Antibiotic myths.

Dano · 19 Nov 2011 at 09:50

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-15772727

The HPA poll of 1,800 people in England also found one in 10 people keep leftover antibiotics - and many would self-medicate next time they got ill.

RTFM people RTFM, it's a sad situation that so many people manage to switch off when they're told to make sure they finish the course

Do you do this or do you actually follow your doctors advice, finish the course and thus not have any spare?

[TW]Sponge · 19 Nov 2011 at 09:52

I usually take them until I feel 100% better. What do doctors know these days.

Cosimo · 19 Nov 2011 at 10:02

When I have them they're taken until all gone.

scorza · 19 Nov 2011 at 10:14

The sad fact is that it doesn't really matter however we misuse anti-biotics in this country. The real danger emanates out of the Indian sub-continent where poor hygiene and overcrowding ensure that new bugs spread quickly and the fact you can buy anti-biotics over the counter there means they quickly become resistant to anti-biotics.

I think we're going to have to accept the fact that in the near future we won't be able to cure infections anymore.

V4NT0M · 19 Nov 2011 at 10:28

Left over antibiotics? I would have to have had some to have some left over, I have never had antibiotics in my adult life.

SlyReaper · 19 Nov 2011 at 10:34

I tend to trust the doctor knows what he's talking about when he tells me to finish the course. Except that one time when a doctor put me on antibiotics for diabetes.

jimmynaetroots · 19 Nov 2011 at 10:39

The real reason that this is still rife is that many GP's still give said antibiotics out so people with coughs and colds to stop them complaining. I see this every single day of my working life. Also, if you are given a course for say 1 week, and you take 4 days worth and stop, if you are a young healthy adult this is more than enough as the immune system is relatively strong and can mop up any remaining. Obviously some infections take longer to clear, but the common chest, bladder etc are quick to treat.

G.

Deadbeat · 19 Nov 2011 at 10:56

[TW]Sponge;20600605 said:
I usually take them until I feel 100% better. What do doctors know these days.

You're an idiot. Just because you feel so much better doesn't mean the infection's gone, and once you stop taking them you're at risk of cultivating a repeat infection of the most antibiotic resistant bacteria. What do doctors know these days? A damn sight more than you, apparently.

Deleted member 77746 · 19 Nov 2011 at 10:58

Deadbeat said:
You're an idiot. Just because you feel so much better doesn't mean the infection's gone, and once you stop taking them you're at risk of cultivating a repeat infection of the most antibiotic resistant bacteria. What do doctors know these days? A damn sight more than you, apparently.

well said.

[TW]Sponge · 19 Nov 2011 at 11:05

Deadbeat said:
You're an idiot. Just because you feel so much better doesn't mean the infection's gone, and once you stop taking them you're at risk of cultivating a repeat infection of the most antibiotic resistant bacteria. What do doctors know these days? A damn sight more than you, apparently.

I was joking in regards to what the OP said. Apparently my sarcastic toned style of writing needs improvement. But thanks for confirming I am an idiot.

Of course I keep taking them until the prescription has finished. No point in taking them otherwise.

Edrof · 19 Nov 2011 at 11:15

1 in 10 people are thick generally anyway.

Energizer Bunny · 19 Nov 2011 at 11:18

I neck the whole lot at once. Nuke the illness. Ready for action the next day. BOOM.

qqg3 · 19 Nov 2011 at 11:23

This thread reminded me I haven't been ill (no colds, zip and zilch) for two years. Lucky I suppose.

SlyReaper · 19 Nov 2011 at 11:24

Edrof said:
1 in 10 people are thick generally anyway.

You know the saying. Look at how thick the average person is, then realise that ~50% of the population are less intelligent than them.

Energizer Bunny said:
I neck the whole lot at once. Nuke the illness. Ready for action the next day. BOOM.

I like your style.

flibbage0 · 19 Nov 2011 at 11:29

[TW]Sponge;20600605 said:
I usually take them until I feel 100% better. What do doctors know these days.

EDIT: Just read you were being sarcastic.

flibbage0 · 19 Nov 2011 at 11:30

SlyReaper said:
I tend to trust the doctor knows what he's talking about when he tells me to finish the course. Except that one time when a doctor put me on antibiotics for diabetes.

What

Xordium · 19 Nov 2011 at 11:32

Too late to worry the end of the era of antibiotics is well within sight. Get ready for the population crash.

Deadbeat · 19 Nov 2011 at 11:33

[TW]Sponge;20601004 said:
I was joking in regards to what the OP said. Apparently my sarcastic toned style of writing needs improvement. But thanks for confirming I am an idiot.

In which case, I apologise and summarily wind my neck in

[TW]Sponge · 19 Nov 2011 at 11:44

Deadbeat said:
In which case, I apologise and summarily wind my neck in

No worries fella

You would have been right to call me an idiot if I seriously thought that way though

Pudney · 19 Nov 2011 at 11:44

Dano said:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-15772727

RTFM people RTFM, it's a sad situation that so many people manage to switch off when they're told to make sure they finish the course

Do you do this or do you actually follow your doctors advice, finish the course and thus not have any spare?

Just to play devil's advocate I have on several occasions been prescribed antibiotics, finished the course exactly as told by the doctor and had some left over, mainly as the pharmacists gave me a packet and not the required amount.

So I can easily believe some people keep them.