Scared to take antibiotics prescribed by my doctor?

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I got my wisdom tooth removed and my doctor prescribed me amoxicillin to prevent infection. I took a microbiology class in college and I know the dangers of taking broad spectrum antibiotics. I’ve also read articles written by dentists as well as scholarly journals that say antibiotics have little effect on reducing infection and theres only a slight chance of contracting an infection after wisdom tooth removal without antibiotics.

I’m not trying to play doctor or anything and I AM planning on continuing to take the prescribed antibiotics despite all that. But I’m just scared that there will be a time that I might need to take antibiotics to save my life, but it wouldn’t have any effect because the bacteria inside my body would become resistant and I’ll die.

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Based on 14 votes (7 yes)
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Comments ( 31 )
  • cipro
    5 years ago

    No risk at all. This is not how antibiotics work.

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    • Anonymous Post Author
      5 years ago

      That IS how antibiotics work. Bacteria multiply a lot quicker and so they evolve quicker than human beings. They easily adapt to their environment. For example, if you take antibiotics, you’ll kill 99% of bacteria, leaving only 1% of bacteria that are more resistant. Then that 1% of resistant bacteria that are left will multiply. And as they multiply, a small percentage of that bacteria will evolve to become even more resistant and if you take antibiotics again, you’ll kill the weaker ones and those evolved resistant bacteria will mutliply, and you are left with resistant bacteria that are hard to treat.

      In short, as you take antibiotics, you’re killing weaker bacteria, leaving only the stronger ones. And those stronger bacteria will multiply as they adapt to their environment, and when that cycle goes on, you’ll eventually have super resistant bacteria that are now impossible to treat with antibiotics. An example of this is MRSA, also called superbug, which are resistant to a lot of antibiotics.

      No risk my ass.

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      • cipro
        5 years ago

        This is beginning to sound like a troll.
        The one percent of the bacteria which are left behind after antibiotics usage are killed off by the immune system.

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        • Anonymous Post Author
          5 years ago

          Try looking up “what happens if you take antibiotics recklessly?”

          I wasnt talking about bacteriostatic and bactericidal. That has nothing to do with the topic. But if you really want to know, im using amoxicillin, which is bactericidal and broadspectrum, which means it’s killing a broad range of both bad bacteria and good bacteria in my body. Continuous use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, are also killing the bacteria that you do NOT need to kill(that’s why its called “broad”), allowing them to adapt to their environment and become more resistant. And when those bacteria causes havoc in ur body, they will be harder to treat because you’ve exposed them to antibiotics and developed some resistance. Don’t just look up things on google and pretend you know these stuff.

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          • Maid_in_Pink
            5 years ago

            The thing is that reckless usage of antibiotics is considered more like taking them repeatedly and unnecessarily for weeks or months on end or a large number of times throughout the course of several years.

            The other consideration with antibiotic usage and the creation of antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria is that it isn't done overnight nor is it done in a single instance of bacterial growth. Typically the creation of these resistant strains is done over the course of years or decades even and the broad effects of which are experienced later.

            This means that over the last 30 years or so rampant use of antibiotics has created resistant strains for us right now. Using antibiotics in your situation isn't so much about directly preventing an infection so much as keeping non-resistant bacterial growth in check so that your body can fight any antibiotic resistant infection you might get.

            You say you're not trying to play doctor but you sure tried to when responding to these posts.

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            • Anonymous Post Author
              5 years ago

              I know that. My point is, AGAIN *sigh*, Id rather take antibiotics as rarely as possible, but since my doctor prescribed them to me to prevent me from getting an infection, I’m GONNA take them (I’m already taking them). I’m not saying I’m gonna get a resistant strain over two course of antibiotics or overnight - No, I never said that. But I’m only a BIT concerned that I’m exposing other bacteria in my body to antibiotics which are causing them to develop SOME(not a lot) resistance. I KNOW it won’t kill me but it would just mean that it will take a little bit longer to treat if I ever get an actual infection. When I said “...to save my life...I’ll die”, I exaggerated it a bit because I actually know someone from a long time ago who died because of resistant bacteria due to improper use of antibiotics and to raise a bit of awareness as well because most people think antibiotics aren’t as harmful as the news make them out to be(that was a long sentence).

              Anyway, No, I wasn’t playing doctor. My responses were basic knowledge and I thought people already know this because multi-resistant bacteria is becoming more and more common. But it turns out some still don’t so I was only explaining as clear and detailed as I could so they would understand better. Please let this be the last time I’m gonna have to explain the same thing all over again...

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          • cipro
            5 years ago

            Shut up troll

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            • Anonymous Post Author
              5 years ago

              LOL that’s what most people say when they’ve run out of words😂😂 Are u tired of searching on google?😂

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        • nikkiclaire
          5 years ago

          I thought antibacterials just stopped bacterial growth, allowing your immune system to combat existing bacteria. They don't actually destroy anything.

          But it's your namesake, so I guess you are an authority on it.

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          • cipro
            5 years ago

            There are two types of antibiotics one is bacteriostatic and another is bactericidal. The bacteriostatic antibiotics stop the bacterial growth(but do not kill the bacteria directly). The bacteriostatic antibiotics depend on working immune response to wipe out the bacteria.
            The second type of antibiotics is bactericidal. The bactericidal antibiotics directly kill bacteria. Google it if you don't believe me.

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  • justme31756
    5 years ago

    Had Flu for 2 weeks had no choice not getting better...And Corticosteroids work to reduce inflammation....
    We all die sooner or later...

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  • leggs91200
    5 years ago

    I have the answer -
    none of us are doctors or even if one of us IS, you are not our patient so we do not know your medical history or situation.

    Assuming though that your bpdy and the bacteria DO become resistant to the antibiotics, then there is a chance of serious complications.

    What you should do then is start making your "final decisions" now. Things like who you want to have what, do you want to be buried or cremated or donated to science, do you have life insurance...

    One route some people take it to be buried upside down so the world can kiss their asses.

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  • AceWhitehouse
    5 years ago

    I disagree... last year in December i came down with an extreme fever, migraines, chills, couldnt eat and lower-left back was in extreme pain-- this all came into formation from one day to the next. i looked and felt like death. i went to my doctor and he ran a few test and he said my kidney was infected. -- i dont drink or do any drugs, so dont come at me that this was my fault lol. so he prescribed me antibiotics and some tylenol 3 for the pain. i took them every day and didnt skip once. i began to feel better withing 2-3 days but stayed on them for two weeks to let them finish the cycle and kill all the infection. i havent had a single problem since and that was my first time ever taking antibiotics. my body feels better now and i dont think i would have the same problems any time in the near future. had i not taken the antibiotics like the doctor prescribed and just took home remedies or over the counter drugs, i probably would have never fully recovered. i would recommend taking his advice.. \o.o/

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  • charli.m
    5 years ago

    You won't become immune to antibiotics from using it once. How do you not know that from all the knowledge you've just claimed to have?

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    • Anonymous Post Author
      5 years ago

      I’m not saying they’ll become immune to them right away. I have to take antibiotics three times a day for 10 days. And I’ll have to do it again a month from now when I have my other wisdom tooth removed. In total of around 60 capsules in 20 days.

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      • charli.m
        5 years ago

        My grandmother has been almost non stop been on antibiotics for the last couple of years. Keflex, which I believe is broad spectrum.

        She's just had a chest infection that ended her up in hospital. She was almost septic at time of admission, apparently. Antibiotic is clearing it and she'll be out of hospital within a week.

        You're overreacting.

        Edit before you or someone else complain: some of the times she took the antibiotic were somewhat preemptive - We didn't do a test for infection prior to administration.

        And yes, as an old person, she would be considered a higher risk group than a younger, healthier person. But shit still worked for her, all things considered.

        MRSA is a serious issue. But it's highly unlikely to be an issue over two courses close together.

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        • Anonymous Post Author
          5 years ago

          Also, I wasn’t saying that I’ll contract MRSA over two courses of antibiotics. I was just giving an example of a resistant bacteria that actually exists. Cuz cipro doesn’t believe the fact that misusage of antibiotics can lead to resistant bacteria.

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          • charli.m
            5 years ago

            I worded that poorly. I didn't mean to imply that was what you said. My comment was referring to you saying:

            "But I’m just scared that there will be a time that I might need to take antibiotics to save my life, but it wouldn’t have any effect because the bacteria inside my body would become resistant and I’ll die."

            Your original post.

            Overreacting. Completely irrational to be scared. It is incredibly unlikely. I don't know figures, but it's so unlikely to happen that it is basically a complete non issue in your current situation.

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            • Anonymous Post Author
              5 years ago

              Okay, maybe I was overreacting a bit but I just don’t want to take antibiotics if I don’t need them. But of course, I’ll take them anyway because it was prescribed to me lol. I was just being pessimistic because one of my relatives took antibiotics even tho he doesnt need them and...you know.

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        • Anonymous Post Author
          5 years ago

          Antibiotics are only effective and safe if you continue through the course. Because if you stop midway, you’re not killing all the bacteria that you need to get rid of and you’ll be allowing the ones that survived (the resistant ones) to multiply. If you’re grandmother have been using the same antibiotics responsibly and doesn’t miss her doses, she’s preventing those resistant ones to multiply and eventually they’ll all die. So she’s good. But the only thing is, she’s using broad-spectrum antibiotics, which means that the OTHER bacteria (the ones that’s not harming her at the moment) that she does NOT need to kill, are being exposed to antibiotics and most likely they’ve developed some resistance, which means that if she contracts other infection, they will be harder to treat.

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          • charli.m
            5 years ago

            I know all of that. Most people with basic knowledge do, too.

            And if you knew all of that, why are you freaking out about taking two full courses properly?

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            • Anonymous Post Author
              5 years ago

              Because there’s only a slight chance of me getting an infection. People I know who got their wisdom teeth removed and are 10 times worse than mine didnt take antibiotics and they ended up okay. My point is why would I take antibiotics if I don’t really need them? My professor even told us that you should use antibiotics as rarely as possible and do not take them if you don’t need them.

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