Recommendations for patients using antibiotics

Things to consider when using antibiotics are:

Antibiotics are means of preventing infection. However, antibiotics that are not used properly can cause serious reactions or the development of resistance.

Therefore, the use of antibiotics is a situation that requires attention and care. Some things to consider are:

• Antibiotics are personal. In other words, the same antibiotic is not used in every patient with the same complaints. Antibiotic preference should be made by taking into account the causative agent of the disease, its severity, and some characteristics of the person such as age and weight. For this, some examinations are required and these are done by health professionals.
• Antibiotics are not used with the advice of friends, peers, neighbors, etc. Antibiotic use is planned by physicians. For this, test results, examination findings, etc. are taken into account. Antibiotics used unconsciously can be the cause of irreparable negativity with the information heard by ear. Also of greater danger is the development of antibiotic resistance. You may not be able to use the antibiotic that you can use comfortably today, after a while.
• Antibiotics are not antipyretic or pain relievers. Antibiotics are not used when your child has a fever or toothache. These effects may occur as a result of the fight against bacteria, but the necessity of antibiotics is revealed by the physician. For this reason, do not use antibiotics without consulting the doctor and without his approval.
• How long, at what dose and how to use antibiotics is determined under the control of the physician. No dose increase or time increase is made without the knowledge of the physician. The dose recommended by the physician is the optimal dose required for the antibiotic to reach the required blood levels and to fight the bacteria.
• Antibiotic use should not be discontinued without consulting a doctor when your symptoms improve. Prematurely discontinued use of antibiotics may cause re-exacerbation of the disease.
• In diseases caused by viruses, fungi or parasites, the use of antibiotics is unnecessary and burdens the body. Therefore, the causative agent of the disease should be determined well.
• Other drugs used may interact with antibiotics. After this interaction, the effectiveness and side effects of the antibiotic may increase. For this reason, proper information should be given about the drugs and diseases used during the doctor’s examination.
• Drinking alcohol while taking antibiotics can reduce the effectiveness of some medications or aggravate their side effects. Some antibiotics are metabolized in the liver, and alcohol can make the liver more fatigued. For this reason, it is useful to stay away from alcohol during the period of antibiotic use.
• Some foods can reduce the effectiveness of the drug when taken with antibiotics. For this reason, information about foods should be obtained from your doctor while prescribing antibiotics. Some foods that are useful to be aware of while taking antibiotics are:
  • Grapefruit,
  • Milk,
  • Chocolate,
  • Licorice root,