The Pros and Cons of Antibiotic Use: Understanding the Benefits and Risks

The Pros and Cons of Antibiotic Use: What You Need to Know

Posted February 15, 2023 in Antibiotic 1104 0 0

Antibiotics are powerful medications that help our bodies ward off bacterial infections. When used appropriately, they quickly eliminate infections, causing the patient to feel better in just a few days. However, antibiotics are ineffective when taken for other health conditions and can harm an individual’s health. As per research studies, the more we take antibiotics for treating bacterial infections, the more our body builds resistance, which reduces their effectiveness in making us well.

How to know if antibiotic works?

Antibiotics are effective against certain bacteria that can contribute to strep throat, ear, sinus, and urinary infections. These drugs do not work to treat flu, coughs, colds, and sore throats. Talk to your doctor about all your symptoms, which can help determine the exact reason behind your illnesses. Discuss with your physician the risks and benefits of antibiotics.

Read this page to learn the pros and cons of taking antibiotics:

Pros of taking antibiotics

1. Antibiotic medication can slow down the growth of bacteria and eliminates the infection from the body.
2. In some people, such as before surgery, antibiotics are often prescribed to prevent the development of a bacterial infection.
3. Antibiotics are quick-acting drugs; some tend to begin working within a few hours.
4. These drugs are easy to take; most antibiotics are for oral administration. Your physician may decide to give you an injection if it is imperative.

Cons of taking antibiotics

1. If you take antibiotics often, there are possibilities your body can develop a resistance to antibiotic agents, which could cause antibiotic tablets to become less effective.
2. The longer the antibiotics treatment, the more damage can happen to the body’s immune system.
3. Some antibiotics can have adverse effects, from stomach problems to bone damage to sensitivity to sunlight. Make sure you carefully read the instructions so that you know the risks.

The improper use of antibiotic medicines is causing a serious threat to the health of our communities. By taking antibiotics when we do not require them, we increase the probability of bacteria becoming resistant to the drugs. Then, when we need them to get rid of a bacterial infection, those antibiotics will not be effective enough. This can cause an increase in hospital visits due to the need for IV antibiotic agents or even an increased risk of death.

Keeping in mind the pros and cons of antibiotics, balance the risks and benefits of antibiotic use. You should protect yourself and your loved ones by only taking antibiotic agents recommended to you when your physician instructs you to do so. Sharing antibiotic medication or taking leftover medicines from a previous infection is never recommended.

Rules to follow to avoid misuse of antibiotics:

- Do not take anyone’s else antibiotic medicine
- Any prescribed antibiotic agents should be finished without any being left over

What are the side effects of antibiotics

The side effects of antibiotics are usually not trivial. It may range from skin annoyance (minor skin irritations, mild rashes, or short diarrhoea). A host of serious reactions to antibiotic agents can cause you or your kids to miss school/work, one or more trips to the doctor’s clinic to treat the new symptoms and find all new ways to treat the original infection, or worse, hospitalization and long-term associated complications.

These side effects include bad rash, bad sore throat, diarrhoea, sore throat, swelling of joints, stomach pain, respiratory issues, retinal detachment, nausea, vomiting, heart palpitations, muscle spasms, tendinitis, widespread pain, compromised kidney function, Stevens-Johnson syndrome (a rare skin disease mostly associated with sulfonamides such as Bactrim).

Use of antibiotics during pregnancy

According to some research studies, certain antibiotics may be associated with a higher risk of miscarriage in early pregnancy. Some antibiotics, such as macrolides, fluoroquinolones, and tetracyclines, are associated with an increased risk of miscarriage before the 20th week of pregnancy. The antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin are used to treat a wide range of infections, such as urinary tract infections and respiratory infections.

Studies found that penicillin and cephalosporins are not associated with the risk of spontaneous abortion. Similarly, no risk was found with erythromycin and nitrofurantoin. These are some commonly used drugs to treat urinary tract infections and are considered safe antibiotic treatment options. You can buy antibiotics online at affordable rates.

Conclusion

Despite preventive efforts, infections will always occur, and we will always need safe and effective antibacterial treatment. Antibiotic resistance already exists and is widely disseminated to drugs not yet invented. Greater innovation is the development of treatments that do not drive resistance.

Also Read: Learn About Antibiotic Resistance