by Sue Bluze

Created on: April 16, 2007   Last Updated: April 15, 2011

Antibiotics are medicines used to treat infections caused by bacteria. Each different type of antibiotic works against a specific type of bacteria. Not all bacteria are bad. Your gut contains bacteria that are helpful and help digest food. As well as killing the bacteria that cause infection, antibiotics can also kill the helpful bacteria that live in the body and help us stay healthy. Doctors will only prescribe antibiotics if they think that they are appropriate to your illness and the benefits outweigh the risks.

Insisting on your Doctor prescribing antibiotics when they are not needed and not taking them as prescribed will lead to more bacteria becoming resistant to them and can lead to problems with infections that are difficult to treat. A good example of this is MRSA which is so difficult to treat it has become life threatening in many cases as it is resistant to antibiotics.

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS

Some people experience unwanted side effects such as allergic reactions. Some older antibiotics contain sulpha/sulphides and these can lead to a very strong reaction with severe skin rashes, and trouble breathing and anaphylactic shock.

If the good bacteria in the gut are destroyed by the antibiotics then a thrush infection can take hold anywhere in the body.

Another side effect can be diarrhoea, which can also lead to de-hydration.

Antibiotics can also interact with alcohol, foods and other medicines such as impairing the effectiveness of the contraceptive pill. Any woman on the "pill" who is taking antibiotics is also recommended to use a barrier method of contraception for the rest of the monthly cycle.

DO'S AND DONT'S OF ANTIBIOTICS

Always follow the instructions on the label exactly and complete the prescribed course, unless your Doctor or pharmacist advises otherwise. Even if your symptoms have improved it is important to finish the full course and take the correct dose at the right time to kill the bacteria that are causing the infection. Do not save antibiotics to use later on.

Never give antibiotics prescribed for you to family, friends or pets. Always tell your Doctor and Pharmacist if you are taking other medicine, including herbal supplements, vitamins and complementary medicine as they may stop the antibiotics from working properly.

Always remind the Doctor or Pharmacist if you are allergic to any particular medicines.

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