Antibiotics

Antibiotics are a group of drugs (Peters 2007).

They are mainly used

• to treat bacterial infections, and
• to prevent bacterial infection in cases of immune system impairment (ibid.)

Most of the commonly used antibiotics belong to one of the following classes of drugs:

• penicillins
• quinolones
• aminoglycosides
• cephalosporins
• macrolides, and
• tetracyclines (ibid.)

Some antibiotics are only effective against certain types of bacteria (ibid.). Other types of antibiotics, a.k.a. broad-spectrum antibiotics, are effective against a wide range of bacteria (ibid.).

However, over time, some bacteria may develop resistance to a previously effective antibiotic (ibid.). This is most likely to occur during long-term treatment (ibid.). In this case, alternative and less-commonly prescribed antibiotics may be used to treat these bacteria (ibid.).

On the downside, most antibiotic drugs can cause some unpleasant side effects, such as nausea, diarrhoea, or a rash (ibid.).

Antibiotics may also disturb the normal balance between certain types of bacteria and fungi in the body (ibid.). This can lead to proliferation (rapid increase/reproduction) of the fungi that cause candidiasis, otherwise known as thrush (ibid.). Some people experience a severe allergic reaction to the drugs, resulting in facial swelling, itching, or breathing difficulty (ibid). If any of the above happens, you should go to your G.P. or to the Emergency Department, depending on where you were prescribed these antibiotics (Beaumont Hospital 2010).


Here are the key points given to patients when starting antibiotic tablets treatment at home:

• Basic, but crucial:  You must take the tablets according to the instructions on the bottle (ibid.)
• Finish all the tablets, even if you begin to feel better after a few days. Antibiotics usually work in courses over a period of time (ibid.)
• Don't double dose if you realised you have missed a dose. Continue to take the prescribed tablets at the designated times (ibid.)
• Avoid alcohol, especially if the tablets are called Metronidazole (ibid). This is because Metronidazole is believed to have the ability to block the body's breakdown of alcohol (Netdoctor 2010). This may lead to an accumulation of a substance called acetaldehyde in the bloodstream, and can cause intense flushing, breathlessness, headache, increased or irregular heart rate, low blood pressure, nausea and vomiting (ibid.). Because this reaction is so unpredictable, and may potentially be severe, precaution must be taken to avoid alcohol (ibid.)
• Store all medications out of reach of children (Beaumont Hospital 2010).
• Never give these tablets to anyone else, even if they appear to have the same name, dose, etc. Likewise, do not take other people's prescribed medications (ibid.)
• Antibiotics can reduce the effectiveness of the oral contraceptive pill (ibid). Women on the pill should use additional methods of contraception (e.g. condom) while taking antibiotics and for two weeks after the course has finished (ibid.)
• It can take up to 48 hours for antibiotics to start to work. If you still feel unwell after this time, inform your G.P. (ibid.)

To summarise these tips....

• Instructions
• Finish tablets
• Don't double dose
• Avoid alcohol
• Q children
• These are for you ONLY
• Contraception
• 48-hour effect

References

Beaumont Hospital. 2010. Antibiotics Card. Beaumont Hospital: Accident and Emergency.

Netdoctor. 2010. Metronidazole and Alcohol Question and Answer. Accessed at 08/04/2012 <http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/ate/medicines/207474.html>

Peters, M. 2007. The British Medical Association: Illustrated Medical Dictionary. London: Dorling Kindersley Limited.