Antibiotics are drugs used to fight dangerous bacterial infections. Their benefit is that they successfully fight severe infections that our immune system cannot fight on its own. However, it is dangerous to take antibiotics without special need and a doctor’s prescription. In the material we tell in more detail what consequences this can lead to.
Increased risk of developing dysbiosis
Taking antibiotics without urgent need is not worth it, because they aggressively act on the gastric mucosa and destroy the beneficial intestinal flora. All this can lead to the development of dysbacteriosis – a condition in which the normal intestinal microflora changes.
At the same time, due to the uncontrolled use of antibiotics, dysbacteriosis can manifest itself in both mild and severe forms. Including provoke the appearance of colitis – an inflammatory disease of the mucous membrane of the colon.
The work of the stomach will worsen
Digestive problems are another nuisance faced by people who self-administer antibiotic treatment. As a rule, we are talking about nausea, turning into vomiting, digestive disorders, decreased appetite and cramps in the intestines and stomach.
You should be especially wary if you are faced with the following problems:
- severe diarrhea;
- nausea that comes up every time after taking antibiotics;
- blood or mucus in the stool;
- severe cramps and pain in the abdomen.
The simultaneous use of antibiotics and alcohol can also provoke a toxic reaction. In addition to the fact that alcoholic beverages have a destructive effect on the antibiotic, preventing it from binding to bacteria, they also negatively affect the functioning of several organs at once. Including the liver, cardiovascular system and kidneys.
The drug may not work
It is impossible to independently understand what exactly caused the disease – viruses, bacteria or the development of autoimmune processes. Therefore, uncontrolled antibiotic treatment can provoke the appearance of side effects and complications.
For example, if a person with the flu immediately starts taking antibiotics, he provokes immunosuppression – suppression of the immune system. This is because antibiotics are not suitable for treating viral infections. They will be needed only if a bacterial infection joins the virus.
You might get worse
Uncontrolled intake of antibiotics, at best, will lead to the fact that your condition will not change in any way. At worst, you will face complications of the disease and cause significant harm to the body.
Since all antibiotics have a narrow specialization, different dosages and duration of their course, you should not prescribe them yourself. Even if a certain antibiotic helped your relative or friend at one time, this does not mean at all that it will turn out to be just as effective for you.
In addition, the death of bacteria will only occur if you drink a full course of antibiotics. Those who drop out of treatment as soon as they feel the slightest relief run the risk of developing antibiotic resistance in harmful bacteria.
Increased risk of developing candidiasis
Unfortunately, antibiotics do not act selectively on the body. That is, they kill both “bad” and “good” bacteria. That is why, by prescribing treatment for yourself, you run the risk of disturbing the microbial balance and provoking the development of candidiasis.
This fungal infection can spread to the oral cavity, but most often affects the vagina. In the first case, a white coating will appear in the mouth, bad breath, as well as burning and pain when eating cold or hot food.
Signs of vaginal candidiasis include burning and itching in the vagina and vulva, urination disorders and cheesy discharge. Often, due to the disease, there is pain during intercourse and swelling of the vaginal mucosa.
Bacteria resistant to antibiotics will appear in the body
Uncontrolled intake of antibiotics that you prescribe to yourself will provoke resistance of microorganisms. This means that some microorganisms will eventually become resistant to antibacterial drugs. Because of this, you will not only worsen your condition at the moment, but also reduce the chances of a quick recovery in the future.
To avoid the emergence of bacteria resistant to antibiotics, you need to follow some rules:
- take antibiotics only as prescribed by a doctor;
- make sure that the drug has a good shelf life and follow the rules for its storage;
- follow all the recommendations and drink the drugs with a sufficient amount of water.
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