Antibiotics
are used to treat infectious diseases caused by bacteria (such as
strep throat, some sinus infections, urinary tract infections).
They will not treat any illness caused by a virus (such as a cold,
the flu, coughs and sore throats). Using antibiotics unnecessarily
or not according to the directions could allow your body to develop
a resistant strain of bacteria. That means that the bacteria will
change in response to a drug and become much more difficult to
kill. And that means you could be limiting your treatment options.
If you get a prescription to an antibiotic, read the directions
and take the medicine as prescribed. That means no skipping, forgetting
or cutting short. Ask your provider what your “course” for
the antibiotic is. A course is how long you need to take the medicine,
and it is usually accomplished by finishing your prescription.
Even if you feel better, you still need to take your antibiotic.
Cutting your course short could contribute to a resistant strain
of bacteria. Sometimes you might be able to find an antibiotic
without a prescription, either on the Internet or from a friend.
This is a bad idea. Remember that antibiotics are serious medications
that should only be prescribed by a provider in appropriate situations. |
