What are the risks of taking antibiotics when you don't need them?

If you’re feeling unwell, you should never take antibiotics without speaking with a doctor first. This is because antibiotics may be unnecessary as they don’t treat every type of illness.

A doctor will only prescribe antibiotics if you have a bacterial infection that:

• is unlikely to clear up on its own
• would take too long to go away without antibiotic treatment
• carries a risk of more serious complications or that you can spread to other people.

If you have a viral infection, such as a cold, runny nose, sore throat, or flu, taking antibiotics won’t have an effect, and it may make your infection last longer.

The potential risks of taking antibiotics when you don’t have a bacterial infection include:

Unnecessary side effects

Doctors can prescribe antibiotics for treating a great variety of bacterial infections, such as:

• strep throat
• whooping cough
• urinary tract infections (UTIs)

There are several different types of antibiotics, and each works only for specific infections. Taking antibiotics without a prescription may result in taking the wrong type of antibiotic.

This means that you may experience side effects without treating the infection.

Some of the common side effects you may experience include mild and include diarrhea, rash, and nausea.

Certain antibiotics can also cause specific side effects, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis:

However, certain antibiotics can also cause severe side effects. They include:

• Penicillin: This medication may cause severe allergic reactions that require immediate medical attention. Examples include amoxicillin (Amoxil) and ampicillin (Amcill).
• Cephalosporin: This medication may cause several severe side effects, such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome, a toxic immune system reaction that can lead to peeling and blistering skin. Examples include cefazolin (Kezfol) and cephalexin (Keflex).
• Fluoroquinolones: This medication may cause severe pain and heart problems, such as arrhythmia. Examples include ciprofloxacin (Cipro) and delafloxacin (Levaquin).

If you need help covering the cost of medications, the free Optum Perks Discount Card could help you save up to 80% on prescription drugs. Follow the links on drug names for savings on that medication, or search for a specific drug here.

Antibiotic resistance

Taking antibiotics without needing them can contribute to antibiotic resistance. This occurs when bacteria evolve or adapt to survive antibiotic treatment.

When this happens, the bacteria stops responding to antibiotics as it has become resistant, potentially causing life threatening infections due to the ineffectiveness of antibiotics.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), antibiotic resistance is a pressing public health threat, killing about 1.27 million people worldwide.

To help reduce the risk of antibiotic resistance, you should never take antibiotics without speaking with a healthcare professional first.

Increased illness length

Taking antibiotics without a doctor’s prescription, such as for treating a viral infection, may increase the duration of your illness.

This is because the side effects you may develop when taking antibiotics, such as diarrhea or nausea, can make your body and immune system weaker and reduce its ability to fight the infection.

These side effects can make you feel worse, increase the length of your illness, and, in some cases, even make your infection worse.

Why is it important to only use antibiotics when prescribed?

There are several different types of antibiotics, and each only works for certain kinds of bacterial infections. A doctor can prescribe the correct antibiotic treatment that is specific to your infection.

If you take antibiotics without needing them, you can put yourself in danger, causing you unnecessary side effects without treating your underlying conditions.

This can increase the risk of antibiotic resistance each time. The CDC provides several suggestions for taking antibiotics safely and responsibly. They include:

• taking antibiotics only if you have a bacterial infection
• taking antibiotics precisely by following the doctor’s recommendations
• not keeping antibiotics for a later date
• completing the full antibiotic cycle as prescribed, even if your symptoms ease
• not taking other people’s antibiotic medications or sharing them with others

If you experience any side effects after taking prescribed antibiotics, you should speak with a doctor. You should never take antibiotics without consulting a healthcare professional first.

Summary

You should never take antibiotics without speaking to a doctor first. Antibiotics don’t have any effects on viral infections, and you don’t usually need them to treat mild bacterial infections.

A doctor can prescribe you these drugs if your infection requires antibiotic treatment.

Taking antibiotics without needing them can cause several side effects without improving your infection, extend the amount of time you need to recover from the illness, and increase the risk of antibiotic resistance.

Download the free Optum Perks Discount Card to save up to 80% on some prescription medications.