The expert answered popular questions.
October 31 2019
The discovery of antibiotics is one of the most important events in medicine, it has greatly increased the average life expectancy of people. But what is the correct way to take them? A specialist answered questions from Antenna readers about these drugs.
General practitioner, therapist of the highest category, specialist of the School of Active Aging.
Is it true that antibiotics are the most powerful drugs, a panacea for all diseases?
Irina Potapova, Moscow
– These drugs affect the bacterial flora and in case of acute, severe bacterial infections, they cannot be avoided. In the case of a cold, it is important to recognize the nature of the disease in time and not to miss the complications that are possible if the body is weakened. In this case, the doctor prescribes antibiotics. They are also necessary for pneumonia, sore throat, purulent otitis media, sinusitis. It is important to start taking it in the early stages of the disease, then there will be fewer complications. It is not antibiotics that are terrible, but their uncontrolled, illiterate intake, so you cannot drink “just in case”. With minor signs of a cold, you can do with decoctions of chamomile, chicory, inhalation of eucalyptus infusions.
Do I need to take antibiotics in a course, if after the first three days of administration there has been an improvement? These are powerful drugs, they work quickly.
Natalia Voevodina, Anapa
– Recommendations are given by the attending physician, based on the patient’s condition, age, the presence of chronic diseases and a number of other factors. The dosage, period and regimen of drug administration are determined. Antibiotics must be used until complete recovery.
Before or after meals – what is the safest way to take medications, what foods and drinks are they not compatible with?
Angelica Voskovskaya, Aleksin
– It is important to exclude alcohol. When taking drugs during or after meals, the risk of complications from the gastrointestinal tract decreases, but the effect also decreases, this entails an increase in the dose. The doctor must analyze the situation and determine the method of administration. During the treatment period, it is desirable to increase the consumption of fermented milk products containing live lacto- and bifidobacteria. They will reduce the risk of developing dysbiosis. At the same time, it should be remembered that antibiotics are not washed down with tea, milk, coffee and juices, but only with water.
Is it possible on your own, without a doctor’s prescription, to drink an antibiotic that has already helped with similar symptoms? The child often has a cough and does not want to go to the hospital every time.
Daria Ivankina, Tarusa
“Don’t do that. The reason is that the disease can be both viral and bacterial, and the symptoms are similar. It is impossible to figure out the situation on your own.
If a pharmacy offers an analogue of an antibiotic prescribed by a doctor, is it worth buying and taking?
Alevtina Petrova, Rostov
– It is possible if the active substance is the same as in the prescribed medicine. It is his doctors who should indicate in the prescription, but not the name of a particular drug. In this case, you can choose a medicine based on your financial capabilities. Prices for medicines with the same active ingredient vary greatly depending on the manufacturer.