If an antibiotic is stopped in mid-course, germs bacteria may be partially treated and not completely killed. Bacteria may then become resistant to that antibiotic. Overuse of antibiotics has led to some bacteria changing their form or structure mutating and becoming resistant to some antibiotics, which may then not work when really needed.
For example, meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus MRSA is a bacterium that has become resistant to many different antibiotics and is difficult to treat. Other bacteria produce chemicals called enzymes such as extended-spectrum beta-lactamases ESBLs which allow them to be resistant to certain antibiotics. Resistance to antibiotics has become a major health threat globally, as antibiotics are life-saving for serious illnesses.
So if your health professional says antibiotics are not needed for your condition, do not ask for them. Your health professional will explain in what circumstances you might need antibiotics and what symptoms should prompt you to return for another check. If your illness has changed, or you have developed a secondary infection, antibiotics may be needed after all. Health professionals follow guidelines to help reduce unnecessary use of antibiotics.
It is not possible in this leaflet to list all the possible side-effects of each antibiotic. However, as with all medicines, there are a number of side-effects that have been reported with each of the different antibiotics. If you want more information specific to your antibiotic then you should read the information leaflet that comes with the medicine.
Most side-effects of antibiotics are not serious. Common side-effects include soft stools faeces , diarrhoea, or mild stomach upset such as feeling sick nausea. Less commonly, some people have an allergic reaction to an antibiotic and some have died from a severe allergic reaction - this is very rare. Antibiotics can kill off normal defence bacteria which live in the bowel and vagina.
This may then allow thrush or other bad bacteria to grow. Some antibiotics may interact with other medicines that you might take. This may cause reactions, or reduce the effectiveness of one or other of the treatments. So, when you are prescribed an antibiotic you should tell a doctor if you take other medicines. In the past it was recommended that, if you were taking antibiotics and were also taking the pill , you should use additional contraception.
This is no longer the current recommendation after more recent evidence has been reviewed. Antibiotics other than one called rifampicin do not interfere with the effectiveness of the pill. You should continue taking your pill as normal if you also need to take any antibiotics. No, in the UK they are only available from your chemist, with a doctor's prescription. In some other parts of the world they are available over the counter.
However, to reduce the problem of resistance due to inappropriate use of antibiotics, it is best to always obtain medical advice before buying antibiotics. The length of treatment varies a lot. It depends on what kind of infection you have, how severe it is and how quickly you get better after starting treatment.
Treatment can be:. It is very rare for anyone not to be able to take some type of antibiotic. The main reason why you may not be able to take an antibiotic is if you have had an allergic reaction to an antibiotic in the past. Even if you have had an allergic reaction to one antibiotic, your doctor or health professional will be able to choose a different type of antibiotic, which you will be able to take.
If you are pregnant, there are certain antibiotics you should not take, but your health professional will be able to advise on which one is suitable if an antibiotic is needed. If you are on some medication, certain antibiotics may need to be avoided, or your regular medication stopped whilst you take the antibiotic. As above, when prescribed an antibiotic, make sure the prescriber knows about any other medication you take. If you think you have had a side-effect to one of your medicines you can report this on the Yellow Card Scheme.
You can do this online at www. The Yellow Card Scheme is used to make pharmacists, doctors and nurses aware of any new side-effects that medicines or any other healthcare products may have caused. If you wish to report a side-effect, you will need to provide basic information about:. Take our quick 5 minute survey to share your thoughts on Patient. Antibiotic Resistance. UK, updated July UK, I'm a 36 yo Male who has been suffering for months now. But people can help prevent the development of resistance in bacteria by.
Taking antibiotics only when necessary that is, people should take antibiotics only for infections caused by bacteria, not for those caused by viruses such as a cold or the flu. Not asking doctors to prescribe antibiotics for viral infections, such as the common cold or the flu. If a virus is causing the infection, taking antibiotics is useless and can contribute to the development of resistance in bacteria.
For severe bacterial infections, antibiotics are usually first given by injection Oral route Drugs are introduced into the body by several routes. When the infection is controlled, antibiotics can then be taken by mouth Oral route Drugs are introduced into the body by several routes.
When doctors prescribe antibiotics for older people, they may prescribe a lower dose than usual because the kidneys tend to function less well as people age. In such cases, the kidneys may not be able to eliminate antibiotics from the body as effectively, increasing the risk of side effects. See also Aging and Drugs Aging and Drugs Drugs, the most common medical intervention, are an important part of medical care for older people.
Without drugs, many older people would function less well or die at an earlier age. What other drugs the person is taking because older people tend to take many drugs and drug interactions are a risk. Whether the person has family members or caregivers who can help the person take the antibiotic as prescribed.
Whether the person lives in a nursing home because different bacteria may cause infections in such situations. Antibiotics need to be taken until the infecting bacteria are eliminated from the body, which may be days after the symptoms disappear.
Antibiotics are rarely given for fewer than 5 days. An exception is certain uncomplicated urinary tract infections Overview of Urinary Tract Infections UTIs In healthy people, urine in the bladder is sterile—no bacteria or other infectious organisms are present. The tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the body urethra contains no bacteria Stopping treatment too soon can result in a return of the infection.
A doctor, nurse, or pharmacist can explain how the prescribed antibiotic should be taken and what side effects it may have. Some antibiotics must be taken on an empty stomach. Others should be taken with food. Metronidazole Metronidazole and Tinidazole Metronidazole is an antibiotic used to treat pelvic, abdominal, soft-tissue, gum, and tooth infections and abscesses in the lungs or brain. Also, some antibiotics can interact with other drugs that people may be taking, possibly reducing the effectiveness or increasing the side effects of the antibiotic or the other drugs.
Some antibiotics make the skin sensitive to sunlight Chemical photosensitivity Photosensitivity, sometimes referred to as a sun allergy, is an immune system reaction that is triggered by sunlight. Sunlight can trigger immune system reactions.
People develop itchy eruptions Antibiotics are sometimes used to prevent infections called prophylaxis. For example, prophylactic antibiotics may be given to. Some people with abnormal or artificial heart valves before dental and surgical procedures to prevent bacteria from infecting the damaged or artificial valves such procedures can allow bacteria to enter the body. People undergoing surgery that has a high risk of introducing an infection such as major orthopedic or intestinal surgery.
To avoid the development of antibiotic resistance Antibiotic resistance Bacteria are microscopic, single-celled organisms. Such a breakdown can lead to infections, which can even be caused by microorganisms that normally They may need to take the antibiotics for a long time. Generally, antibiotics are used during pregnancy only when the benefits of treatment outweigh the risks. Some antibiotics are safer than others.
Tetracyclines include the following: Doxycycline Eravacycline Minocycline read more are not used during pregnancy. Most antibiotics pass into breast milk in large enough amounts to affect a breastfed baby and sometimes cannot be used in women who are breastfeeding.
Sometimes a decision to stop breastfeeding or to not use the drug must be made. If an infection develops during pregnancy or while breastfeeding, women should talk to their doctor about the benefits and risks of treatment. See also Drug Use During Breastfeeding Drug Use During Breastfeeding When mothers who are breastfeeding have to take a drug, they wonder whether they should stop breastfeeding. The answer depends on the following: How much of the drug passes into the milk Whether Usually, antibiotics are given by mouth, and the length of treatment does not cause hardship.
However, some infections—such as many of those involving bone osteomyelitis Osteomyelitis Osteomyelitis is a bone infection usually caused by bacteria, mycobacteria, or fungi. Bacteria, mycobacteria, or fungi can infect bones by spreading through the bloodstream or, more often, by Infective endocarditis occurs when bacteria enter the bloodstream and travel If people have no other conditions that need treatment in the hospital and are feeling relatively well, intravenous IV antibiotics may be given at home.
When antibiotics have to be given a long time, the short IV catheters that are inserted into a small vein in the arm or hand such as those used in most routine hospital procedures may not be desirable. These catheters last only up to 3 days. Instead, a special type of IV catheter is used. It may be inserted either. Into a small vein in the arm and threaded into a large central vein called a peripherally inserted central catheter, or a PICC. Some devices for giving antibiotics IV are simple enough that people and their family members can learn to operate them on their own.
In other cases, a visiting nurse must come to the home to give each dose. In either situation, people are carefully supervised to make sure the antibiotic is being given correctly and to watch for possible complications and side effects. If antibiotics are given at home through an IV catheter, the risk of developing an infection at the site where the catheter is inserted and in the bloodstream is increased.
The following may indicate a catheter-related infection:. Diarrhea Gastroenteritis as a Side Effect of Drugs Gastroenteritis is inflammation of the digestive tract that results in vomiting, diarrhea, or both and is sometimes accompanied by fever or abdominal cramps. Gastroenteritis is usually caused In women, vaginal yeast infections Vaginal Yeast Infection Candidiasis The vagina is infected by a yeast called Candida, usually Candida albicans, resulting in a yeast infection called candidiasis.
Being pregnant or having diabetes or a weakened immune system increases Some side effects are more severe and, depending on the antibiotic, may impair the function of the kidneys, liver, bone marrow, or other organs.
Blood tests are sometimes done to determine whether these organs have been affected. Colitis, an inflammation of the large intestine colon , develops in some people who take antibiotics, especially cephalosporins, clindamycin , fluoroquinolones, or penicillins. First line treatment. No antibiotic therapy. Sore throat pharyngitis. Kidney infection pyelonephritis. Antibiotic therapy. Nearly everybody has suffered from sore throat. From your own experience, you know that symptoms are often self-limited and can be cured without help of antibiotics.
In fact, most cases of sore throat are caused by viruses, for which antibiotics do not work. For these reasons, the recommended first-line treatment for sore throat is watchful waiting.
Symptoms usually improve within a few days without antibiotics. Why it is important to not use antibiotics as first-line treatment in conditions such as ear infections or sore throat? Not using antibiotics in such cases may help fight antibiotic resistance. It is increasingly recognized that antibiotics are non-renewable resources that should be used wisely, carefully weighing potential benefits against the risk of antibiotic resistance and other adverse events.
When used parsimoniously, antibiotics will stay effective for use in serious cases and for vulnerable populations such as infants and the elderly.
What is the difference between first and second choices? The first choice simply represents the best option in terms of effectiveness, harms and potential for resistance.
In some cases, a second-choice antibiotic is also recommended. These antibiotics represent alternative options under some circumstances: they tend to be generally broader-spectrum antibiotics with higher resistance potential or less favorable risk—benefit ratios.
Both first and second choices have specific indications i. What does it mean that the impact of antibiotics on different diseases is associated with different balance of benefits and harms?
Consider the two examples shown above: ear infections and kidney infections.
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