Antibiotics?

Question

Why cant we buy them over the counter here in the uk other countries can?

Answer 1

Because buying them over the counter contributes to self diagnosis which is dangerous, also the overuse of antibiotics has directly contributed to the MRSA issue. MRSA actually stands fo Methicillin Resistant (Methicillin is the anitbiotic which used to kill the bacteria known as>>) Staphlacoccus Aereus. If we start buying them over the counter it will make infections worse, not better. The decision to use antibiotics needs to be by an experienced Dr or Nurse only.

Answer 2

Becuz they are for scripts only. Do you know how dangerous antibiotics can be? I am suffering with intestinal yeast overgrowth and have for 5 yrs, due to too many antibiotics. It ruined my flora in my intestinal tract. It took me over 4 yrs to fine a doc that even knew what was wrong with me. I was on my death bed, literally dying, and no one could help me.

If it had gone a little longer, my organs would have eventually shut down. I am being treated now for this illness, and its been tough. It screwed up everything in my system.

Antibiotics can be great, but can also be deadly if taken too many. Im glad we cant get them over the counter, cuz it would be the end of the human race. Not enough ppl know about this....but I HAVE met a few here that do know what Im talking about.

Answer 3

I guess because they're drugs and therefore should be controlled.

If we were able to get them over the counter, people would take them all the time, even when they didn't need them and then they would become immune to the effects of antibiotics, meaning they wouldn't be able to use them when they really needed them.

Plus, there are loads of different types and it's not realistic that every person should learn which antibiotic is good for what.

Answer 4

What other countries? Not in the US.

Antibiotics are WAY over used. Most people have viruses and antibiotics are useless for viruses. People still swear they need them and they don't. That is why we have so many antibiotics-resistant strains of bacterias. People have been eating antibiotics like candy for years--and that is doctors' fault.

Someone gets a virus, goes and gets an antibiotic and in 7 days feels so much better that they THINK it was the antibiotic. It wasn't. Viruses are gone in 7 days anyway.

Answer 5

Studies show that only one-third of medicine-takers follow the instructions on the label to the letter. Astonishingly, one in three Americans never take any of their prescribed medication at all. Others may double up on medications, with the dangerous reasoning that if one pill may be good, two will be better. But the largest problem appears to be that most of us take only some of the drugs that we're prescribed.

Sometimes called "America's other drug problem," the misuse of medications like antibiotics has become a national epidemic, researchers say. Only about half of patients with asthma or with high blood pressure take their medications as prescribed, even though both of these illnesses are potentially very serious...
I suppose the US of A wants it in their power whether we get the meds or not...The government is always under control of such things...

Answer 6

Because random taking of antibiotics can cause widespread resistance to them (ie; the trains can develop an immunity to the antibiotic).

If you can buy them over the counter; people would buy them on a whim, not use them properly, etc. Making the situation even worse.

Answer 7

Like many things in life, if you are exposed to something too much the effect on you is reduced. Specifically, if you take antibiotics too readily then the bacteria, through processes of natural selection (they go through many generations in hours), in you and around you will develop immunity to that antibiotic - multiply this by millions of people and soon enough you will have no effective antibiotics left.

Answer 8

Good question, i can buy them here in Spain for about 3 euros and the price is the same no matter which pharmacy you go to
having said that the pharmacists out here give you good free advice

Answer 9

Antibiotics need to be strictly regulated or we would have organisms not responsive to any antibiotic when we become ill. They are overused now for colds and sore throats due to viruses.

Answer 10

overuse of antibiotics leads to the strains of bacteria becoming immune to it then down the road they will no longer be useful. Plus, a lot of ppl think they can treat viral infections and they don't at all. If u don't REALLY need them, then don't take them....