FACT #2: IF YOU USE THEM WHEN NOT NEEDED, THEY CAN MAKE YOU SICKER

Side effects are rare when antibiotics are used properly. Most antibiotics in fact don’t cause any problems.

However, when used outside of your doctor’s recommendation and instructions, the most common reactions may be:

Bloating and indigestion
Yeast infection
Nausea and vomiting
Abdominal pain
Loss of appetite
Diarrhoea
Allergic reaction

These side effects usually are mild and normally pass once you finish taking your antibiotics. However, if you have any concerns, it will be wise to talk to your doctor.

Only in very rare cases, an allergic reaction from antibiotics can be serious and lead to anaphylaxis: in that case it is treated as a medical emergency. Anaphylaxis happens to people who are allergic to certain types of antibiotics, for example penicillin – this is why your doctor checks if you have any allergies before prescribing antibiotics. Self-medication with antibiotics could be life-threatening as a doctor is not involved to check whether you have an allergy and whether the type of antibiotic is appropriate for you/your condition.

Did you know…?

About 1 in 15 people have allergic reactions to antibiotics. In most cases, the reaction is mild (e.g. itchy skin rash or coughing) and can be treated with antihistamines.

Interesting fact

Self-medication with antibiotics could make you fat… (especially when antibiotics are taken on a regular basis). Antibiotics don’t kill just the bacteria that make you sick, but rather all bacteria that they encounter as they make their way through the gastrointestinal tract – even those that are good for gut’s bacterial balance. This interferes with your body’s ability to digest food properly, leading to put on unwanted weight. They may also interfere with your hunger hormones balance, making you feel hungry more often.