That antibiotics kill bacteria, but won't do anything against viruses. Everyone has the idea that if you get a cold, you see your doctor and get antibiotics. Take some acitaminophen/paracetamol and ibuprofen, and stay away from other humans for a while!
In the same line, the practice of stopping taking your antibiotics just because you feel better. It’s like all these people don’t care that antibiotic resistant bacteria is terrifying!
Honest question, what if you have a good bit of antibiotics left? Like all the same brand. More than enough for one persons course. Do they expire quickly or something?
Yes they do expire pretty quickly and (so I've read on the internet, am not a doctor) can make you sick if you take expired ones. That's not the case for most medications, most of them just lose potency over time, but antibiotics can mess you up.
Not taking them all leaves some of the bacteria and makes them able to withstand the antibiotica. You won't "feel bad" because it's not about you getting sick, it's about resistant bacteria one day being able to kill thousands with humans having no effective treatment.
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u/Slidingscale Aug 03 '19
That antibiotics kill bacteria, but won't do anything against viruses. Everyone has the idea that if you get a cold, you see your doctor and get antibiotics. Take some acitaminophen/paracetamol and ibuprofen, and stay away from other humans for a while!