Meningitis is a condition that often strikes with alarming speed, transforming a regular day into a medical emergency. It involves inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, known as the meninges. For patients, the experience can be intensely painful and frightening, characterized by a sudden high fever, an agonizing headache, and a stiff neck that makes lowering the chin difficult. Light sensitivity and confusion are also common, disrupting the ability to think clearly or rest.

Immediate treatment is crucial, not just to relieve this intense suffering, but to prevent severe complications such as hearing loss, brain damage, or life-threatening sepsis. Because meningitis can be caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, or even non-infectious triggers, the treatment path is not one-size-fits-all. A doctor must quickly determine the underlying cause, as bacterial meningitis requires urgent hospitalization, while viral cases may resolve with rest and home care (World Health Organization, 2023).

Overview of treatment options for Meningitis

The primary goal of meningitis treatment depends entirely on the cause. For bacterial and fungal meningitis, the objective is to aggressively eliminate the infection before it causes permanent damage to the nervous system. In these cases, delay is dangerous, and treatment often begins even before the specific bacteria are identified.

For viral meningitis, which is more common and generally less severe, clinical experience suggests the goal is supportive care managing pain, fever, and hydration while the body’s immune system fights the virus. Treatment is almost exclusively medication-based. While procedures like draining fluid may be done for diagnosis, drugs are the primary tool for cure and recovery.

Medications used for Meningitis

Intravenous (IV) antibiotics are the cornerstone of treatment for bacterial meningitis. Doctors typically start “broad-spectrum” antibiotics immediately after suspecting the disease. A combination of a third-generation cephalosporin (such as ceftriaxone or cefotaxime) and vancomycin is commonly used to cover the most likely bacterial culprits. For older adults or infants, ampicillin may be added to target Listeria.

Corticosteroids, specifically dexamethasone, are frequently administered alongside or just before the first dose of antibiotics. Studies show that reducing inflammation early can prevent severe complications, such as hearing loss and neurological seizures, particularly in cases caused by Pneumococcal bacteria.

If the meningitis is viral, antibiotics will not help. In most viral cases, over-the-counter pain relievers and fluids are used. However, if the cause is the herpes simplex virus or influenza, specific antivirals like acyclovir or oseltamivir may be prescribed. For rare fungal meningitis, potent antifungal drugs like amphotericin B and flucytosine are administered IV in a hospital setting (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021).

How these medications work

Antibiotics work by attacking the bacteria’s ability to survive. Drugs like ceftriaxone disrupt the construction of the bacterial cell wall, causing the bacteria to burst and die. Vancomycin works similarly but targets a different part of the cell wall structure, ensuring that even drug-resistant bacteria are eliminated.

Corticosteroids work by suppressing the immune system’s inflammatory response. When bacteria die, they release toxins that cause the immune system to overreact, leading to swelling in the brain. Dexamethasone acts like a fire extinguisher, dampening this inflammation to protect delicate brain tissue from pressure and damage. Antivirals work by blocking the virus from replicating, limiting the spread of infection within the body (Mayo Clinic, 2022).

Side effects and safety considerations

High-dose IV antibiotics and antivirals can be taxing on the body. Common side effects include rash, diarrhea, or nausea. Vancomycin and amphotericin B can affect kidney function, so patients require frequent blood tests to monitor their kidneys and electrolyte levels.

Corticosteroids can cause temporary spikes in blood sugar, difficulty sleeping, or agitation. Because bacterial meningitis is contagious and rapid, close contacts of the patient may also need prophylactic antibiotics to prevent them from getting sick. Patients should seek immediate medical care if they notice a purple or red rash that does not fade when pressed (a sign of sepsis), worsening confusion, or seizures (Meningitis Research Foundation, 2023).

Since everyone’s experience with the condition and its treatments can vary, working closely with a qualified healthcare provider helps ensure safe and effective care.

References

  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov
  2. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org
  3. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int
  4. Meningitis Research Foundation. https://www.meningitis.org

Medications for Meningitis

These are drugs that have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), meaning they have been determined to be safe and effective for use in Meningitis.

Found 19 Approved Drugs for Meningitis

CefTRIAXone

Generic Name
CefTRIAXone

CefTRIAXone

Generic Name
CefTRIAXone
Before instituting treatment with ceftriaxone, appropriate specimens should be obtained for isolation of the causative organism and for determination of its susceptibility to the drug. Therapy may be instituted prior to obtaining results of susceptibility testing. To reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria and maintain the effectiveness of ceftriaxone for injection, USP and other antibacterial drugs, ceftriaxone for injection, USP should be used only to treat or prevent infections that are proven or strongly suspected to be caused by susceptible bacteria. When culture and susceptibility information are available, they should be considered in selecting or modifying antibacterial therapy. In the absence of such data, local epidemiology and susceptibility patterns may contribute to the empiric selection of therapy. Ceftriaxone for injection, USP is indicated for the treatment of the following infections when caused by susceptible organisms: Lower Respiratory Tract Infections Caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Haemophilus influenzae, Haemophilus parainfluenzae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter aerogenes, Proteus mirabilis or Serratia marcescens. Acute Bacterial Otitis Media Caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae (including beta-lactamase producing strains) or Moraxella catarrhalis (including beta-lactamase producing strains). NOTE: In one study lower clinical cure rates were observed with a single dose of ceftriaxone compared to 10 days of oral therapy. In a second study comparable cure rates were observed between single dose ceftriaxone and the comparator. The potentially lower clinical cure rate of ceftriaxone should be balanced against the potential advantages of parenteral therapy. Skin and Skin Structure Infections Caused by Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus pyogenes, Viridans group streptococci, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter cloacae, Klebsiella oxytoca, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, Morganella morganii*, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Serratia marcescens, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, Bacteroides fragilis * or Peptostreptococcus species. Urinary Tract Infections (complicated and uncomplicated) Caused by Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Proteus vulgaris, Morganella morganii or Klebsiella pneumoniae. Uncomplicated Gonorrhea (cervical/urethral and rectal) Caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae, including both penicillinase- and nonpenicillinase-producing strains, and pharyngeal gonorrhea caused by nonpenicillinase-producing strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Pelvic Inflammatory Disease Caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Ceftriaxone sodium, like other cephalosporins, has no activity against Chlamydia trachomatis. Therefore, when cephalosporins are used in the treatment of patients with pelvic inflammatory disease and Chlamydia trachomatis is one of the suspected pathogens, appropriate antichlamydial coverage should be added. Bacterial Septicemia Caused by Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Haemophilus influenzae or Klebsiella pneumoniae. Bone and Joint Infections Caused by Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae or Enterobacter species. Intra-abdominal Infections Caused by Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Bacteroides fragilis, Clostridium species (Note: most strains of Clostridium difficile are resistant) or Peptostreptococcus species. Meningitis Caused by Haemophilus influenzae, Neisseria meningitidis or Streptococcus pneumoniae. Ceftriaxone has also been used successfully in a limited number of cases of meningitis and shunt infection caused by Staphylococcus epidermidis * and Escherichia coli*. * Efficacy for this organism in this organ system was studied in fewer than ten infections. Surgical Prophylaxis The preoperative administration of a single 1 g dose of ceftriaxone may reduce the incidence of postoperative infections in patients undergoing surgical procedures classified as contaminated or potentially contaminated (e.g., vaginal or abdominal hysterectomy or cholecystectomy for chronic calculous cholecystitis in high-risk patients, such as those over 70 years of age, with acute cholecystitis not requiring therapeutic antimicrobials, obstructive jaundice or common duct bile stones) and in surgical patients for whom infection at the operative site would present serious risk (e.g., during coronary artery bypass surgery). Although ceftriaxone has been shown to have been as effective as cefazolin in the prevention of infection following coronary artery bypass surgery, no placebo-controlled trials have been conducted to evaluate any cephalosporin antibiotic in the prevention of infection following coronary artery bypass surgery. When administered prior to surgical procedures for which it is indicated, a single 1 g dose of ceftriaxone provides protection from most infections due to susceptible organisms throughout the course of the procedure.

Diflucan

Generic Name
Fluconazole

Diflucan

Generic Name
Fluconazole
Fluconazole Injection, USP is indicated for the treatment of: Oropharyngeal and esophageal candidiasis. In open noncomparative studies of relatively small numbers of patients, fluconazole was also effective for the treatment of Candida urinary tract infections, peritonitis, and systemic Candida infections including candidemia, disseminated candidiasis, and pneumonia. Cryptococcal meningitis. Before prescribing fluconazole for AIDS patients with cryptococcal meningitis, please see CLINICAL STUDIES section. Studies comparing fluconazole to amphotericin B in non-HIV infected patients have not been conducted. Prophylaxis: Fluconazole Injection, USP is also indicated to decrease the incidence of candidiasis in patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation who receive cytotoxic chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. Specimens for fungal culture and other relevant laboratory studies (serology, histopathology) should be obtained prior to therapy to isolate and identify causative organisms. Therapy may be instituted before the results of the cultures and other laboratory studies are known; however, once these results become available, anti-infective therapy should be adjusted accordingly.

MethylPREDNISolone

Brand Names
Solu-Medrol MethylPREDNISolone, Solu-Medrol, Medrol

MethylPREDNISolone

Brand Names
Solu-Medrol MethylPREDNISolone, Solu-Medrol, Medrol
When oral therapy is not feasible, and the strength, dosage form, and route of administration of the drug reasonably lend the preparation to the treatment of the condition, the intravenous or intramuscular use of Methylprednisolone Sodium Succinate for Injection, USP, is indicated as follows: Allergic states Control of severe or incapacitating allergic conditions intractable to adequate trials of conventional treatment in asthma, atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, drug hypersensitivity reactions, perennial or seasonal allergic rhinitis, serum sickness, transfusion reactions. Dermatologic diseases Bullous dermatitis herpetiformis, exfoliative erythroderma, mycosis fungoides, pemphigus, severe erythema multiforme (Stevens-Johnson syndrome). Endocrine disorders Primary or secondary adrenocortical insufficiency (hydrocortisone or cortisone is the drug of choice; synthetic analogs may be used in conjunction with mineralocorticoids where applicable; in infancy, mineralocorticoid supplementation is of particular importance), congenital adrenal hyperplasia, hypercalcemia associated with cancer, nonsuppurative thyroiditis. Gastrointestinal diseases To tide the patient over a critical period of the disease in regional enteritis (systemic therapy) and ulcerative colitis. Hematologic disorders Acquired (autoimmune) hemolytic anemia, congenital (erythroid) hypoplastic anemia (Diamond-Blackfan anemia), idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura in adults (intravenous administration only; intramuscular administration is contraindicated), pure red cell aplasia, selected cases of secondary thrombocytopenia. Miscellaneous Trichinosis with neurologic or myocardial involvement, tuberculous meningitis with subarachnoid block or impending block when used concurrently with appropriate antituberculous chemotherapy. Neoplastic diseases For the palliative management of leukemias and lymphomas. Nervous System Acute exacerbations of multiple sclerosis; cerebral edema associated with primary or metastatic brain tumor, or craniotomy. Ophthalmic diseases Sympathetic ophthalmia, uveitis and ocular inflammatory conditions unresponsive to topical corticosteroids. Renal diseases To induce diuresis or remission of proteinuria in idiopathic nephrotic syndrome or that due to lupus erythematosus. Respiratory diseases Berylliosis, fulminating or disseminated pulmonary tuberculosis when used concurrently with appropriate antituberculous chemotherapy, idiopathic eosinophilic pneumonias, symptomatic sarcoidosis. Rheumatic disorders As adjunctive therapy for short-term administration (to tide the patient over an acute episode or exacerbation) in acute gouty arthritis; acute rheumatic carditis; ankylosing spondylitis; psoriatic arthritis; rheumatoid arthritis, including juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (selected cases may require low-dose maintenance therapy). For the treatment of dermatomyositis, temporal arteritis, polymyositis, and systemic lupus erythematosus.

Meropenem

Generic Name
Meropenem

Meropenem

Generic Name
Meropenem
Meropenem for injection is a penem antibacterial indicated for the treatment of: 1. Complicated skin and skin structure infections (adult patients and pediatric patients 3 months of age and older only).

Ancobon

Generic Name
Flucytosine

Ancobon

Generic Name
Flucytosine
Flucytosine Capsules USP is indicated only in the treatment of serious infections caused by susceptible strains of Candida and/or Cryptococcus. Candida: Septicemia, endocarditis and urinary system infections have been effectively treated with flucytosine. Limited trials in pulmonary infections justify the use of flucytosine. Cryptococcus: Meningitis and pulmonary infections have been treated effectively. Studies in septicemias and urinary tract infections are limited, but good responses have been reported. Flucytosine Capsules USP should be used in combination with amphotericin B for the treatment of systemic candidiasis and cryptococcosis because of the emergence of resistance to Flucytosine Capsules USP (See MICROBIOLOGY ).
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