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Antibiotics: Usage & Side Effects

Antibiotics: Usage & Side Effects

Jan. 20th, 2022

Antibiotics are commonly prescribed to patients and have been used since the 1930s.1

It’s important to be aware of the side effects of antibiotics and the risk of antibiotic resistance. Here are some facts about why antibiotics are prescribed, the proper usage, and potential side effects of antibiotics.

Why Antibiotics are Prescribed

Antibiotics are prescribed to a patient who is sick due to an infection caused by bacteria.2 Antibiotics work to kill or decrease the growth of bacteria.

Antibiotics can be prescribed in tablets, liquids, and creams depending on what a patient needs it for.3

Antibiotics are taken to fight many different infections including:

  • Strep and tonsillitis
  • Bronchitis
  • Ear infection
  • Sinus infection
  • Skin infections
  • Dental infections
  • Urinary tract infection (UTI)
  • Pneumonia
  • Sepsis4

Antibiotics are also used for individuals who are at high risk for developing an infection, such as:

  • Patients undergoing surgery
  • Patients receiving chemotherapy
  • Patients with end-stage kidney disease2

Using Antibiotics

When it comes to taking antibiotics, it’s important to follow the doctor’s instructions. Some antibiotics are meant to be taken at the same time each day, before or with a meal, or up to three times a day. If you start to notice your symptoms subsiding, you should still finish the dosage of antibiotics your doctor prescribed.

The body absorbs antibiotics best when taken with water and with some time in between meals.5 For some antibiotics, it is recommended to take them up to three hours before eating because some food and drinks can alter the effects. One example is how dietary supplements lessen the effect of antibiotics.

If you’re prescribed antibiotics, you should also talk with your doctor about any other medications you’re taking, since antibiotics can affect some medications which can impact their effectiveness. For example, antibiotics can react with blood thinners and antacids.

Side Effects of Antibiotics

Although antibiotics can cure life-threatening infections, they also pose the risk of causing numerous different side effects.6

Upset Stomach

Many antibiotics can cause an upset stomach or stomach pain when taking them.7 This is one of the most common side effects of antibiotics.

Some antibiotics must be taken on an empty stomach. However, if you’re allowed to eat with the prescribed antibiotic, this may help with an upset stomach.

If an antibiotic causes severe abdominal pain, fever, and nausea, contact your doctor. One common reason for this is an overgrowth of bacteria in your intestines.

Fever

Fever is another common side effect of antibiotics.7 Fevers can accompany many different types of medications and they are usually not severe.

If you develop a fever when taking an antibiotic, it should reside on its own. However, if it doesn’t go away after 48 hours, talk with your doctor about using acetaminophen or ibuprofen to ease the symptoms.

Light Sensitivity

When taking antibiotics, your body may become more sensitive to light. This side effect occurs due to photosensitivity, which is a chemically induced change in the skin that can happen when taking certain medications.8

This chemical change can cause lights to seem brighter, and this can also make your skin more sensitive to sun. If you experience photosensitivity, be sure to protect your eyes with sunglasses and protect your skin by wearing sunscreen.

Allergic Reactions

An allergic reaction another potential side effect of antibiotics. Each year, there are thousands of emergency room visits due to reactions that are caused by taking antibiotics.

The allergic reactions from antibiotics can cause many different symptoms including:

  • Rashes
  • Swelling of the face and throat
  • Breathing difficulties

Unfortunately, your doctor may not be able to tell ahead of time if your body will have a reaction to an antibiotic.9 If you’ve experienced other allergic reactions, your doctor might have a better idea of what you could possibly be allergic to.

In some cases, your immune system may become sensitive to the antibiotic after the first time you take it, and then you will experience a reaction the second time you use it. The antibiotics that most commonly cause an allergic reaction are penicillins and cephalosporins.9 If you’re concerned about your chance of having an allergic reaction, talk with your doctor.

C. difficile

C. difficile, also known as C diff, is a bacteria that causes an infection in the large intestine.10 This bacteria can live inactively on surfaces for months. Once it is swallowed and in the body’s intestines, it becomes active.

For some people, C diff may live in the intestines and cause no symptoms; for others, the bacteria makes toxins that attack the intestines. The main symptoms of C diff include stomach pain and diarrhea.11

When taking antibiotics, some of the helpful bacteria can be killed along with the bacteria that is causing the infection. Without this good bacteria, C diff. can quickly grow.

Antibiotic Resistance

Antibiotic resistance is a possible side effect from the overuse of antibiotics.

It’s important to note that antibiotics treat bacterial infections, not viral infections.12 If an antibiotic is taken when there’s a viral infection, the antibiotic might attack the bacteria in your body that is not causing the sickness. Some of the bacteria it could attack might even be good bacteria that helps your body. 

To avoid this problem, make sure to talk with your doctor about your illness and the treatment that is needed. It’s also necessary to take the antibiotic as prescribed to kill the bacteria causing the illness, but not for an extended amount of time.

Ask Questions About Your Antibiotics

If you have questions or concerns about antibiotics, talk with your doctor. Your doctor can help guide you on how to properly take the medication and inform you on the side effects of antibiotics.

To learn more about Saber Healthcare and what we do, click here.

Saber Healthcare is an organization dedicated to providing consultant services to long term care providers. This article is for informational purposes and is not meant to be seen as professional advice. Please consult with a medical expert before relying on the information provided.

Sources

  1. “History of antibiotic development.” ReAct, reactgroup.org. Accessed January 12th, 2022. https://www.reactgroup.org/toolbox/understand/antibiotics/development-of-antibiotics-as-medicines/.
  2. “Be Antibiotics Aware: Smart Use, Best Care.” U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. November 12th, 2021. Accessed January 10th, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/patientsafety/features/be-antibiotics-aware.html.
  3. Sampson, Stacy. “How Do Antibiotics Work?” Healthline Media, healthline.com. December 7th, 2018. Accessed January 10th, 2022. https://www.healthline.com/health/how-do-antibiotics-work.
  4. “Antibiotic Use Questions and Answers.” U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. October 6th, 2021. Accessed January 10th, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/antibiotic-use/q-a.html.
  5. “Using medication: Using antibiotics correctly and avoiding resistance.” U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Center for Biotechnology Information. Accessed January 11th, 2022. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK361005/.
  6. “Antibiotics.” Cleveland Clinic, my.clevelandclinic.org. Accessed January 10th, 2022. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/drugs/16386-antibiotics.
  7. Carter, Alan. “Side Effects of Antibiotics: What They Are and How to Manage Them.” Healthline Media, healthline.com. April 19th, 2019. Accessed January 11th, 2022. https://www.healthline.com/health/infection/antibiotic-side-effects.
  8. “The Sun and Your Medicine.” U.S. Food & Drug Administration, fda.gov. Accessed January 11th, 2022. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/special-features/sun-and-your-medicine.
  9. “Antibiotic Medication Allergy.” Drugs.com, drugs.com. January 5th, 2022. Accessed January 11th, 2022. https://www.drugs.com/cg/antibiotic-medication-allergy.html.
  10. “C. difficile infection.” Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, Mayo Clinic. August 27th, 2021. Accessed January 10th, 2022. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/c-difficile/symptoms-causes/syc-20351691.
  11. Pathak, Neha. “Clostridium Difficile (C. Diff).” WebMD, webmd.com. August 31st, 2020. Accessed January 11th, 2022. https://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/clostridium-difficile-colitis.
  12. “Antibiotics: Are you misusing them?” Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, Mayo Clinic. February 15th, 2020. Accessed January 11th, 2022. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/consumer-health/in-depth/antibiotics/art-20045720.