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Antibiotic Use - Yay or Nay?

Article written by Gloria Cabrera.

Sometimes when you are sick all you want to do is take anything that will help you get better. So you mosey on to your doctor in hope he will give you that one thing that will bring you that much sought after relief...the ANTIBIOTIC prescription.

But have you ever wondered whether using antibiotics is safe or not? I never really thought about it until recently. What got my attention was that when it came to antibiotic use you have two types of people;

  1. The 'get antibiotics as soon as possible and keep taking them till you get better regardless if they are really doing anything for you in the hope that if they aren’t eventually they will' type of person AND
  2. The 'avoid antibiotics at all costs even if you are as sick as a dog and almost in hospital and know that you probably should  take them but are adamant not too anyway' type of person. 

So it got me thinking, is taking antibiotics safe or even necessary? Will their use result in some other worse side effects in future?  Let’s look at this in more detail.

First, what are Antibiotics?

Antibiotics are powerful medicines that really help when used to treat infections including life-threatening types.1 Antibiotics kill bacteria which can cause strep throat, ear infections, urinary and sinus infections.3 There are numerous different types of antibiotics which are used to treat different infections.3

Unfortunately antibiotics are not a magical cure all and can be harmful when used unnecessarily. Antibiotics should only be used to treat bacterial infections as prescribed by your doctor. They do not work against illnesses caused by viruses e.g. the common cold, flu or runny noses.3

But what is the harm in using antibiotics just in case?

Antibiotics will kill or stop bacteria from growing. However some bacteria have become resistant to certain antibiotics and these can no longer kill them.1 In addition if antibiotics are used too often or incorrectly, bacteria can become resistant to them.1 Taking unnecessary antibiotics will not help you feel better, cure your illness or prevent your family from getting what you have.1 It may however result in side effects such as nausea, stomach pain or diarrhoea.1 Additionally antibiotic resistant bacteria can spread to family, friends and co-workers which increases the risk of getting an infection that is harder to treat and more costly.3

So are you better off avoiding antibiotics?

Generally speaking antibiotics are relatively safe and when prescribed and used correctly, antibiotics can be useful in treating bacterial infections.3 Some things to take note of however include:

  • Only use antibiotics under the supervision of your prescribing doctor and don’t insist on a prescription to treat viral illnesses.2
  • Use antibiotics only as necessary, you may want to ask your doctor whether you really need them and if there are any side effects.3
  • Take antibiotics exactly as directed. Take the exact amount stated on the label or as directed by your doctor. Discard any unused medication and definitely don’t share it with someone else. 2, 3
  • Take antibiotics for as long as prescribed even if you feel better before you have finished the course of antibiotics. This helps to kill the stronger bacteria that may survive which can become resistant if you only take part of the medication.

Whether you take antibiotics or not is a personal decision. But if you do, like any medication you should follow your doctor’s directions as to when you take it and for how long. If concerned, it doesn’t hurt to ask your doctor if it is really necessary taking these, what are the side effects and if there are any alternatives. But as the saying goes prevention is better than cure, help prevent catching infections by practising good hygiene – wash your hands regularly and always after using the rest room, touching objects and pets, and before eating.1

References

  1. Familydoctor.org editorial staff, January 2006. Antibiotics: When they Can and Can’t Help [Online]. Available at http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/infections/protect/680.printerview.html [Accessed 31st July 2009].
  2. Oregon Alliance Working for Antibiotic Resistance Education (AWARE), September 2008. Safe Antibiotic Use – Do you use antibiotics wisely? [Online]. Available at http://www.oregonsurplus.com/DHS/ph/antibiotics/getsmart.shtml [Accessed 31st July 2009]. 
  3. Web MD – Medical Reference from Healthwise, December 2007. Using Antibiotics Wisely [Online]. Available at http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/using-antibiotics-wisely-topic-overview [Accessed 31st July 2009].


 


Last updated 06 August 2009

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