Antibiotics the facts
Date issued: May 2021
Review date: May 2023
F-50/Pharmacy/RF/Antibiotics the facts v2
PDF: Antibiotic leaflet final May 2021 v2.pdf [pdf] 315KB
What are antibiotics and how do they work?
Antibiotics are medicines used to treat infections due to bugs such as bacteria and fungi. They are designed to cause the maximum of harm to bugs and the least harm to the human taking them
Antibiotics can be used to treat infections from simple skin rashes to life threatening blood poisoning and pneumonia. They have NO effect on viruses such as the common cold though specific anti-viral agents are occasionally used to treat influenza in those with underlying illnesses and in the very young.
Using antibiotics unnecessarily will increase the risk of antibiotic resistance developing. Once resistant, that antibiotic becomes useless in the treatment of that infection and others like it. Even if ineffective against an infection, antibiotics may still cause avoidable side effects such as diarrhoea and rashes.
How do I take my antibiotics?
Always take antibiotics as directed on the packet, the accompanying patient information leaflet that comes with the medicine or as instructed by your Doctor, Nurse or Pharmacist.
Orally: Oral antibiotics come as tablets, capsules or a liquid solution
Topical: Creams, ointments, sprays or drops. These are often used to treat skin, ear or eye infections.
Injections (intravenous): These are usually given as an injection or a drip. They are designed to get the antibiotic to site of the infection quickly or where the ideal antibiotic cannot be given by mouth.
Do I have to finish the course, can I save any spare antibiotic for next time?
It is essential that you complete the entire course of an antibiotic even if you feel better, unless advised not to by a healthcare professional. Stopping an antibiotic part way through a course may lead to the bacteria becoming resistant or the infection returning (relapse). Ensure any extra or unused antibiotic is returned to your local Pharmacist for disposal. Do not be tempted to save antibiotics for use next time as next time this may not be a suitable antibiotic and may be harmful. If a further infection occurs, go and see your local health provider/pharmacist for assessment.
What to do if you miss a dose
If you forget to take a dose of antibiotic, take it as soon as you remember and continue to take the course as prescribed unless it is nearly time for the next dose in which case skip the missed dose and continue with the doses as before.
Accidently taking an extra dose
Accidently taking an extra dose of your antibiotics is unlikely to do you any harm however it can increase the risk of side effects such as stomach pains and nausea.
If you accidently take extra doses of your antibiotic and are worried or experiencing severe side effects, talk to your care provider/pharmacist or call NHS 111.
Side effects
All medications can cause side effects, if taken as directed most people do not experience any. Serious effects are rare.
The most common antibiotic side effects are feeling sick, bloated and having diarrhoea or loose motions.
Around one in 15 people have an allergic reaction to antibiotics, especially penicillins and cephalosporins. In very rare circumstances this can lead to a serious reaction such as swelling and shortness of breath (anaphylaxis). This must be considered an emergency, call an ambulance on 999.
Considerations and Interactions
Some antibiotics are not suitable for people with certain medical conditions or women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. You should only ever take antibiotics that are prescribed for you. Never borrow them from a friend or family member or take any antibiotics left over from previous treatments.
Some antibiotics can also react with other medications such as the oral contraceptive pill or alcohol. Discuss this with your doctor or pharmacist and read the information leaflet that you are given with the medication.
Antibiotic resistance
To combat the rising tide of antibiotic resistance health organisations around the world are trying to reduce antibiotic use, especially for mild self-limiting infections. They have NO effect on viruses such as the common cold.
Resistance is when a strain of bacteria no longer responds to treatment with one or more types of antibiotics. Bacteria change (mutate) and over time may become antibiotic resistant. This occurs naturally but human consumption of antibiotics accelerates this process. Antibiotics also destroy beneficial bacteria that live in and on our bodies that act with the body to protect against harmful bugs in the environment.
The overuse of antibiotics in recent years has played a major part in antibiotic resistance. It has led to the emergence of super bugs, strains of bacteria that have developed resistance to many different types of antibiotic such as methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Carbapenemase-producing enterobacteria (CPE).
Antibiotic resistant infections are difficult to treat and are an increasing cause of disability and death across the world. If we do not use antibiotics sparingly and only for the correct reasons then resistance will continue to rise and the problems of resistance will only get worse.
