July 15, 2008
Are you holding on to old antibiotics?
YKHC Pharmacy
Are you among the many who have a medicine cabinet at home full of partial bottles of old antibiotics left over from old prescriptions? If so, you probably aren't alone.
There are several reasons people may hold on to old antibiotics. Many people take antibiotics for several days, begin feeling better, and stop taking their medicine like they were instructed. There are also instances where, due to package sizes, the pharmacy must give patients extra medicine to make sure they have a sufficient amount to complete their dosing.
It is always best to take antibiotic medications as instructed and to discard any medication that is left over after the prescribed time period.
Here are some important points about antibiotics that many people do not understand.
- All antibiotics are different and possess different properties. Some antibiotics kill bacteria and some antibiotics stop bacterial growth. Antibiotics need time in order to work correctly. (1 to 3 days usually doesn't cut it)
- Some infections are susceptible to certain antibiotics and others are not.
- When patients take antibiotics for a shorter duration than prescribed, they wipe out weak bacteria and leave the strong bacteria to reproduce and cause a potentially more severe infection.
- Many infections are viral in nature and have nothing to do with bacteria. Viruses are immune to antibiotics. Viral infections are usually best resolved with plenty of rest, lots of water, a healthy diet, and time.
- Liquid antibiotics come in powder form and are mixed by your pharmacy just prior to the patient receiving them. They have a very short shelf life and begin undergoing chemical changes after a couple of weeks.
- Lots of people are allergic to one antibiotic or another. Many antibiotics have similar/related chemical structures and can induce similar allergic reactions in unknowing patients.
If you have any old antibiotics lying around the house that you have questions about, feel free to talk to your favorite YKHC provider or pharmacist.
