Antibiotics can be considered a major success of modern medicine that has saved millions of lives due to its ability to treat bacteria. But, it is their power that causes them to be misused easily as well. The casual sharing or use of left over antibiotics is one of the most underestimated risks that are being faced in the contemporary world. It is not perhaps realized that holding a few pills to use should one feel ill in the future or giving them to a friend who is already ill can be very dangerous to health.
Medical professionals state that under no condition can leftover antibiotics be reused and/or shared. By doing it, it may cover such underlying conditions, encourage antibiotic resistance, and cause unwanted side effects. This paper will discuss the reasons why professional medical follow up should always be considered when it comes to using antibiotics.
The issue of Left-Over Antibiotics
There are also left-over antibiotics as a result of patients not completing their prescriptions. They can quit taking the medication when they feel better, put it in the store to use later when they get sick or lose instructions. Package sizes may also cause others to take more pills than necessary. Unused antibiotics should not be self-prescribed regardless of the way in which they find themselves in the medicine cabinet.
There is a risk that bacteria will not be completely eradicated when you prematurely cease the treatment. Such surviving bacteria might keep growing and might develop resistance to the drug. The rest of the pills can only be compounded by saving them or sharing them and contributing to the threat of abuse.
Why you Should not Share Antibiotics with your Family or Friends
It is easy to feel kind and administer antibiotics to a loved one when s/he is sick. Besides, it appears to be a fast method of making them feel better. This good intentioned act may however be more harmful than beneficial.
Dissimilar Infections Will have a Different Treatment
Not every infection is caused by bacteria and not every bacterial infection can be treated by the same antibiotic. An example of this is the sore throat, which could be caused by a virus thus antibiotics will do you no good. Your friend also has pneumonia and might require an alternative type of antibiotic to yourself. Not only does spreading the wrong medication not help with the disease, it also postpones the diagnosis and treatment.
Trading Under the Rug
When a person enters the use of antibiotics without consulting a doctor, they may provide a short-term remedy to any symptom without treating its source. An example is that antibiotics might actually partially alleviate a urinary tract infection and leave a more critical kidney infection to become more severe without being detected. This deception of improvement does not allow the individual to obtain prompt and special treatment.
Unintended Side Effects
Antibiotics may cause allergy, gastro-intestinal disorders and even serious complications like antibiotic-related colitis. What was safe in your case may not be safe in theirs, particularly in the case of an individual with other medical conditions, or taking other medications.
Why it is Risky to Use Old Antibiotics
It is equally dangerous to take leftover antibiotics and use them on yourself even though you do not share a disease.
Incomplete Dosage
The remaining supply will seldom have the entire course required to cure an infection. A temporary relief can be achieved by taking a few pills, but probably the bacteria will not be killed. Development of resistance and recurrence of infection is facilitated by incomplete treatment.
Diagnostic Error and False Treatment
It is dangerous to self-diagnose infections. What is perceived to be bronchitis may be asthma, allergies, or even heart disease. Self medicating through antibiotics can make you ignore a condition that needs an entirely different method of treatment thus postponing the proper care.
Resistance to Drugs and Health Hazards
One of the most threatening health threats of the world is antibiotic resistance. Bacteria can survive when subjected to antibiotics in the wrong form of partial dosages or wrong prescriptions. These antibiotic-resistant bacteria can be transmitted inside communities, which complicates or even prevents the treatment of future infections.
Antibiotic Resistance – An Increasing International Crisis
Misuse of unused antibiotics is the direct cause of antibiotic resistance, which according to the World Health Organization (WHO) is among the greatest global health threats of our times. The bacteria resistance causes the standard treatment methods to be ineffective resulting in prolonged illness, increased hospitalization and mortality rates.
Grant it this: a simple infection that could be easily treated just some time ago, may shortly turn into a life-threatening strain because of the resistant strains. Whenever antibiotics are abused, through the shortening of a prescription, sharing or taking up unused antibiotics, we are enhancing the chance of developing such superbugs.
Side Effects of Misusing Antibiotic
Antibiotics are potent medications that have broad implications on the body. Their misuse increases the risks.
Common Side Effects:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Stomach pain
- Yeast infections
Severe Side Effects:
- Allergy (rash, swelling, difficulty breathing)
- Severe intestinal infections including Clostridium difficile colitis.
- Organ toxicity (damage of liver or kidneys)
- Interactions with other drugs are harmful.
In the absence of professional supervision, the risks of side effects are very high, especially when the antibiotic is not needed or not suitable to deal with the infection.
Importance of Professional Guidance
Antibiotics are prescribed by doctors only after it is established that it is a bacterial infection and the type of drug that can be best used. They also put in consideration dosage, duration and possible reactions with other medications. This prudent balancing process makes sure that the treatment is effective and at the same time, risks are minimized.
In comparison, all these safeguards are bypassed in case of using leftover antibiotics. It exposes you to inaccurate medication, preventable side effects and leads to increased health problems among the general population.
Disposing of Antibiotics Leftover in Proper Way
The most safe thing you can do with the remaining antibiotics at home is to dispose of them off properly instead of keeping them. Here’s how:
- Pharmacy Take-Back Programs: There are several pharmacies where the unused drugs can be disposed safely.
- Community Collection Sites: Sometimes, the local health departments organized medication disposal events.
- Guidelines by the FDA: In case of the lack of take-back alternatives, add the drug to unpleasant materials (such as used coffee ground or cat litter) in a bag, and put it in the trash. Flushing of medications should be instructed.
How To Keep Yourself Safe
- Take Your Full Prescription: Although you feel better, take the entire prescription so that the infection can be completely eliminated.
- Never Share Medications: Medications must be personalized, as well as specific to the infection.
- Consultation: It is recommended to consult a medical professional prior to taking any antibiotic.
- Be Aware: Educate yourself on the harmful impact of abuse and influence others to practice safely.
Conclusion
Antibiotics are life-saving drugs when used properly in the presence of medical attention. It may seem that there is a convenient way to shortcut sharing or reusing leftover antibiotics, but it is a very dangerous practice. Since they cause them to hide the background diseases that contribute to the world antibiotic resistance, the effects of using it wrongly go way beyond the health of individuals.
The most responsible and the safest way to do so is the simplest, which is never to use the old antibiotics. Rather, consult a doctor when you feel ill, take all the medication prescribed, and dispose of any unused medication appropriately. In this way, you can save not only your health but also the health of the community that you live in and your future generation.
