One of the most effective modern medicines is antibiotics. They save millions of lives annually by successfully treating bacterial infections. They are however effective as long as they are used responsibly. Reusing the old antibiotics used in some past disease is one of the most widespread habits that people get into and yet very dangerous. On the face of it, the idea of taking old pills may look like a convenient method of saving time and money, however, the truth is that, in reality, it can cause much more harm than good.
Medical experts state that antibiotics are to be used only under the guidance of a medical practitioner. Their prescription under the guidance of an unqualified specialist or as a part of a partially finished treatment plan may conceal a case and result in incomplete treatment, not to mention the widespread issue of antibiotic resistance worldwide today. To get a better picture of the dangers, we shall leave it a bit to dissect the reasons why old antibiotics must not be ingested without a due prescription.
What Are Leftover Antibiotics?
Leftover antibiotics are just pills or capsules of some past prescription that was not taken completely. This usually happens when:
- When patients feel better they discontinue their medication prematurely.
- One is left with extra pills when the course is completed.
- The physician does not complete the prescriptions.
It might appear to be a safe thing to have such drugs on-hand in case, however, this is a really dangerous habit. Antibiotics should be taken in exact doses and at a certain period of time. Any form of deviation with that may jeopardize your health.
Reasons Why People Use Old Antibiotics
This happens because: many individuals will grab left over antibiotics due to:
- They desire prompt relief without having to go to the doctor.
- They presume the symptoms to be as those of their last disease.
- They do not want to pay the bill for another visit to a doctor.
- They think antibiotics are effective against nearly all kinds of infections such as the flu or cold (which are actually caused by a virus).
Though the rationale might sound realistic, it is premised on fallacies. The problem is oftentimes concealed behind self-diagnosis and the self-prescription of antibiotics instead of its resolution.
The Harms of Re-using Old Antibiotics
Concealing the Underlying Conditions
Using previously left over antibiotics may alleviate the symptoms temporarily but not the underlying cause of the disease. As an example, sore throat can respond to a dose of antibiotics, but when the underlying cause of the problem is a virus or the presence of some other severe problems then the underlying illness will not be stopped. This will postpone treatment and deteriorate the condition.
The result of partial treatment is the emergence of strong bacteria. In case antibiotics are administered in inadequate doses or in too limited period, bacteria do not die completely. The strains that are strongest will survive, adapt and multiply. This unequal treatment creates antibiotic-resistant bacteria superbugs that are very hard, and in some cases, impossible to cure using regular drugs.
Extreme Exposure to Adverse Side Effects
There are no antibiotics without side effects. They may produce stomach upset, diarrhea, allergy, and even cause a serious complication like organ damage, depending on the medication. Using old medicine without consulting a doctor and thinking that you are exposing yourself to unneeded risks without assured benefits.
An antibiotic of the wrong kind to the wrong illness. The various bacteria infections are treated with different antibiotics. The medicine you kept in case of an ear infection might be entirely useless in a urinary tract infection that you have. In other instances, administration of the incorrect antibiotic may increase the infection or cause an adverse drug interaction.
Out of Date or Possibly Degraded Drugs
Antibiotics like any other medicine have an expiry date. Taking expired pills implies that the medication could no longer be effective in combating bacteria as it could be an obsolete medication. Worse still, aged drugs at times yield new health hazards by coming up with side products.
Resistance to Antibiotics: An International Menace
Among the most threatening aspects of incorrectly using the leftover antibiotics, there is the development of antibiotic resistance. The bacteria develop resistance when they re-evolve to endure exposure to antibiotics. This complicates the treatment of infections making them more difficult to treat and necessitating more powerful medications, increased treatment time and expense.
Antibiotic resistance is regarded by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the greatest threats to health around the globe. Misuse, such as self-medication, incomplete courses, and left over use is one of the major causative factors of this problem. Using old antibiotics, people contribute to the illness of the whole population, contributing to a wave of health crisis involuntarily.
The Importance of Full Prescribed Doses
There is a reason why doctors prescribe antibiotics at a certain dosage and period. The achievement of the whole course makes sure that the bacteria are not able to grow even stronger. Early termination or omission of dosage helps bacteria to survive and evolve resistance.
This may not necessarily mean that the infection has disappeared even when you begin to feel better after a few days. It is important to complete the prescription to achieve long-term recovery, as well as to minimize the risk of transmitting insensitive bacteria.
Facts and Fallacies About Antibiotics
I Felt Better, So I Don’t Need the Rest
Symptom improvement does not indicate that the infection has disappeared. Premature cessation puts one at risk of relapse and resistance.
Antibiotics Work for All Infections
This is false. Antibiotics do not cure anything but bacterial infections. They are not anti-viral (including the flu, COVID-19, or the common cold).
I Could Share My Unused Pills with Relatives or Friends.
This is extremely unsafe. Every infection needs a specific treatment regimen. Giving away unused antibiotics is like speculating on someone else’s treatment–and being wrong about it in a very dangerous way.
Conscientious Use of Antibiotics
In order to safeguard yourself and others, the following are critical pieces of advice on using antibiotics in a responsible fashion:
- Always see a doctor first. Self-diagnosis and self-medication is a bad habit.
- Finish your prescription. Always take all doses as required even when you feel better.
- Do not share medication. What is safe in you is not necessarily safe in somebody else.
- Dispose of leftovers safely. Do not dispose of antibiotics in trash without first taking them to a drugstore or disposing of them in a manner acceptable in your community.
What to Do with the Remaining Antibiotics
When you see some antibiotics in your medicine cabinet, do not succumb to the temptation to use the antibiotics. Instead:
- Expiration dates of checks–do not use old medicine.
- Dispose them safely in a local pharmacy.
- See a health professional in case of new symptoms- do not use previous medicine.
The Bottom Line
It might sound like a nice idea to reuse old antibiotics, and it might actually do more harm than good. It endangers to conceal serious conditions, leads to incomplete treatment, and is the cause of the dangerous increase of antibiotic resistance. Antibiotics cannot be used as a universal medication and their use without medical control may cause serious health issues.
You are not only ensuring your health when you take all the stipulated doses of antibiotics, but you are also contributing to the preservation of the efficacy of these life-saving medicines in the generations to come.
