The Action of Antibiotics

Antibiotics are an integral part of the modern medicine. These drugs are administered in the treatment of many infections triggered by bacteria. Due to the following information about antibiotic medications you will better understand how they work, which side effects they may have and how important it is to carefully follow your doctor’s directions while taking antibiotics.

Antibiotics do not fight all infections

Antibiotics affect only bacterial infections. They are not generally helpful against the majority of existing infections. Because of this your medical practitioner will recommend you antibiotic therapy only if you are affected by certain infections.

Some antibiotics can fight only a certain class of bacteria, and others may work successfully with a great number of them. Among bacterial infections are such as some ear infections, strep throat, lung and bladder infections. However not all bacterial infections need to be treated with antibiotics. Taking into consideration your symptoms, the nature of your illness and the results of lab tests, your physician will order you the most suitable antibiotic that will have the best effect on you.

Antibiotics may trigger side effects

In case your physician orders antibiotic treatment to you, make sure to inquire about potential side effects. Antibiotics can provoke diarrhea, sickness, and abdominal pain. Some people may have an allergic response (attended by itching and rash or, in severe instances, by rough breathing). If you notice any side effects during antibiotic treatment, you should get in touch with your physician immediately.

Bacteria can gain antibiotic resistance

Excessive use of antibiotics results in antibiotic resistance. This phenomenon occurs when antibiotics do not work properly any more. Antibiotic resistance has developed because of utmost overuse of antibiotics in people and animals. If you take antibiotics too often and for too long periods of time, or if you do not complete your antibiotic course, it may lead to the increased resistance of bacteria to antibiotics.

It is critically important to strictly follow prescriptions while using antibiotics

You should resort to antibiotics only if it was recommended by your physician. See your doctor before resorting to any other medicine as it may negatively interact with your antibiotic and have an unfavorable effect on you. Never use antibiotics that are given to you by anybody else or which were ordered for any other disease.

Below are three important tips that will help you to make sure that your antibiotic therapy will work properly:

1. Always take the dosage that was prescribed to you

The effectiveness of antibiotics is closely related to the proper dosage. If the dosage is inappropriate, your antibiotic will not be efficacious in combating bacteria and infections and bacteria are more likely to develop antibiotic resistance because they will continue to multiply and find ways to hinder the action of the antibiotic.

2. Complete your antibiotic course in compliance with the instructions of your physician

Quite often patients discontinue the use of antibiotic as soon as they feel better and think that the problem is gone. But even when the symptoms subside, the bacteria can still live in your body and the infection can recur if antibiotic therapy is stopped at the wrong time. It may also lead to antibiotic resistance.

3. Do not save and reuse antibiotics

It is necessary to undertake the complete course of antibiotic therapy, because none of the medicine is needed any more. However, if this occurs, antibiotics should not be used to treat any other illness. Different infections require different antibiotics, therefore using the remaining medicines is not effective.

Always consult your medical practitioner before turning to any antibiotic treatment or before deciding to discontinue the prescribed therapy so as to prevent any complications or side effects.