Anti-Biotics bad?

Question

So I'm sick and I got put on Zithromax. I mentioned this to a friend and she gave me a lecture that 1.) I should take anti-biotics BEFORE I get sick and 2.) that anti-biotics can cause mutations in viruses if they don't kill the virus. Anyone know if this is true and where I can find more info? I haven't found anything good.

Answer 1

Oh, the irony. I just read an article about this particular subject just tow few weeks ago for school. The article below reveals many surprising facts about antibiotics. Here are just a few key points.

While antibiotics are seen as an aid to thwart disease, sometimes doctors prescribe them even if they aren't necessary. This can and eventually leads to the eradication of beneficial/ good bacteria that are necessary and serve a purpose in your body. Stronger and mutated bacteria are then able to take the place of those killed.

However, we are able to fight this mutation by developing new antibiotics to combat the stronger bacteria. However, doctors aren't able to develop new antibiotics fast enough. Hopefully things will not turn out ugly in the future, when the true harm can be seen.

So, while antibiotics are helpful, overuse and misuse can seriously disrupt the bacterial equilibrium that has developed over the years in our bodies. The article above, and many other google searches will put it in a better explanation, hopefully, and answer your question. I hope this helps.

Answer 2

Antibiotics are strong medicines that can stop some infections and save lives. But antibiotics can cause more harm than good when they aren't used the right way. You can protect yourself and your family by knowing when you should use antibiotics and when you shouldn't.

Do antibiotics work against all infections?

No. Antibiotics only work against infections caused by bacteria. They don't work against any infections caused by viruses. Viruses cause colds, the flu, and most coughs and sore throats.


What is "bacterial resistance"?

Usually antibiotics kill bacteria or stop them from growing. However, some bacteria have become resistant to specific antibiotics. This means that the antibiotics don’t work against them. Bacteria become resistant more quickly when antibiotics are used too often or are not used correctly.

Resistant bacteria sometimes can be treated with different antibiotics to which the bacteria have not yet become resistant. These medicines may have to be given intravenously (through a vein) in a hospital. A few kinds of resistant bacteria are untreatable.

What can I do to help myself and my family?

Don't expect antibiotics to cure every illness. Don't take antibiotics for viral illnesses like colds or the flu. Often, the best thing you can do is let colds and the flu run their course. Sometimes this can take 2 weeks or more. If your illness gets worse after 2 weeks, talk to your doctor. He or she can also give you advice on what you can do to ease your symptoms while your body fights off the virus.


How do I know when I need antibiotics?

The answer depends on what is causing your infection. The following are some basic guidelines:
Colds and flu. Viruses cause these illnesses. They can't be cured with antibiotics.
Cough or bronchitis. Viruses almost always cause these. However, if you have a problem with your lungs or an illness that lasts a long time, bacteria may actually be the cause. Your doctor may decide to try using an antibiotic.
Sore throat. Most sore throats are caused by viruses and don't need antibiotics. However, strep throat is caused by bacteria. Usually you'll have a throat swab and a lab test before your doctor will prescribe an antibiotic for strep throat.
Ear infections. There are several types of ear infections. Antibiotics are used for some, but not all, ear infections.
Sinus infections. Antibiotics are often used to treat sinus infections. However, a runny nose and yellow or green mucus do not necessarily mean you need an antibiotic.

Answer 3

1) no, you shouldnt take antibiotics BEFORE you get sick, unless you have a problem that you need them prophylactically like immunosuppression, have a heart problem and are going to have a dental procedure, etc.

otherwise, they are taken after you have an bacterial infection (they wont do anything at all for a viral infection)

2) they dont cause mutations (especially not to viruses. but overuse can leads to antibiotic resistance. to put it simply, let's say you have 100 cells of bacteria in your body (if you had an infection you would have millions to billions but im using 100 for an example). if 1 cell has a gene that provides resistance to the drug, then the other 99 will die, and that 1 may surivive. then that survior could reproduce and make an entire population of resistant bacteria, so the antibiotic might not work as well in the future against that strain. this is why there is resistance, not because your body gets used to them or it mutates the bacteria as other people here are saying.

your friend really doesnt sound like they know what they are talking about, i wouldnt listen to him/her

Answer 4

First of all, anti-biotics are used to treat bacterial infections, not viruses.

Second of all, you should never take anti-biotics unless you have an actual infection, not before.

The dangers of antibiotics are associated with bacteria developing resistances. The most common way this occurs is by people not completing the prescribed amount of drug. Although the majority of bacteria are killed very quickly, some may have resistance to the drug. IF you do not kill all of these bacteria by finishing your antibiotics, they may survive and reproduce, creating a new strain of drug-resistant bacteria. Another danger is with the overprescription of antibiotics. If antibiotics are prescribed for every little cold and cough, (which are generally viral and antibiotics don't work against them) then when you actually are sick, the bacteria may have already developed a resistance to the drug.

Do what your doctor tells you and take all the drugs prescribed!

Answer 5

You should never take anti-biotics before you get sick. You should take PRO-biotics on a regular basis before you get sick. Anti-biotics also destroys the good bacteria in your digestive system. Pro-biotics promotes the good bacteria to better deal with illness.
Antibiotics don't kill viruses, they kill bacteria. Two very different things. Antibiotics will deal with infections and such, but not cold or flu viruses.

Answer 6

Your friend was somewhat mistaken on both counts. Vaccinations are what you take before you get sick.

Now, some strains of some disease-causing agents have mutated in such a way that they are resistant to some antibiotics. And that has become a problem in hospital environments. That's why you don't take them until you need them- but when you do take them, make sure to take them all, as prescribed. Hopefully you will succeed in killing all the bacteria or viruses before they can mutate.

Answer 7

LOL, Your friend is obviously not a medical person.First of all antibiotics don't cause viruses to mutate , they do that on their own. Secondly, they do cause bacteria to mutate, making them resistant to antibiotics so they don't work later on. Then you have to switch to another antibiotic. A virus cannot be killed by an antibiotic , but bacteria can be. Only your doctor should be making these decisions with your input. Your friend is kind of mixed up, but heading in the right direction, too much antibiotics can be bad if you take them alot, but your doctor should know what he is doing and whether you need it or not.

Answer 8

first of all antibiotics are over used which results in our inability to fight off infections. they should not be taken for every sniffle.

From Dr. Greene:
Because antibiotics were such a revolutionary advance in the treatment of infectious diseases, doctors slipped into the habit of prescribing them for minor illnesses, even those known to be viral, just to "be on the safe side." They also thought they might help the child get better a bit faster.

Now we know that the opposite is true. This practice is harmful to children and to the environment by selectively breeding ever-more frightening bacteria. Children may get better a bit quicker at first, but then they are likely to get sick more often, with longer, more stubborn infections caused by more resistant organisms.

The routine use of antibiotics makes life worse for children and parents--even apart from the side effects and allergic reactions many children have. To be on the safe side, antibiotics should be withheld unless they are clearly needed.

Answer 9

I study biology and virology at New Mexico Tech. Antibiotics kill bacterial infections: they have nothing to do with viral infections. Anti-viral medication treats illnesses like colds and the flu. Taking antibiotics before you get sick will only kill bacteria already present in your system (Yes! We all have bacteria in is, especially in the intestines- they help us digest our food.).

Your friend is semi-correct in that if you do not finish your medication as prescribed, you could keep the bacteria that have more resistance to the antibiotics around, but the antibiotics themselves do not cause resistance.

Taking your antibiotics as reccomended; meaning finishing your dose unless your doctor tells you otherwise is absolutely fine. You should not feel like your chances of getting sick will come as a result of your taking this medication.

The national institute of heath has some great information on this: http://www.nih.gov.

I can discuss how bacteria have changed as a result of overuse of antibiotics, but this does not seem to be your specific question.

Answer 10

First of all, antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections, so of course they won't kill a virus.

Secondly, you can't take an antibiotic before you get sick because you can't take medicine to cure something you don't have.

Your friend is a little nutty about medicine, huh?

Zithromax is pretty great, since you only have to take it for 5 days, and continues to work for the 5 days following that.

As long as you don't abuse medicine, it will work.