Quick-fix OVERDOSE

In India, too, the quick-fix pill is alarmingly popular. “Taking antibiotics for every small illness seems to be on a rise. People have a preconceived notion that this group of medicines is the cure to everything. Something as small as a viral fever will go away on its own, not because you have taken antibiotics,” says Dr A.N. Ganguly, clinical associate, Max Healthcare. “Sometimes, patients try pushing us into prescribing an antibiotic for a ‘speedy recovery’,” he adds.

Sometimes, a person starts on antibiotics even when he comes down with a viral infection to help prevent bacterial infections when they are weak. “People usually do this during exams or at times when they are overloaded with work. Their excuse is that they need something to keep them going despite the illness and taking strong antibiotics will do just that,” says Dr Sonali Jukar, Lilawati Hospital. However, even though it may help you work for a while, it will eventually end up making your body’s immune system weaker. “It is wrong when people take the treatment in their own hands. One wouldn’t know if an infection is bacterial or viral without visiting the doctor. Most of the times, antibiotics are not required,” says Dr Tarun Sahni, internal medicine, Apollo Hospital.

Never use an antibiotic that has been prescribed to a friend. “Even if the illness is the same, the bacteria causing it may be different in different people. If the bacteria is the same, the doses needed to kill the bacteria may vary from person to person,” says Dr Ganguly. Also, if you have been prescribed an antibiotic, stick to the entire course instead of stopping it midway. “Some people stop the course when they start to get a little better. This may lead to a relapse,” warns Dr Sahni. In case you don’t get better even after the prescribed course is over, visit the doctor instead of starting the next course on your own.

Doctors too are prone to prescribe strong antibiotics without letting a natural healing process take its course. “It is your duty to question your doctor about the pills that he’s prescribing. You should be aware of what you are taking, what it’s side-effects are and what bacteria it is meant to fight,” says Dr Ganguly.