7 Things You MUST Know Before Using Antibiotics
People use antibiotics to treat various kinds of infection; however very few know how to use them properly.
Improper use of antibiotics may result unsuccessful treatment, extra costs on the individual, resistance or even death.
Here are tips you must know.
Do not use antibiotics on your own. Only use them when prescribed by a doctor.
The dose of any antibiotic must be competed, even if you feel better before completing it. This is to avoid resistance. Ask your pharmacist for advice.
Some antibiotics are taken before meals, whereas others can be taken with meals or after meals. Always ask your pharmacist to advice you.
An antibiotic that cures a particular individual may not cure you even if you have the same kind of illness. This is because the infectious organism may not be the same, or the organism responsible for your infection may have acquired resistance to that antibiotic.
Do not use antibiotics during pregnancy or breastfeeding unless recommended by a health professional.
Do not take tetracycline at the same time as food or milk as these may make them less effective. Take the capsules one hour before or two hours after meals. Children under 8 years should not use tetracycline, because it may discolour their teeth.
Antibiotics use in poultry and livestock is always discouraged. This can cause build up of resistance in people who consume them.