I've been coughing up green phlegm for a month now and finally went to the doctor where I was prescribed antibiotics, but I heard that they screw up your natural immune system and render it ineffective for a while. Truth or an old wives tale? I might just give my immune system a few more days if it is correct. I'm exposed to all sorts of people in my job and being winter many of them are sick...
2006-12-22 03:58:29 · 10 answers · asked by mrbean_101 3 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Other - Diseases
You need antibiotics to treat your infection, waiting another few days wont help and could make you worse.
Antibiotics were over prescribed for a long time but this is now being looked at and amended. What over use of them does is helps diseases to build a tolerance to them making the antibiotics useless against them.
Our overuse of antibiotics was leading to 'superbugs'. It's not that your immune system will be weakened by using antibiotics, just that overuse increases the strength of the bacteria, making it impossible to fight them with conventional medicaions.
Hopfully with the reduction in antibiotic scripts we wont get to a point where they become obsolete.
Karma.
x
2006-12-22 04:11:42 · answer #1 · answered by angelkarmachic 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Green coughed up mucus may by a sign of bacterial infection. If your condition does not get better during a month and you have bacterial infection, antibiotic may be the only right solution. When the immune system cannot control an infection, antibiotic should be given.
To neutralize negative effects of antibiotic on intestinal flora, you can include in your diet yogurt or/and probiotic supplement.
There are diverse opinions about the influence of antibiotics on immune system. You can read more from sources below.
2006-12-24 01:18:35 · answer #2 · answered by Karen B 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's not an old wives tale. When I was a baby I got ear infections really bad and all the time. My Mom said that I stayed on antibiotics for almost 6 months straight. Staying on them for that length of time, my immune system stopped trying to fight the ear infections because the antibiotics was doing it. They did a test on me to see if, without antibiotics, my body would respond to a simple scratch, witch it didn't. I will spare you the details of how this problem is corrected but today some 20 odd years later, I and my immune system are fine. I am not a doctor myself but I would take the antibiotics that the doc gave you. Short term use is fine. But I wouldn't use them for a long period of time.
2006-12-22 04:08:40 · answer #3 · answered by warriorchic84 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Antibiotics can have an effect on the good bacteria which live in your gut - which is why sometimes people get diarrhea or, in women, yeast infections, when they're on antibiotics. The best way to combat that side-effect is lots of yoghurt! (Especially the new Activa brand, in the US, which has more 'pro-biotics' in it than the usual kind.)
But if you're coughing up green phlegm, it's time to take the antibiotics. In order to prevent a relapse of more resistant bacteria, make sure you take the whole course of drugs exactly as your doctor prescribed them.
2006-12-22 04:02:13 · answer #4 · answered by Cobalt 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
wow. I can't believe all the wrong answers. Antibiotics do not replace your immune system. Antibiotics help the immune system by injecting a small dosage of the poisonous bacteria into your bloodstream. The immune system becomes familiar with the antibiotic, therefore lessens the severity of the sickness your body has already or begun to take on.
2016-03-29 03:47:23 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If its green then you probably have some kind of infection and the antibiotic would wipe it out. If you let it go you could end up with pneumonia. Yes antibiotics are to be taken only when necessary but they can be life savers. At this point, if you have been coughing for a month, you need to treat it.
2006-12-22 04:01:56 · answer #6 · answered by David M 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Im no doctor but from what I understand if you have taken antibiotics for a long time they do eventually wear down the immune system.
2006-12-22 04:11:37 · answer #7 · answered by whitebeanner 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Antibiotics are needed sometimes. But if you don't replace your good bacteria with acidophilus (found in yogurt or in supplement form) you will tend to get sick more often because your immune system will weaken over time due to the growth of candida(yeast) the bad bacteria which grows back faster.
2006-12-22 04:05:47 · answer #8 · answered by askywalkersmom 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
antibiotics assist the immune system to fight infection. take them for the full amount of prescribed days the dr said to.
i think you heard the dangers of chronically being on ab's because of a possible superinfection. don't take them longer than needed or a superinfection may develop in the future .trust your dr!!
2006-12-22 04:25:47 · answer #9 · answered by smillas 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If its for a short time it wont cause harm but yes over a long period of time it will depleat your own. I am going thru that condition right now for bieng put on them for too long.
2006-12-22 04:03:24 · answer #10 · answered by JAMI E 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋