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Over the counter, the sale of antibiotics is a global problem and it is increasingly recognized as a source of antibiotic misuse and is believed to increase treatment costs, adverse effects of treatment and emergence of resistance.

Reference: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4734870/

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The research paper's results reveal that extended use of antibiotics resulted in antibiotic resistant bacteria present in the body and could as a result lead to bacteria resistant to 2nd line antibiotics by increasing the frequency of need for their use.

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The sale of antibiotics without prescription: More cons than pros.

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Kyle Knox states that women should be able to get antibiotics for urinary tract infections (UTI) without a prescription in the UK since most need to be treated with these drugs and this strategy could avoid unnecessary visits to the GPs.

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Potential risks of over the counter antibiotics

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Potential risks of over the counter antibiotics

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Sell antibiotics without prescription may lead to safety issues such as a wrong choice of drugs and insufficient dosages.

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For some people, buying over the counter antibiotics is a common thing. In fact, a lot of people prefer to buy over the counter antibiotics because it is more expensive to get a doctor's prescription especially for a very simple type of infection. Although it may seem that purchasing over the counter antibiotics is safe and convenient, there are a number of pros and cons about avoiding a doctor's approval. This article will shortly discuss both the positive side and negative side when you avail over the counter antibiotics.
Why do people buy over the counter antibiotics?
The reason as to why many people choose to buy over the counter antibiotics may vary per individual. For most individuals, buying over the counter antibiotics is a lot more convenient than going to doctor. How come it is more convenient? For one, you do not really want to spend so much for your medical expenses especially for a simple recurrent infection. If you are already familiar with the symptoms you are experiencing because you have it in the past then going to the doctor may be a lot of wasting time. most likely you already know which antibiotics you need to take for that particular infection. This is especially true among the third world countries, and even to the western countries where it has already been a tradition to buy over the counter antibiotics. Moreover, people who do not have an insurance and do not have sufficient funds to support their medical expenses will have to prefer over the counter antibiotics because they can have a lot of savings than going to get an expensive prescription from a doctor. Some people have also already made it a practice to buy over the counter antibiotics if they suspect a bacterial infection that has caused them the troublesome symptoms.
What are the possible dangers of buying antibiotics without a doctor's approval?
Of course, when you buy over the counter antibiotics you might be facing risks as well. Number one, you can avail the wrong drugs for your condition. Remember that there might be times when certain diseases could have the same symptoms. Without a doctor's diagnosis, you could misdiagnose your condition and as a result take the wrong medication. This can be dangerous since you do not only get treated but you might also suffer the side effects of the drug. And given that you have chosen the right antibiotic for your condition. How about the dosage? The dose you need to take for a particular infection is critical. If you take a lower dose, you might not get healed. If you take the higher dose, you may be healed but your chances of developing higher antibiotic resistance are high. As a consequence, your body might not respond with simple antibiotics anymore the next time you have an infection. That is why if you are so concerned about your healing outcomes, then it is better to consult first a doctor before you try buying over the counter antibiotics.

This entry was posted in Over the Counter Antibiotics and tagged antibiotics for sale, antibiotics online, Azithromycin tablets, buy antibiotics online on by .

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Over the Counter Antibiotics Pros and Cons - antibiotics for sale, antibiotics online, Azithromycin tablets, buy antibiotics online

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For some people, buying over the counter antibiotics is a common thing. In fact, a lot of people prefer to buy over the counter antibiotics because it is more expensive to get a doctor's prescription especially for a very simple type of infection.

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Online pharmacies lead patients to believe that they can self-medicated and have prescriptions online.

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online pharmacies not requiring prescriptions could fuel antibiotic resistance

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Online pharmacies not requiring prescriptions could fuel antibiotic resistance - National Health Issues - Issues Online

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By Caroline Brogan Scientists have found that antibiotics are illegally available without prescription on 45 per cent of online pharmacy websites .........

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The article suggests that the general public is unable to properly diagnose themselves causing overuse of antibiotics in the event they assume their illness is bacterial when in fact it is not. The main consequence of this is much higher risk of developing a antibiotic resistant bacteria in the body

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The society has now reached an over prescription of antibiotics as a threat of Superdrugs, bacteria has developed resistance in response to the overuse.

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Bacteria are rapidly becoming resistant in our antibiotic-loving society. This statement is a fact. We are facing a threat not only to our country, but to the world.

I have a proposal to make: over-the-counter antibiotics.

(Insert tongue-in-cheek here.)

Will this help us deal with the falsely popular notion that antibiotics are a cure-all? I don't know, but here's something I do. I've had patients storm out because I've said no, and I take the chance of a negative review right then and there when it happens. Not to mention a lawsuit, should some complication arise, and a lawyer takes on the case of "why weren't antibiotics prescribed."

Should we basically cater to patient requests? We take a risk when we say no, in this increasingly customer-service based field, so why not just have them over-the-counter?

We've all seen the relevant cartoon. It's posted on my personal Facebook page, sent by a good friend just the other day. A mug, held by the hand of a doctor, states, "Don't confuse my medical degree with your Google search." Sigh. If this were only a joke.

I have had several interactions in the office where a patient, after saying hello and being asked the common office conversation starter, "Why are you here today?" answers with, "I'm here to get a Z-pak for my bronchitis."

Basically, the patient here makes an appointment to let me know what he's got. And let's face it, my patient wants one thing, and one thing only, an antibiotic prescription. I do get it on one hand, it's 2016, and there's an internet with sites like Wikipedia and WebMD, where you can look up any symptom and essentially choose what you have from the list.

I also get that doctors over the years have been prescribing Z-paks like Band-Aids, for every cough, sore throat, or airway issue that walks through that door. Combine the two and we're growing into a generation of self-diagnosing, misinformed alarmists.

And now, we are sadly reaching a crisis in antibiotic over-prescription as the threat of superbugs in this world grows, and resistance develops in response to overuse. It is up to health care professionals, like you and I, to put an end to common misuse and misconceptions of those who simply refuse to understand. I know it's often easier to just cave, and throw that antibiotic at our patient, and it probably saves us time and aggravation. Not to mention a decrease in liability if, heaven forbid, you were to actually miss.

Why not prescribe an antibiotic, just in case, you ask. Many of them change our gut flora to wipe out some of the necessary bacteria that live there, helping us with normal digestion. This, in turn, causes abdominal discomfort, nausea, loose stools. Then there are more serious effects like heart rhythm disturbances and neurological phenomonon. Just a week ago, the FDA came out with heavier warnings regarding a class of drugs readily prescribed for common ailments such as urinary tract infections and respiratory tract infections, citing serious adverse reactions were more frequent than previously believed.

So to the patient who comes in having already diagnosed himself, or having decided which medicine the doctor should prescribe, nothing is more irritating than a doctor who disagrees. Usually, your mind is already made up, and you know just what you want.

My proposal stands. Why not just have them there, behind the counter, ready for pick up at the local pharmacy? Or ordered delivery-service-style? Let's face it, we'll all save the trouble. Less missed work, less wait time, less aggravation. And best of all, the doctor gets great marks on his next social media mention.
Dana Corriel is an internal medicine physician who blogs at drcorriel. Image credit: Shutterstock.com

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Why not make antibiotics over the counter?

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Bacteria are rapidly becoming resistant in our antibiotic-loving society. This statement is a fact. We are facing a threat not only to our country, but to the world. I have a proposal to make: over-the-counter antibiotics. (Insert tongue-in-cheek here.) Will this help us deal with the falsely popular notion that antibiotics are a cure-all?

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Antibiotic Resistance — Problems, Progress, and Prospects

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We disagree on selling antibiotics over the counter.

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It is better that antibiotics should be prescribed by a doctor first before selling it to patients. Hence, strong regulatory enforcement and a community awareness campaign is called for to limit nonprescription sale of antibiotics.

Reference: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4734870/

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The video explain how and why bacteria develop resistance, and mention about the situation of antibiotics at now and give some suggestion about how the avoid to use antibiotics.

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What causes antibiotic resistance? - Kevin Wu

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This article proves that the selling of antibiotics without proper prescription had cause not only strong resistance towards the antibiotics, but also serious health problems. This articles also tells that it is best that antibiotics should be prescribed under proper medical supervision.

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Dubai

The Ministry of Health on Tuesday warned pharmacies against selling antibiotics without prescriptions.

Indiscriminate use of antibiotics can lead to an overall weakening of the immune system and upset the battle against severe bacterial infections, said Dr Ameen Hussain Al Amiri, Assistant Undersecretary for Medical Practice and License Sector in UAE Ministry of Health. He vowed to take punitive action against pharmacies that violate laws.

The warning comes in the wake of the World Health Organisation's advice against the reckless use of antibiotics. According to the WHO, more than 700,000 deaths occur each year owing to the indiscriminate use of antibiotics globally.

Dr Al Amiri said research indicated that more than 50-80 per cent of disease causing microbes have developed strong resistance to antibiotics because of wrong usage. This not only caused health complications for individuals but increased the burden of healthcare on the country. It also increased the individual health care bills and derailed a country's fight against bacterial epidemics, he said. "Indiscriminate use of antibiotics not only weakens the immune system but prolonged use can cause complications which can be fatal," he warned.

Dr Al Amiri went on to add that antibiotics must be used only under medical supervision and as per prescribed dosage. People must not stop medication as soon as they feel well but continue with the entire course to destroy the bacteria or else the likelihood of it developing resistance is very high. "We need antibiotics to stop infection in case of complicated surgeries, during organ transplant and cancer treatment. But it must be used judiciously or else there can be wider social repercussions if these qualities are rendered ineffective."

He concluded by saying all pharmacies were expected to comply with the law and those found guilty would be referred to investigation committees, he added.

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Pharmacies selling antibiotics without prescription face action

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Dubai The Ministry of Health on Tuesday warned pharmacies against selling antibiotics without prescriptions. Indiscriminate use of antibiotics can lead to an overall weakening of the immune system and upset the battle against severe bacterial infections, said Dr Ameen Hussain Al Amiri, Assistant Undersecretary for Medical Practice and License Sector in UAE Ministry of Health.