there are so many differenty brands of antibiotics..so if i were to treat an infection with antibiotic of a specific potency, does it matter which brand or medicene i take?
2006-08-14 05:24:27 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Other - General Health Care
It matters greatly. Some antibiotics are more effective on certain bacteria than others. And some antibiotics don't work at all on some bacteria because they weren't developed for it. Using an antibiotic incorrectly results in resistant bacteria. If it happens that you have leftover antibiotic from a previous infection, do not use it to treat a current infection for the reasons already stated. There should be no such thing as "leftover antibiotics". Antibiotics should be taken until gone to prevent reinfection with a now resistant strain of bacteria. In case you have this in mind, I caution you against self-diagnosing and self-medicating.
In addition, it's not the brand name that matters. What matters is the classification of antibiotic and its particular mechanism. If you'd like to know more about these two areas, e-mail me at nurselmh@sbcglobal.net
2006-08-14 05:41:10 · answer #1 · answered by TweetyBird 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am not a doctor. So I don't know. I never understood the different types of antibiotics. But if I have left over ones in my medicine cabinet. I will take them if I get sick with some other ailment besides the one prescribed and it seems to work.
2006-08-14 12:31:10 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
different antibiotics have totally different properties, and you shouldn't be dosing yourself with them. you may not even have a bacterial infection! see a doctor, nurse, or clinician. many clinics are free for those low on funds.
2006-08-14 12:31:11 · answer #3 · answered by altgrave 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The brand probably doesn't matter, but the kind and the dose (or concentration) matter.
2006-08-14 12:32:00 · answer #4 · answered by The First Dragon 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋