Medically reviewed by Lindsay Cook, PharmD
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- When you take antibiotics without consulting your healthcare provider, you may overlook potentially severe drug interactions or side effects.
- Taking antibiotics often can lead to antibiotic resistance. Healthcare professionals only prescribe antibiotics when the benefits outweigh the risks.
- Antibiotic resistance can make it more difficult and expensive for your healthcare provider to treat common infections in the future.
Antibiotics are very important medications for treating bacterial diseases. However, using antibiotics under guidance from a healthcare provider can have serious consequences, including side effects and possible resistance.
What Is Antibiotic Misuse?
Antibiotic misuse refers to the inappropriate or unnecessary use of antibiotics, which includes taking them without a healthcare provider's consultation, using them for the wrong health condition, or not completing the treatment course.
Misuse of antibiotics is the major cause of antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic resistance can make it more difficult and expensive for your healthcare provider to treat common infections you may have in the future.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that more than 2.8 million infections in the U.S. occur due to antibiotic resistance each year, and more than 35,000 people die as a result.
Common Ways People Misuse Antibiotics
Misusing antibiotics is not limited to taking antibiotics without consulting your doctor. Other ways you can misuse antibiotics include:
- Taking antibiotics prescribed for friends or relatives
- Taking leftover antibiotics from a prior prescription
- Purchasing antibiotics from flea or ethnic markets
- Not completing your antibiotic dose
- Pressuring doctors for antibiotic prescriptions
Reasons You Should Never Take Antibiotics Without a Healthcare Provider's Guidance
Self-medication with antibiotics can have serious consequences. Some of which include:
Potential Side Effects
Antibiotics can help treat infections; however, all antibiotics have side effects, some of which you may not be aware of. About one in every five medication-related emergency room visits is due to an antibiotic reaction.
Some common side effects of antibiotic use include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, rashes, dizziness, and yeast infections.
It can also lead to serious infections like Clostridium difficile infections, which cause diarrhea that can lead to severe colon damage and even death.
In addition, antibiotics can also lead to severe and life-threatening allergic reactions.
Possible Drug Interactions
Antibiotics can interact with other medications you might be taking or worsen an existing condition.
For example, some antibiotics can interact with heart medications, which can result in a life-threatening arrhythmia (abnormal heartbeat).
Other antibiotics can alter the way medications behave by increasing or decreasing their blood levels, leading to toxicity or reduced effectiveness.
Before prescribing antibiotics, your health provider often considers potential drug interactions and finds the best alternative for you. When you take antibiotics without consulting your healthcare provider, you may overlook potentially severe drug interactions.
Incorrect Use of Medicine
When you use an antibiotic without consulting your healthcare provider for a proper diagnosis, you may end up taking an antibiotic that does not target the bacteria causing your infection.
In some cases, you may experience a false symptom relief, which could mask a more serious underlying condition and delay effective treatment.
Risk of Antibiotic Resistance or Superbugs
Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria develop defenses against antibiotics, making it difficult, and sometimes impossible, to treat an infection.
Anytime antibiotics are used, there is a risk of antibiotic resistance. This is why healthcare professionals only prescribe antibiotics when the benefits outweigh the risks.
Taking antibiotics without a doctor’s prescription puts you at risk of developing antibiotic resistance. If you develop antibiotic resistance:
- Your treatment can become more complicated
- Fewer antibiotics are effective against your condition
- Treatment options are limited or may not be available
- Treatment may be more expensive
How to Take Antibiotics Correctly
To prevent antibiotic resistance and side effects from antibiotic use, it helps to take them “correctly.” Some good antibiotic practices include:
- Always consult your health care provider before taking antibiotics
- Do not save your doses for the next time you are sick
- Do not take antibiotics prescribed for someone else
- Do not share your antibiotics with others
- Tell your healthcare provider about any medications you are taking
- Do not skip doses and complete the recommended duration
- Take your medications exactly as prescribed
If you are experiencing any side effects, can’t afford the antibiotics prescribed, or have any questions about the antibiotics prescribed, talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist. They will be able to guide you, change your medication (if needed), or recommend a cheaper alternative.
