augmentin has clavulanate added, which lets it work against bacteria that make an enzyme to break plain amoxicillin down. That wider reach is why Augmentin is listed for sinusitis as well as general bacterial infections.
Can I drink alcohol with metronidazole?
Avoid it. Alcohol with metronidazole can cause flushing, a pounding heartbeat, nausea and vomiting. Stay off alcohol during the course and for 48 hours after the last tablet; with tinidazole the gap is 72 hours.
Which antibiotics are listed for urinary tract infections?
Nitrofurantoin (Macrobid), trimethoprim and Bactrim are aimed squarely at urinary infections. Cephalexin, cefadroxil and ciprofloxacin are also listed for them, among other uses.