Why you need prescription to buy antibiotics?

Question

If this medications can save you from death, why cannot buy them over the counter?

Answer 1

To paraphrase an old TV show, the answer is in the word itself.
Anti, against
Biotic, from bios, meaning life

To elaborate, antibiotics can be dangerous, can even kill, if they're wrong for you. Further, at any give time, antibiotics may be totally unnecessary for any given patient. As well, different classes of antibiotics work in different ways, and therefore work on different types of problems.

A doctor is trained to know and understand the differences between these different types of bacterial infections, and is also trained to distinguish, sometimes with help, the difference between bacterial, fungal and viral infections. Antibiotics can only help with bacterial ones. Doctors are also kept informed as to the types of bacteria that are "going around" and the antibiotics that are best suited to fight each of them.

In the wrong hands and under the wrong circumstances, antibiotics are as deadly, if not more so, than the infections that they are meant to fight. That's why you need a prescription for antibiotics, just as you do for things such as narcotic pain meds and anabolic steroids.

Answer 2

It's a good question, If any body take antibiotics as over the counter (without prescription) for mild infections, this will lead to what so called Cross resistance or tolerance of the Infecting micro-organisms and so lead to ineffectivity of the over taken or given antibiotics. Because Bacterias have a system of identification of the antibiotic chemical structure and secrete as a result a protein (enzyme) that lead to inactivation.
So, this rule is good to keep the antibiotics effective as possible.

Answer 3

In the US, you cannot buy antibiotics without a prescription. Don't you have a Minute Clinic or similar in your area? (Usually in CVS stores, but also in some Walmarts). Treating strep throat is certainly within their scope and they charge a lot less than my clinic. My Mom just went 2 weeks ago for pinkeye and the total (with a prescription) was under $50. If what they suspect you have is out of their scope, they will send you to your doctor and often not even charge you. Finally, unless you have a severe sore throat, why the heck would you go to the doctor? Just use a cough drop or a throat lozenge with a pain killer. Strep Throat is the biggest concern, and yes, that must be treated, but if it was your only complaint and it hasn't been more than 4-5 days, it is likely not strep throat as it is uncommon among adults with normal immune systems. My uncle recently had strep throat, but he is still in recovery from cancer treatment, making him more susceptible. Symptoms of strep: # Sudden and rapid onset of a severe sore throat with difficulty swallowing accompanied by a temperature that is usually greater than 101 degrees Fahrenheit. # Other symptoms such as headache, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. # Swollen and tender lymph glands underneath the jaw and in the front and sides of the neck.

Answer 4

Antibiotics misused can cause all sorts of problems. For instance, taking an antibiotic if you have a virus is useless waste of money, as antibiotics don't have any effect on viruses. The wrong antibiotic taken for a bacteria that isn't effected by it is also useless and can create resistant bacteria. There is more to using antibiotics safely that just taking them when you feel sick. That is why a prescription is required, the doctor knows what to look for to determine if an antibiotic is appropriate, he can also obtain cultures to narrow down what kind of antibiotic should be used.

Answer 5

This is because the range between therapeutic dose and fatal dose is small as compared to other drugs like aspirin and acetaminophen (Tylenol). They can also cause other side effects and so have to be monitored properly. With a prescription only the needed amount will be given in order to reduce the chances of large side effects or a fatal dose.

Answer 6

Because some people take them so often that their bodies become immune to them. Then the medication is worthless. Plus, you have variation of milligrams. That can be very harmful if overdosed. AND, Some medications people are deathly allergic to because of a particular active ingredient. There are "branches" of the medication that some people don't realize and your doctor will be able to catch that to prevent reactions.
It's all a matter of safety from people who have no medication knowledge or just plain stupidity.

Answer 7

Because they would be misused and abused and we would become immmune to them.

In fact, that is happening some even now because they have been over prescribed at times and taken wrong. Stronger antibiotics are always having to be developed because some diseases/illnesses have become resistant.

Answer 8

because you need to study that for at least 6 years to know whats good for you and whats bad for you.
just going to the store buying some antibiotic for some desease does not help. there are so many types of meds around helping for all kinds of deseases, so imagine you buy the wrong drug - it's not gonna help!
and imagine the side effects....
thats why

Answer 9

To avoid the creation of super-germs.

Antiobiotics taken improperly (e.g. ceasing to take ABs before prescribed amount of time) can kill the weakling germs, but leave the strongest alive and thriving.

The remaining germs can create and spread an antiobiotics-resistant strain of supergerm.

Answer 10

because people would misuse it and then by taking to many antibiotics your body starts to become immune to them and if you kept taking them for everything your body would eventually not heal at all because it would be so use to taking them that they wouldnt work anymore expecially children they dont give them out like they use to because of this.