Antibiotics are effective for certain bacterial infections. The medication can treat the concerns from the core and even save lives in vital cases. Antibiotics destroy the bacteria entirely or stop their reproduction. Our body’s immune system kills the bacteria even before it multiplies and causes symptoms. The White Blood Corpuscles attack the detrimental bacteria and erase the infection with robust immunity. Sometimes, the number of harmful bacteria overflows, and the immune system fails to clear them. In such cases, antibiotics are the best option. But antibiotics taken when it’s not needed can lead to unnecessary side effects and add to the global concern of antibiotic resistance.

The first-invented antibiotic was penicillin. Penicillin-based antibiotics are available to treat a variety of infections and have been widely used for many years. Modern antibiotics are available under prescription in and across the United States. You can experience the benefits of antibiotics under your healthcare provider’s instructions on when and how to take the medication.

How Do Antibiotics Work?

Antibiotics kill bacteria, destroying their cell walls or DNA and stopping their reproduction. The medicines can prevent bacterial growth by hindering their protein production. Based on their uses, antibiotics are of two types: bactericidal antibiotics and bacteriostatic antibiotics. The former kills bacteria by disrupting the formation of the bacterial cell wall or its cell content. The latter stops the bacteria from multiplying further. It might take a few hours or days to see the improvement after taking the first dose. Constant research on new antibiotics is on the rise to fight infections.

What Health Conditions Antibiotics Treat

Antibiotics treat a wide range of health concerns that affect different organs of your body, from your innermost organs to your skin. Doctors prescribe antibiotics to treat bacterial infections. In case of antibiotic overuse, the bacteria might become resistant, and the medicine becomes less effective than usual against that type of bacterium. Healthcare providers can prescribe a broad range of antibiotics to treat a range of infections. Some of the examples include,

Soft tissue and Skin Infections –

• Gas Gangrene
• Necrotizing Fascitis
• Cellulitis
• Animal or human bites
• Impetigo
• Staph infection

Eye Infections –

• Pink Eyes
• Orbital Cellulitis

Infections of the Urinary Tract and Reproductive Organs

• Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
• Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
• Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)

Infections in Throat and Respiratory Organs

• Pneumonia (Bacteria-infected)
• Strep throat
• Whooping Cough

Other Health Conditions

• Sepsis
• Lyme Disease
• Endocarditis
• Anthrax

When You Should Not Take Antibiotics

Antibiotics are not prescribed to treat viral infections. Antibiotics target the bacteria, not viruses. Conditions where antibiotics are not effective are –

• Flu
• Common cold or runny nose
• Bronchitis
• Sore throat
• Sinus infection

Bacterial infections that heal on their own do not need antibiotics to treat them. The conditions include,

• Sinus infections caused by bacteria
• Ear infections

Your doctor will tell you whether you require antibiotics for these common infections. In some cases, a doctor might suggest antibiotics to prevent rather than treat infection. This is known as the “prophylactic” use of antibiotics, which is used before orthopedic or bowel surgeries.

How to take Antibiotics?

You need to take antibiotics properly and on time for the medicines to work effectively. Antibiotics are primarily available in tablet forms to be taken orally. The medication can be intravenous as well. Most antibiotics start showing their effects within a few hours. Doctors advise to complete the medicine course to stop the return of infection.

Stopping the course midway can increase the chance of antibiotic resistance to future treatments. Bacteria that survive anyway despite their exposure to antibiotics may develop a resistance to specific medicines.

You can follow the tips mentioned below:

1.Take Antibiotics As Your Doctor Instructs 

Your doctor instructs you on the complete treatment course, like the course duration. The professional directs how many times a day you need to take the medicine and whether to take the take medicine on an empty or filled stomach. Ask your physician if you have further queries. 

2.Don’t Save Antibiotics for Later Use 

Keeping antibiotics for a long is not safe and does not help in the future. You should take antibiotics to treat the infection for which you received the medicine once.

3.Don’t Take Antibiotics Prescribed for Someone else 

Doctors prescribe antibiotics based on each patient’s unique health needs. The antibiotics address the infection and other factors like the patient’s health history and allergic tendencies. 

4.Throw Away Extra Medicines 

You will receive the exact amount of medicine you need for your health concerns. If you have leftover medicine, ask the pharmacist what to do with it.

What Are the Benefits of Antibiotics?

Antibiotics offer a number of benefits –

1. Clear bacterial infections from your body.
2. Soothe the symptoms and boost your physical health.
3. Quicken the recovery process.
4. Prevent the infection from spreading further.
5. Protect the body from severe complications and illness.
6. Save your life

Side Effects of Antibiotics

Common side effects of taking antibiotics include,

1. Diarrhea and colitis
2. Dizziness
3. Skin rashes, hives, flushes and blisters
4. Nausea and vomiting
5. Yeast infections
6. Allergic reactions
7. Inflammation in the face, lips, tongue, or throat
8. Breathing trouble

Do Antibiotics Cause You Feel Fatigued?

Feeling tired isn’t a common side effect of antibiotics. Fatigue may affect the people who usually take a specific antibiotic called vancomycin. In most cases, you feel tired because you are sick and your body is struggling to recover. Adequate rest and top-to-bottom hydration can help you rejuvenate yourself and feel better even when you are on the medication.

If you are worried about your energy level and still feel tired after completing your medication course, report it to your doctor.

What Are the Possible Risks of Antibiotic Use?

The potential risks associated with antibiotic use include drug interactions and antibiotic resistance.

Drug Interactions

Some antibiotics may interact with other medications. Taking antibiotics and certain other medicines simultaneously may cause unexpected and adverse effects. Interactions may occur in contact with other medicines, especially with the ones that help treat cardiovascular disease, indigestion, and pain. Here are a few categories of antibiotics that may interact with other drugs –

• Beta-blockers
• Warfarin
• Antacids
• NSAIDS (Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs)

Most antibiotics don’t intervene in hormonal contraception. Exceptions include antibiotics that treat meningitis and tuberculosis. It is suggested to inform your doctor beforehand what medicines you are on (both doctor-prescribed and over-the-counter) before the medical professional suggests antibiotics. Your doctor must have accurate information regarding your medicine intake to determine which antibiotic is safe for you.

Overuse of Antibiotics

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, around ⅓ of antibiotic use in patients is neither necessary nor appropriate. Antibiotics treat infections that bacteria cause but don’t treat viral infections. For instance, an antibiotic can treat a strep throat but not a sore throat. In case one takes antibiotic medicines for viral infections, it –

• Won’t cure the infection
• Won’t keep others from getting sick
• May lead to detrimental side effects
• Leads to antibiotic resistance

When you have an antibiotic for a viral infection, the antibiotic attacks bacteria in your body anyway. In such cases, the chances are high that those particular bacteria are helpful or not responsible for the disease. However, incorrect treatment can promote antibiotic-resistant properties in harmless bacteria that may be shared with other bacteria.

Antibiotic Resistance

Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria no longer respond to the antibiotic that kills them. Inappropriate antibiotic courses can also lead to antibiotic resistance.

Sometimes, the wrong medication or dose can result in antibiotic misuse. It can also occur when people do not take antibiotics as per their doctor’s instructions. Individuals must complete their medicine course and not share the medication with others, even when they have the same symptoms.

According to studies by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, around 47 million antibiotic courses in the U.S. are prescribed inappropriately, which means the ailment does not need antibiotics.

Outcomes of antibiotic-resistant infections include:

1. More serious ailment
2. Longer recovery time
3. Longer hospital stays
4. Frequent doctor visits
5. More costly treatments

Now, it has become a global health concern. In antibiotic resistance, the bacteria adapt so they do not respond to antibiotics anymore that they could fight previously. Drug resistance has become commonplace and one of the biggest public health challenges in today’s time.

When to Contact Your Doctor?

Call your healthcare provider if you experience side effects from antibiotics (such as diarrhea) or symptoms of a mild allergic reaction.

Call 911 or your local emergency number when you have a severe allergic reaction. The symptoms often begin with sudden and severe itchiness in your face and eyes, followed by swelling in your throat and face. You may suffer breathlessness. In such situations, do not delay in seeking medical attention. Without quick care, allergic reactions can be fatal. Therefore, it’s essential to connect with your healthcare provider immediately whenever you suffer any odd symptoms.

Take Antibiotics Under Doctor’s Prescription

Order the best-quality antibiotics at Global Care Meds under your doctor’s prescription for the best cure. Antibiotics available at GCM include –

Ivermectin 12 MG Tablets

Ivermectin 6 MG Tablets

Hydroxychloroquine 200 Mg Tablets

Hydroxychloroquine 400 Mg Tablets

The medicines are available in different doses and prescribed based on the individual’s needs. Rely on reliable, premium-quality medicines from GCM to restore your normal flow of life with rejuvenated energy.