Antibiotics — Proper Use and Why Resistance Matters

Why finishing the course matters, why antibiotics do nothing for a cold, and what antibiotic resistance actually means for you and the people around you.

Antibiotics are one of the most misunderstood categories of medication — partly because they get requested for the wrong things, and partly because the instructions that come with them are often followed loosely. Both matter more than they seem.

What antibiotics do — and don't do

Antibiotics treat bacterial infections. They do nothing for viral infections — colds, flu, most sore throats, and most coughs. Taking one for a virus will not speed recovery, and it is not a harmless precaution: it still carries side effect risk and still contributes to resistance, for zero benefit.

Why finishing the course matters

Stopping early because you feel better is one of the most common ways resistance develops. The bacteria most easily killed die first; the hardier ones survive longest. A full course is timed to clear those too. Stop early, and you can leave behind the more resistant survivors — which is exactly the population you don't want left in your body.

What antibiotic resistance actually means

• ✓It is not personal. Resistance develops in bacteria, not in you — but resistant bacteria can spread to other people, which is why individual antibiotic use is a shared concern, not just a personal one.
• ✓It makes future infections harder to treat. A resistant infection may need a stronger, more expensive antibiotic with more side effects — or in serious cases, may not respond to available options at all.
• ✓It is driven by overuse and misuse, not by any single dramatic event — mostly by antibiotics taken for viral infections, courses stopped early, and leftover antibiotics used without a new assessment.

Using them properly

1. 1Take the full course as prescribed, even once you feel better — unless your prescriber specifically tells you to stop.
2. 2Take at the intervals specified, not just 'a few times a day' — the timing keeps a steady level in your system.
3. 3Never save leftovers for next time. A different infection needs its own assessment, and a partial course does not work properly.
4. 4Never share antibiotics with someone else, even for what looks like the same symptoms.
5. 5Ask about food and other medications — some antibiotics need to be taken with food, others on an empty stomach, and some interact with common medications like birth control or blood thinners.

Side effects that need attention

Mild nausea or an upset stomach are common and usually manageable. A widespread rash, facial or throat swelling, or difficulty breathing are signs of a possible allergic reaction — stop the medication and seek care immediately. Severe or bloody diarrhea, especially starting after the course, is worth calling us or your prescriber about rather than waiting out.

Not sure whether your symptoms need an antibiotic at all? Many common infections are on the list BC pharmacists can assess directly — ask at the counter before assuming you need one.

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