Six myths about antibiotics

Proven content

When Alexander Fleming discovered the first antibiotic penicillin in 1928, no one expected these drugs to revolutionize medicine. Since then, they have become a powerful weapon in the fight against infectious diseases and have saved millions of people. Although most of us know what antibiotics are and that they will not help, for example, for the flu or a cold, there are still many myths related to taking these preparations. Artur Rakowski, a pharmacist, refutes the most popular of them.

1. Many people make mistakes when taking antibiotics, e.g. stopping treatment when they feel better
2. The pharmacist explains how to take antibiotics so that they work and not harm yourself
3. You can find more such stories on the TvoiLokony home page

If you feel better, you can stop taking the antibiotic. Truth or myth?

Artur Rakowski, MA: It’s a myth, of course! Antibiotics should always be used according to the dosing schedule. Too hasty in giving up antibiotic treatment may result in the bacterial infection not being fully healed. Moreover, in the case of incomplete antibiotic therapy, there is a risk of developing resistance – that is, making the bacteria resistant to the antibiotic.

Also read: Antibiotics stop working. Superbugs can kill 10 million a year

You must not drink alcohol while taking antibiotics. Truth or myth?

Artur Rakowski, MA: It is obvious. Why? First of all, alcohol weakens the action of most antibiotics. Secondly – after a few deep ones, the side effects of the antibiotic on the part of the gastrointestinal tract, e.g. nausea, vomiting or dizziness, may intensify. Thirdly – some antibiotics in combination with alcohol can cause the so-called disulfiram reaction, i.e. the accumulation of the toxic alcohol metabolite – acetaldehyde. This can lead to hot flushes, spikes in blood pressure and weakness. I am ignoring the fact that alcohol weakens the body itself and thus may slow down recovery.

You must not take the antibiotics with milk and juice. Truth or myth?

Artur Rakowski, MA: There is no clear answer to this question, although in most cases you shouldn’t take antibiotics with anything other than clean water. Whether an antibiotic can be combined with milk or juice depends on the specific drug substance. Some of them are much less assimilated in the presence of calcium from dairy products (e.g. tetracyclines) or tannins from tea. However, there are exceptions where the manufacturer of the antibiotic allows the consumption of the antibiotic with milk or juice. This is the case with some antibiotic suspensions intended for children, which are therefore better tolerated by the youngest. But you should always look for information on this subject in the package insert of the given antibiotic.

See also: How to take medication so as not to harm yourself?

Antibiotics kill not only harmful bacteria, but also the good ones. Truth or myth?

Artur Rakowski, MA: And another, my favorite answer: it depends. And it depends on the spectrum of action of a particular antibiotic. Some of them have a narrow spectrum – that is, they kill only a few bacterial strains, but there are also so-called antibiotics. a wide spectrum of activity – where the range of bacteria that they fight is very wide. Often this range also includes strains of bacteria that are part of our microflora. Unfortunately.

For safety reasons, it is also worth using probiotics during antibiotic therapy, eg Lacto30Dr. in capsules available on Medonet Market.

When taking antibiotics, you also need to take protective measures. Truth or myth?

Artur Rakowski, MA: True, although not all antibiotics require additional cover. The cover in the form of oral probiotics should be used in the case of treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics – amoxicillin with clavulanic acid, ciprofloxacin, some cephalosporins, metronidazole, clindamycin. Information on whether a shield should be used with a specific antibiotic is usually provided by a doctor or pharmacist at the pharmacy counter. Try, for example, Lactobacillus Max SOLHERBS – a dietary supplement that strengthens the body’s immunity and supports the work of the digestive system during and after antibiotic therapy. At Medonet Market you can also buy N ° 1 ProBiotic – a new generation probiotic preparation. We also recommend a probiotic for use during Lactibiane ATB antibiotic therapy, which contains a specific probiotic strain: Lactobacillus rhamnosus LA 801.

It is also worth noting that antibiotics can cause allergic reactions. For this reason, in the case of non-obvious symptoms, it is worth performing an antibiotic allergy diagnosis available at Medonet Market.

I have an antibiotic left. I can take it with my next illness. Truth or myth?

Artur Rakowski, MA: I strongly advise against doing so. Unfortunately, ordinary people without medical education are not able to diagnose themselves with a bacterial infection. They have neither the knowledge nor diagnostic tools for this. The fact that a specific antibiotic helped us during the previous infection is not a reason to use it again in the next illness. Even when it seems to us that it is similar to the previous one. Unfortunately, most of the symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection are non-specific – cough, runny nose or general malaise may have different faces, different course and be caused by completely different pathogens than before. Details and specifics play an important role in diagnosing disease, as in life. And there’s a doctor to catch these details.

Artur Rakowski is a pharmacist. He works in one of the pharmacies in Zielona Góra. He runs a blog “Po male o Zdrowie”, where he shares his knowledge and experience with Internet users.

If you’ve used antibiotics, your body may be weak. In order to strengthen it, it is worth drinking the EKO Echinacea Purple Tea, which you can buy at Medonet Market.

Also read:

1. Poles at the forefront of antibiotic consumption in Europe
2. It wasn’t that bad yet! The Supreme Audit Office gives alarms about antibiotics
3. Popular antibiotics can cause heart problems

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