What should you know about antibiotics?

These medicines slow or kill susceptible bacteria. A clinician chooses an antibiotic after considering the suspected infection, allergies, other medicines and your health history. A cough, sore throat or fever can have several causes, so symptoms alone do not decide whether an antibiotic is useful. Antibiotics are used for some infections such as cellulitis and some sexually transmitted infections, while many colds and flu-like illnesses need different care.

Take the medicine exactly as directed and finish the prescribed course unless the prescriber changes the plan. Do not share leftover tablets, save them for a future illness or use someone else’s prescription. Check whether food, alcohol or another medicine affects the dose. Nausea, loose stools and mild stomach discomfort can occur; ask a pharmacist about practical ways to take the medicine. Tell the clinician promptly about a past antibiotic reaction.

Seek urgent help for swelling of the lips or face, wheezing, trouble breathing, faintness or a widespread blistering rash after a dose. Contact a clinician for severe or persistent diarrhoea, dehydration, worsening pain, or symptoms that are not improving as expected. A high fever with confusion, marked weakness or rapidly spreading skin redness needs prompt assessment.

Ask what infection is being treated, how to take each dose, what improvement to expect, which side effects need action, and what to do if you miss a dose or cannot keep the medicine down.