In contemporary medicine, antibiotics have transformed the world of medicine. After their discovery, they have helped millions of people save their lives by successfully curing bacterial infections that would have been deadly. But the same drugs that are supposed to help us are also becoming abused with dangerous ripple effects that extend way beyond the health of an individual. The overuse of antibiotics- especially when used without a prescription- has contributed to the emergence of drug resistant bacteria, an ever-increasing health threat in the world today.
This paper addresses the concealed risks of self-prescription of antibiotics, why they are not universal drugs and the ways unsupervised use may result in incomplete treatment, bacterial resistance and mutation.
Why People Engage in Self-medication with Antibiotics
Antibiotics are readily available without prescription in most portions of the world. Drugs sold by pharmacists, in the market, and even left-over drugs in the medicine cabinet tend to be a go-to solution to common illnesses. This behavior has been caused by:
- Convenience: It may seem to people that it is quicker and more convenient to take antibiotics at home instead of seeing a doctor.
- Cost issues: Self-medication is perceived to be cost effective in areas of high healthcare costs.
- Past experience: The individuals might think that the antibiotics that were effective earlier will be effective in terms of similar symptoms.
- Misinformation: It is a widespread view that antibiotics can be used to treat all types of infections including viral infections such as the flu or common cold.
Although these reasons might seem quite practical when seen at the surface, the risks greatly exceed the perceived benefits.
Antibiotics Are NOT “One Shoe Fits All” Drugs
Among the greatest myths regarding antibiotics, is that it can cure any infection. The fact is that antibiotics are not made to attack a virus, but bacteria. Their inappropriate use not only does not cure the illness that is behind but also puts the body at a risk of being exposed to harm that it does not need.
For example:
- Use of antibiotics in viral diseases such as colds, flu or COVID-19 is not effective at all.
- Not all bacteria will respond to the same type of antibiotics, and all of them should be administered in particular doses and as long as prescribed.
- Self prescribing the incorrect antibiotic will only cover symptoms but not the cause.
That is why medical workers emphasize the fact that antibiotics are to be prescribed only after the right diagnosis. There is a tendency of individuals taking the wrong medication to the wrong ailment without medical supervision.
Threat of Biased Treatment
Another habit of self-interested medicators is the discontinuation of antibiotics when the symptoms have improved. It is a common misconception among many that when one is feeling better then they are cured. This is however not so.
In case there is a premature discontinuation of antibiotics:
- The most robust bacteria might be able to resist the partial treatment.
- Such surviving bacteria are capable of multiplying resulting in recurrent infections.
- With time, they can develop resistance to the initially used antibiotic.
Such treatment is a root of the resistance, and it complicates the treatment of subsequent infections.
Bacterial Resistance and Bacterial Mutation
Bacteria are living organisms and they can easily adapt to survive. When they are subjected to antibiotics in the wrong dosage or over an incorrect period they stand a chance to adapt and protect themselves.
These antimicrobial resistant bacteria are able to:
- Transmitted interpersonally in communities, hospitals and even amongst nations.
- Make normally effective antibiotics inefficient.
- Result in increased medical expenses, increased mortality rates and increased length of stay in hospitals.
The World Health Organization (WHO) argues that the current threat to world health is the problem of antibiotic resistance. Otherwise, we soon will be in a post-antibiotic age where common infections will kill once again.
To have more specific information on how to use and misuse of antibiotics, the trusted sources such as the Mayo Clinic can be of help to patients.
Using Antibiotics to Treat Viral Infections: Another Myth
Self-medication is one of the worst risks because of taking antibiotics to treat viral infections. Viruses like the influenza, colds, and most sore throats are not susceptible to the effects of antibiotics.
This practice results in instead of assistance:
- Poor treatment: The disease does not go away and the patient does not get better.
- Side effects that are not necessary: Antibiotics may cause allergy, diarrhea, or even such serious diseases like Clostridioides difficile infection.
- Accelerated resistance: When bacteria in the body are exposed to unnecessary antibiotics, they stand a higher probability of mutating.
This abuse poses twice a threat: the patient is not getting better, and the bacteria that become strong in the process of this misuse are even more resistant.
Remaining Pharmaceuticals: A Sleeper Threat
There are numerous families who are in possession of old antibiotics, either half used or those that were never used. Taking these remaining pills has a number of threats:
- Poor dosage: The remaining supply might not suffice to go through with a treatment cycle.
- Inappropriate choice: It is possible that the exact antibiotic does not treat the existing infection.
- Expired medicine: With the span of time, antibiotics lose their strength, which makes them weaker.
Self-prescription often causes incomplete treatment which is one of the direct ways towards bacterial resistance.
Health Hazards That Are Not Resistance
Although the worst consequence of misuse is antibiotic resistance, self-medication may also result in other acute health hazards:
Allergic Reactions
There are those who are allergic to some antibiotics without their knowledge. Self-medication can cause both rashes to life-threatening anaphylaxis.
Drug Interactions
Antibiotics may have adverse drug interactions with other drugs, and diminish their efficacy or cause adverse effects. These interactions usually do not get noticed until it is too late without the medical supervision.
Gut Health Disruption
Antibiotics not only kill the disease causing bacteria, but also useful bacteria in the gut. Excessive use might cause digestive and low immunity.
Masking Serious Illnesses
Antibiotics can mask underlying conditions that are more severe and therefore postpone a correct diagnosis and treatment by temporarily reducing the symptoms.
International Effects of Improper Antibiotic Usage
Antibiotics misuse is not only an individual health-related danger, but a communal issue. Resistant bacteria have the capacity to disseminate in the communities, hospitals, or even international travels. It implies that the irresponsible use of antibiotics by one individual has the potential to impact millions of other people.
The international impacts are:
- Higher medical expenses of long stay in the hospital.
- Increased deaths due to infections that are treatable.
- Few forms of treatment, since old antibiotics become ineffective.
The Role of the Healthcare Professionals
The role of doctors and pharmacists is crucial in making sure that antibiotics are prescribed in a responsible manner. They:
- Determine the presence of bacterial or viral infection.
- Choose the correct antibiotic, dose and duration to be treated.
- Keep track of the side effects and change treatment as needed.
These professionals play an essential role in ensuring the safety and effectiveness of care provided to patients by-passing them results in patient robbery.
Prevention of the Misuse of Antibiotics
To avoid the abuse of antibiotics there should be shared responsibility at both individual and communal levels. The following are certain steps that should be implemented by every one:
Take Instructions Literally
Always use antibiotics in the way that has been prescribed by your doctor. Take the entire course, despite the improvement in your mood.
Never Share or Reuse Pills
Antibiotics are not to be shared among family members or friends. The same thing that works with one individual may not work with the other.
Do not use Old Medication
Get rid of any remaining antibiotics in an appropriate manner rather than storing them to be used later.
The Future of Not Responsibly Using Antibiotics
Unless we curb the continued misuse of antibiotics, then we may find ourselves in a situation where simple infections would pose life threatening threats. Operative procedures, cancer therapies and organ transplants (all which would depend on good antibiotics) would become much more hazardous.
Responsible use of antibiotics is among the most urgent issues of healthcare nowadays. It involves heightened awareness, maintainable discipline and a dedication to long-term health being more urgent than short-term convenience.
Conclusion
Antibiotics are effective, but it does not mean they are riskless. Not only is it damaging to the individual, using leftover medications incorrectly or in an attempt to treat a viral infection, but it is also leading to an imminent global health epidemic: antibiotic resistance.
We can preserve our health and the efficacy of these life-saving drugs in future generations by utilizing antibiotics only with the professional oversight, and by realizing that antibiotics are not a universally effective medicine.
To the point, it is obvious that no antibiotics should be taken without a prescription.
