If the remaining ones are not enough, maybe the course can be completed with another available medication? Such drug math can be misleading: familiar symptoms do not necessarily mean that the same treatment is needed this time.
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According to pharmacist Evelina Šeibokaitė, there are people who come to the pharmacy already convinced that they need antibiotics. This belief is often reinforced by previous experience, according to a press release from “Gintarinė Pharmacy”.
“Sometimes a person asks for antibiotics immediately without even saying what happened. When starting to talk, it turns out that they are suffering from a runny nose, cough, or sore throat. Upon hearing that antibiotics do not work against viral infections and are usually not needed in such cases, the person is often surprised or even angry. Then one has to hear the argument that last time after taking antibiotics, their condition improved after a few days. However, a large part of viral respiratory infections resolve on their own, so recovery may be mistakenly attributed to the effect of antibiotics,” says E. Šeibokaitė.
The same symptoms – not necessarily the same disease
Even if a doctor previously prescribed antibiotics for very similar symptoms, one cannot decide based on how they feel that the same treatment is needed this time. For example, a sore throat can be caused by a viral infection in one case and a bacterial infection in another.
“An antibiotic prescribed for a previous illness may not necessarily be suitable this time. The infection agent, required drug dose, or treatment duration may differ, and over time the person’s health condition may also change. Antibiotics are effective only against certain bacterial infections, so an improperly chosen drug may not only fail to help but also cause adverse reactions,” emphasizes the pharmacist.
Therefore, upon feeling symptoms characteristic of an infection, she recommends consulting a healthcare professional and using antibiotics only when they are truly necessary and properly prescribed.
One antibiotic does not replace another
Even knowing that antibiotics are needed to treat an infection, they should not be chosen based on what medications are left at home. Although antibiotics are often perceived as a single group of drugs in everyday language, their effects are not the same.
“Antibiotics differ in active substances, mechanisms of action, spectrum of activity, dosage, and which bacteria they can affect. Some act only on certain types of bacteria, others have a broader spectrum, and some infections require a specific drug. Therefore, starting with one antibiotic and continuing with another after it ends can result in choosing an inappropriate active substance, dose, or treatment duration. The fact that both drugs are antibiotics does not mean one can be substituted for another,” explains E. Šeibokaitė.
An improperly chosen antibiotic can also lead to the infection not being properly treated. The drug must be selected to target the specific infection agent and reach the necessary concentration at the required site in the body.
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The risk of bacterial resistance is increasing
It is important not only which antibiotic is used but also its dose and treatment duration. If the drug is taken too little or not as prescribed, symptoms may persist, return, and the infection may become complicated. Improper use of antibiotics also creates favorable conditions for resistant bacteria to survive and spread.
“When antibiotics are used improperly, more sensitive bacteria may be destroyed, while less sensitive or resistant ones survive and multiply. Therefore, it is important not only to avoid unnecessary use of antibiotics but also not to change them at will, not to split leftover tablets into separate treatment courses, and to use them only as prescribed by a doctor,” warns E. Šeibokaitė.
According to her, the problem of bacterial resistance is another reason to abandon the view that leftover antibiotics at home can be a reserve for another illness. Improper use can have consequences not only for the treatment of a specific person but also create conditions for resistant bacteria to spread.
Unused antibiotics should not be kept at home
Antibiotics left after treatment should not be saved for another illness or given to a family member. Even if another person’s symptoms seem very similar, they may require a completely different treatment.
“Another person’s health condition, medications used, allergies, and treatment needs may be completely different. Likewise, we ourselves may have a different infection next time that requires different treatment or no antibiotics at all. Therefore, leftover medications should not be kept for the future or shared with others,” says the pharmacist.
Unneeded antibiotics should not be thrown away with household waste or flushed down the drain. In Lithuania, residents can bring expired or unusable medications to pharmacies free of charge, which ensure their safe disposal.
“This not only reduces the risk that antibiotics will later be used independently but also contributes to responsible drug waste management and environmental protection,” says E. Šeibokaitė.
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