6 ms·

I understand where you’re coming from because our medical system IS lazy and DOES overprescribe, but the knee-jerky “pills bad” thing is frustrating for those o

by jnovek 4y ago

I understand where you’re coming from because our medical system IS lazy and DOES overprescribe, but the knee-jerky “pills bad” thing is frustrating for those of us who are necessarily on a lot of medications. This cultural phenomenon has roots so deep that I’ve had actual medical professionals (usually nurses) tell me that I’m on too many pills. On a few occasions I’ve invited them to tell me which ones I should get rid of and, of course, they don’t know because all of the medications are currently doing something important. It’s an attitude that mystifies me. Pharmaceuticals have side effects, do people think I want to take this stuff?

mschuster91 4y ago
I'm referring to antibiotics prescriptions for clear-as-day viral infections (~~strep~~, influenza, covid). That shit is one of the largest contributors to multi- or omniresistant superbugs, right behind the even worse practice of using human reserve antibiotics routinely in industrial farming.
- Tozen 4y ago
  Actually, that's hard to say. Many people don't completely take the antibiotics prescribed to them. They don't take them when they are supposed to and take them for a few days or less than the total time they are supposed to. The bug can then become resistant to the antibiotic, so they have to switch to something else. Problem is, there are only so many types of antibiotics, which may or may not work on that specific bug. This foolishness leads to resistant superbugs as well.
  - dangwhy 4y ago
    https://www.bmj.com/content/358/bmj.j3418 https://www.bmj.com/content/358/bmj.j3418
- nick__m 4y ago
  Your post is almost correct but strep is Streptococcus Pyogenes, it is a gram positive bacteria and it is usually treated with PenVK.
- jnovek 4y ago
  Oh, I'm with you on this one. Antibiotics and opioids are special categories when it comes to overprescription. On the bright side, I think in recent years American doctors have been much better about waiting until an infection is likely to be bacterial before prescribing antibiotics. There's probably still room to improve but at least it feels like we're working on that. The farming thing, though, is a huge problem and an international embarrassment.
- verall 4y ago
  I get strep every 2-3 years and go through 4-5 days of misery before paying to see a doctor, paying >$50 for a strep test, waiting another day for that to come back, just so I can finally get antibiotics from which I'm feeling much better (not "well", but much better) in under 8 hours. The system sucks and strep is a bacterial infection. And big ag will hire whatever vet that says their cows need more antibiotics so it's not like my super expensive human system is really impacting the rate of superbugs.
  - shagie 4y ago
    Superbugs are a general class. Each disease evolves its own resistance (though, it does get around - https://academic.oup.com/cid/article/34/Supplement_3/S78/292951?login=true https://academic.oup.com/cid/article/34/Supplement_3/S78/292... ). You are creating antibiotic resistant strep in your own body. At some point, the antibiotics won't be able to knock it down to the asymptomatic form. Antibiotic resistance isn't a joke. Take the full course.
    - verall 4y ago
      How on earth am I creating antibiotic resistant strep in my own body? I do take the full proscribed course of antibiotics. I don't see what that has to do with having to spend at least $150 (consultation + lab test) just to get permission to get the antibiotics I need, which then cost additional money. While big ag gets whatever antibiotics they want. Thank heavens I work in tech and $150 isn't like a whole month's worth of groceries to me. But there's no way to look at this and think "Yup, that's the system working as intended."
    - dangwhy 4y ago
      how would they possibly know what the full course length is for each bug. I've always gotten the same length and dose, how is that the prefect length and dose when the doctor doesn't even know that exact bug that i have. https://www.bmj.com/content/358/bmj.j3418 https://www.bmj.com/content/358/bmj.j3418

by jnovek 4y ago

mschuster91 4y ago

I'm referring to antibiotics prescriptions for clear-as-day viral infections (~~strep~~, influenza, covid). That shit is one of the largest contributors to multi- or omniresistant superbugs, right behind the even worse practice of using human reserve antibiotics routinely in industrial farming.

Tozen 4y ago
Actually, that's hard to say. Many people don't completely take the antibiotics prescribed to them. They don't take them when they are supposed to and take them for a few days or less than the total time they are supposed to. The bug can then become resistant to the antibiotic, so they have to switch to something else. Problem is, there are only so many types of antibiotics, which may or may not work on that specific bug. This foolishness leads to resistant superbugs as well.
- dangwhy 4y ago
  https://www.bmj.com/content/358/bmj.j3418 https://www.bmj.com/content/358/bmj.j3418
nick__m 4y ago
Your post is almost correct but strep is Streptococcus Pyogenes, it is a gram positive bacteria and it is usually treated with PenVK.
jnovek 4y ago
Oh, I'm with you on this one. Antibiotics and opioids are special categories when it comes to overprescription. On the bright side, I think in recent years American doctors have been much better about waiting until an infection is likely to be bacterial before prescribing antibiotics. There's probably still room to improve but at least it feels like we're working on that. The farming thing, though, is a huge problem and an international embarrassment.
verall 4y ago
I get strep every 2-3 years and go through 4-5 days of misery before paying to see a doctor, paying >$50 for a strep test, waiting another day for that to come back, just so I can finally get antibiotics from which I'm feeling much better (not "well", but much better) in under 8 hours. The system sucks and strep is a bacterial infection. And big ag will hire whatever vet that says their cows need more antibiotics so it's not like my super expensive human system is really impacting the rate of superbugs.
- shagie 4y ago
  Superbugs are a general class. Each disease evolves its own resistance (though, it does get around - https://academic.oup.com/cid/article/34/Supplement_3/S78/292951?login=true https://academic.oup.com/cid/article/34/Supplement_3/S78/292... ). You are creating antibiotic resistant strep in your own body. At some point, the antibiotics won't be able to knock it down to the asymptomatic form. Antibiotic resistance isn't a joke. Take the full course.
  - verall 4y ago
    How on earth am I creating antibiotic resistant strep in my own body? I do take the full proscribed course of antibiotics. I don't see what that has to do with having to spend at least $150 (consultation + lab test) just to get permission to get the antibiotics I need, which then cost additional money. While big ag gets whatever antibiotics they want. Thank heavens I work in tech and $150 isn't like a whole month's worth of groceries to me. But there's no way to look at this and think "Yup, that's the system working as intended."
  - dangwhy 4y ago
    how would they possibly know what the full course length is for each bug. I've always gotten the same length and dose, how is that the prefect length and dose when the doctor doesn't even know that exact bug that i have. https://www.bmj.com/content/358/bmj.j3418 https://www.bmj.com/content/358/bmj.j3418