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Antibiotic overprescribing was a problem in the past, but in my experience providers around me are very resistant to giving antibiotics at all. My doctor’s off

Antibiotic overprescribing was a problem in the past, but in my experience providers around me are very resistant to giving antibiotics at all. My doctor’s office even has a big sign in the waiting room saying they don’t prescribe antibiotics for common infections. The last time I got strep throat the urgent care clinic was resistant to testing me but finally gave in. When it came back positive the doctor acted oddly like he was reluctantly willing to prescribe antibiotics for it.

ButlerianJihad 7mo ago
I don’t know how widespread it is, but some people will beg for antibiotics when they definitely have a viral infection. My friend who always used a naturopath would go on endlessly trying to diagnose herself with viral or bacterial to decide whether she should ask for antibiotics, but I definitely got the point. I suppose many patients simply don’t know the difference.
hgoel 7mo ago
My dad in India gets prescribed antibiotics whenever he's sick. Despite my constant explanations, he insists that this is how it should be, because when you're sick your immunity is lowered. On the other hand, the last time I got prescribed antibiotics was probably almost 10 years ago when I ended up in the hospital from an abscess. Granted, my dad is old, but that part of the world still seems to expect doctors to do more for a common cold than just tell you to rest for a week and take an acetaminophen or phenylephrine if/when needed (even when that's really all you need).
- Marsymars 7mo ago
  > Granted, my dad is old, but that part of the world still seems to expect doctors to do more for a common cold than just tell you to rest for a week and take an acetaminophen or phenylephrine if/when needed (even when that's really all you need). FYI phenylephrine is effectively a placebo and the FDA has proposed ending its use in OTC drugs. (There've been HN threads on the subject, with many comments.) Pseudoephedrine works great though.
  - devilbunny 7mo ago
    Phenylephrine is a placebo for nasal congestion, but it’s a solid drug for raising blood pressure. Used all the time in anesthesia (obviously not an OTC use).
Marsymars 7mo ago
> The last time I got strep throat the urgent care clinic was resistant to testing me but finally gave in. When it came back positive the doctor acted oddly like he was reluctantly willing to prescribe antibiotics for it. For strep in particular, wiki indicates that not treating with antibiotics isn't unreasonable (presumably opinions will vary by doctor): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streptococcal_pharyngitis#Antibiotics https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streptococcal_pharyngitis#Anti...
imtringued 7mo ago
I know antibiotics are really popular because killing bacteria seems really effective, but have you considered asking your doctor for a probiotic treatment? Oral probiotics tend to work really well (similar effect to getting rid of bad bacteria) because they don't have to survive the stomach acid.
fastasucan 7mo ago
Why do you say oddly? Prescribing antibiotics just because is how you get resistance.
- array_key_first 7mo ago
  Prescribing antibiotics for contagious bacterial infections is their exact usage. Some doctors argue against using antibiotics for strep, but it's definitely debatable.

ButlerianJihad 7mo ago

I don’t know how widespread it is, but some people will beg for antibiotics when they definitely have a viral infection. My friend who always used a naturopath would go on endlessly trying to diagnose herself with viral or bacterial to decide whether she should ask for antibiotics, but I definitely got the point. I suppose many patients simply don’t know the difference.

hgoel 7mo ago

My dad in India gets prescribed antibiotics whenever he's sick. Despite my constant explanations, he insists that this is how it should be, because when you're sick your immunity is lowered. On the other hand, the last time I got prescribed antibiotics was probably almost 10 years ago when I ended up in the hospital from an abscess. Granted, my dad is old, but that part of the world still seems to expect doctors to do more for a common cold than just tell you to rest for a week and take an acetaminophen or phenylephrine if/when needed (even when that's really all you need).

Marsymars 7mo ago
> Granted, my dad is old, but that part of the world still seems to expect doctors to do more for a common cold than just tell you to rest for a week and take an acetaminophen or phenylephrine if/when needed (even when that's really all you need). FYI phenylephrine is effectively a placebo and the FDA has proposed ending its use in OTC drugs. (There've been HN threads on the subject, with many comments.) Pseudoephedrine works great though.
- devilbunny 7mo ago
  Phenylephrine is a placebo for nasal congestion, but it’s a solid drug for raising blood pressure. Used all the time in anesthesia (obviously not an OTC use).

Marsymars 7mo ago

> The last time I got strep throat the urgent care clinic was resistant to testing me but finally gave in. When it came back positive the doctor acted oddly like he was reluctantly willing to prescribe antibiotics for it. For strep in particular, wiki indicates that not treating with antibiotics isn't unreasonable (presumably opinions will vary by doctor): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streptococcal_pharyngitis#Antibiotics https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streptococcal_pharyngitis#Anti...

imtringued 7mo ago

I know antibiotics are really popular because killing bacteria seems really effective, but have you considered asking your doctor for a probiotic treatment? Oral probiotics tend to work really well (similar effect to getting rid of bad bacteria) because they don't have to survive the stomach acid.

fastasucan 7mo ago

Why do you say oddly? Prescribing antibiotics just because is how you get resistance.

array_key_first 7mo ago
Prescribing antibiotics for contagious bacterial infections is their exact usage. Some doctors argue against using antibiotics for strep, but it's definitely debatable.