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29 April 2009

You Should Know Prescription Antibiotic Reactions

Posted by admin under: Health .

The health care industry has been revolutionized by the emergence of antibiotics. When penicillin was discovered in 1928, not many people had any idea of how dramatically these medications would impact future health care.

Antibiotics are godsends when it comes to treating various infections and diseases that might otherwise be fatal.

The flip side is that with the good comes the bad. Although antibiotics are extremely helpful in combating bacterial infections, they are frequently used improperly or too much, since people think that there are no ill effects from using them. That is not necessarily true. Bad reactions to antibiotics are not as rare as most believe. As a matter of fact, three times more people visit the emergency room due to antibiotic prescription reactions than for other frequently prescribed medications. What can you do to avoid becoming a victim of serious antibiotic prescription reactions?

What are the most frequent reactions to antibiotics that are witnessed?

Allergic antibiotic prescription reactions can happen in some cases. Almost any antibiotic can reveal this although Penicillin is the most common one. In some instances, antibiotics can cause serious or even deadly reactions; this is why your medical provider must be aware of your medical history and which medications have been problematic for you previously. You must advise your physician if you have ever experienced a rash or other symptom when taking an antibiotic, even if you think it is unimportant. The first time you take an antibiotic, any allergic reaction may be mild. Subsequent exposures could result in more severe reactions. When picking up your medication at the drug store, advise the pharmacist of any drug allergies that you have to make sure that the medication that has been prescribed will not be problematic for you.

What additional antibiotic reactions can happen?

Diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting are a few of the negative side effects of antibiotics. This is because antibiotics eliminate good intestinal bacteria along with the bad. Ingesting probiotics in foods such as yogurt can help replenish the good bacteria in your intestines, thereby eliminating the problem. Antibiotics can also interact with other prescription medications, causing various symptoms. Occasionally liver damage occurs as a result of antibiotic use. Some studies have revealed that constant use of antibiotics could be related to an increased chance of breast cancer.

What can you do so that this does not occur?

One way to avoid possible adverse reactions to antibiotics is to ask your physician why he/she is prescribing an antibiotic. Antibiotics are often prescribed for upper respiratory infections, sinus infections, and earaches, even though they have little effect in resolving these conditions. Antibiotics have been proven to not treat these conditions. Inform your doctor about any medication you may be taking, even nutritional supplements. Before taking any antibiotics, be sure that they are truly necessary, so that you do not put your health in jeopardy for no reason.

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