About Antibiotics.

[Garawr]

My folks always said that you shouldn't take them unless prescribed by a doctor. So a hypothetical situation... if you have the same recurring condition, which requires the same treatment of antibiotics every time, and you still have them lying around, is there any reason you shouldn't take it? Seems weird to me, but I'm not a doctor.

 

[treanir]

Well, I'm not a doctor either, but the bug may become immune to the antibiotic. Also, they may be past their use-by date.

 

[MrWright]

Like what condition?

Often people can be chronic bacterial carriers. For instance, many people carry streptococcus constantly but they don't get symptoms from it. However, when they get a viral throat infection they often think it's strep throat because a throat culture will come up positive for strep. They go on antibiotics and by the time the antibiotics course is through, the virus is gone. In this case, the patient thinks the antibiotics helped when really it was just a normal, functioning immune system.

If someone has a recurring bacterial infection of any sort and they need antibiotics every time, it's best that when healthy they have a test run for the bacteria to see if they are in fact a chronic carrier and thus when they have symptoms it is in fact a non-related viral infection mistaken for a bacterial one.

 

[SuperQueer]

My folks always said that you shouldn't take them unless prescribed by a doctor. So a hypothetical situation... if you have the same recurring condition, which requires the same treatment of antibiotics every time, and you still have them lying around, is there any reason you shouldn't take it? Seems weird to me, but I'm not a doctor.

I think you should a least give your Doctor a call - like Treanir said - you may need a different antibiotic. Good luck!

 

[Garawr]

I can't get to a doctor until thursday.

 

[PhoenixRising]

Well, first off, you should never have antibiotics lying around, unless your doctor told you to stop taking them.

Secondly, you really should talk to your doctor before taking them.

 

[Garawr]

Wasn't planning to take em, I was just curious.

 

[bankside]

Often they have a "best before" date on them.

However, usually with antibiotics you have to take a full prescription of them without stopping too soon. If you're supposed to take them for 8 days, you're supposed to take them for 8 days. If you only have enough left for just a few days, that can be unhelpful and can breed antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

 

[Beachguyj]

My folks always said that you shouldn't take them unless prescribed by a doctor. So a hypothetical situation... if you have the same recurring condition, which requires the same treatment of antibiotics every time, and you still have them lying around, is there any reason you shouldn't take it? Seems weird to me, but I'm not a doctor.

The reason is that if you take them too often your body becomes immune to them. There are also only 8 major groups of them available. People also mistakenly think that you can take them for the cold or flu, but they do not work against a virus.

You shouldn't have extra around. They are normally prescribed as a regimen and are to be taken for up to a week, even if you are already feeling well.

 

[pwrbarboy]

However, usually with antibiotics you have to take a full prescription of them without stopping too soon. If you're supposed to take them for 8 days, you're supposed to take them for 8 days. If you only have enough left for just a few days, that can be unhelpful and can breed antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

This is very good advice and jives with what my doctor told me.

 

[PhoenixRising]

Often they have a "best before" date on them.

However, usually with antibiotics you have to take a full prescription of them without stopping too soon. If you're supposed to take them for 8 days, you're supposed to take them for 8 days. If you only have enough left for just a few days, that can be unhelpful and can breed antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Yes, thank you for that. This is what I was hinting at in my post.

Glad you're not going to take them.

 

[star-warrior]

You're supposed to finish the whole course of antibiotics to kill the infection, not until you decide it looks or feels better. Recurring problems will indicate the infection has become resistant, and you'll need something more powerful.

A few years ago I was stung by some insect on my leg. The doctor initially prescribed me flucoxicillin 250mg for a one week treatment. Unfortunately, after taking it for a week, the sting site was still infected. Doctor said, it was because I was a big lad, and I needed another course, this time at 500mg. It worked. Body size apparently has a bearing, so if it's not working for you, it's prolly because its strenghth is diluted by the mass of your body....

 

[cbtfan]

if you have the same recurring condition, which requires the same treatment of antibiotics every time, and you still have them lying around

I agree with what has already been said.

I will add that... Have you thought about the reason that you have 'the same recurring condition' is BECAUSE you do not finish the course of antibiotics and therefore do not kill the bacteria?

 

[Garawr]

I finish all the courses. I just have more refills for more courses. lol. I'm not going to start anything without seeing a doctor, I was merely curious.

 

[cbtfan]

I just have more refills for more courses.

This I do not understand. It must be an American thing...

Why do you get refills for a one off course of antibiotics?

 

[Garawr]

*shrug* no idea

 

[cbtfan]

Good grief!




Congrats on your 1000th post BTW