Whelehan's Pharmacy: Antibiotic Overuse (Part 2)

Ask your pharmacist?

Antibiotic Overuse becoming a major threat to public health (Part 2)

Eamonn Brady is a pharmacist and the owner of Whelehans Pharmacies, Pearse St and Clonmore, Mullingar. If you have any health questions e-mail them to info@whelehans.ie

Last week I discussed how overuse of antibiotics in Ireland, and around the world, represents one of the most significant threats to long term public health.

Key points to remember when you get colds, coughs or flu
Most common viral infections such as common colds, coughs or flu don’t need antibiotics, they get better by themselves. Antibiotics are only effective against bacterial infections and can be lifesaving in certain infections such as meningitis, pneumonia and TB. We need to keep antibiotics for when we really need them. Taking antibiotics when they are not needed causes bacteria to become resistant to antibiotic treatments. Antibiotics can cause side effects such as diarrhoea, nausea and skin rashes. About one in five people taking antibiotics get side effects. Taking antibiotics when they are not needed puts your health at risk.

What to do if you have cold or flu
Many infections are viral, so an antibiotic should not be prescribed, and you should take the following advice:

Stay at home and rest if necessary

Drink plenty of water or soft drinks

Take paracetamol to reduce your temperature, if feverish or if you are in any discomfort

You may wish to take other remedies, but be aware that they may contain paracetamol - do not exceed the maximum daily dose of paracetamol by combining various products - ask your pharmacist

Ask your pharmacist about other remedies you can safely take to relieve your symptoms

If you are concerned that your symptoms are getting worse or you are not better in a few days, phone the surgery for further advice.

 

What to do if you have a cough?

Antibiotics are rarely needed for coughs as most are caused by viruses. A cough is a sign your body is clearing an infection and is normal. Steam inhalations can be very useful, particularly in productive (chesty) coughs. Simply putting hot steaming water (not boiling) in a basin, putting a towel over your head and inhaling the steam can accelerate the clearing of catarrh. The steam helps to liquefy lung secretions and the warm, moist air is comforting.

Chesty cough mixtures contain an expectorant which liquefy the catarrh, so it can be coughed up easier. There are other cough mixtures that cause drowsiness which can be used at night to help you sleep. Sugar free versions of cough mixtures are available for diabetics. Dry cough mixtures contain ingredients such as pholcodeine, codeine and dextromethorphan and are useful where there is no mucus to clear. There are also cough mixtures available which contain decongestants which are effective if you have a congested head as well as a cough.

For comprehensive and free health advice and information call in to Whelehans Pharmacies, log on to www.whelehans.ie or dial 04493 34591 (Pearse St) or 04493 10266 (Clonmore).