"Don't ask your doctor for anti-biotics"

Have you ever asked your GP for anti-biotics?

  • Yes

    Votes: 8 21.1%

  • No

    Votes: 30 78.9%
  • Total voters
    38
DorsetDude

DorsetDude

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Yes
I dont get this latest "thing". Has anyone, ever, gone to the doctor and asked him/her to give them specific medicine?! I never have. I go and see him and he then prescribes me whatever he see's fit. Which is usually anti-biotics. If you ask me they're targetting the wrong deomographic with these "ads".

So, how many of you have actually asked for anti-biotics when visiting your GP?
 
I have never asked but a few years ago did come away with the feeling they had prescribed some just to make me think they had done something. As I was feeling pretty unwell I didn’t question it.
 
The problem is that a lot of people consider antibiotics as the "cure all" answer but don't understand that they are ineffective against viruses. These are very often the same people who do not understand that they need to finish the course, whether they feel better or not! :rolleyes:

I have asked my doctor for antibiotics.

I woke up realising I had a (recurring) breast abscess and needed to start the course ASAP, so phoned my surgery, explained what I wanted to the receptionist and she spoke to the doctor. My prescription was waiting for me when I got there. :)
 
I had to recently as my wife and I went down with a serious chest infection, she went down first and ended up with three courses prescribed in ascending order until after almost a month she turned a corner.
I then got it on holiday in Lanzarote and we went straight to a local doctor, my wife who has quite a high level medical background reeled off all the ones she had been put on and the doctor agreed and prescribed very strong ones for me and I recovered quite quickly.
 
I have, yes, and I also expect a doctor to discuss any drugs/medication he proposes to give me.
 
I have asked for antibiotics - I suffer chest infections after colds, usually with a bacterial infection, and they can last many weeks. If there is no sign of the cough lifting after several weeks then I will sometimes request antibiotics to break the infection although last time the doctor effectively refused until I had been coughing for more than 6 weeks.
 
I don't go to the doctor very often but when I do, I always get the impression they want you out as quickly as possible. I'm sure many antibiotics are prescribed just to get you out the door.
 
The over prescribing has been going on for decades!

Sadly the current time pressure GP's are under IMO does affect the way they handle consultation outcomes.

Pester power/demanding patients I suspect does influence the GP. The GP needs to have enough time to ensure they can educate patients to not expect antibiotics or indeed any medication if none is required.

FWIW I worked in NHS path labs in the '70's and one test was antibiotics sensitivity testing to ensure the correct one was prescribed for most efficacy. I do wonder if the hospital labs still do these tests or only if initial prescription fails???

PS in answer to the OP I never ask for or expect antibiotics unless there is clear indication of a bacterial infections!
 
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DorsetDude said:
I dont get this latest "thing". Has anyone, ever, gone to the doctor and asked him/her to give them specific medicine?! I never have. I go and see him and he then prescribes me whatever he see's fit. Which is usually anti-biotics. If you ask me they're targetting the wrong deomographic with these "ads".

So, how many of you have actually asked for anti-biotics when visiting your GP?
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My ex-wife and many others use Google when ill, badly diagnose themselves and then tell the doctor the diagnosis and required treatment - and gets annoyed when the doctor demures.
 
Once when a cut became infected after the stitches were removed, asked via the receptionist to save taking up an appointment
 
My GP practice has a protocol in place when people present with "chest infections" following a cold or 'flu; they insist on a sputum sample.
Sputum as a result of a bacterial infection, is a truly revolting mess. That resulting from the tail end of a virus, whilst vile, is pale cream/white/clear, and won't be banished by antibiotics.
If they're in doubt from a visual check, they send the sample off to see if bacterial infection is present.
 
I've never asked for them. I have, however, been in with an infection in my mouth because I knew the dentist would charge more. The doctor tried to fob me off but I kept questioning the why it made a difference who I saw until he got bored of me.
 
Tigger.ufo said:
These are very often the same people who do not understand that they need to finish the course, whether they feel better or not! :rolleyes:
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There has been some recent evidence that you should only take them until you feel better as the longer you take them the more chance of resistance build up.

That still isn't the prescribed view but evidence is building and it wouldn't be the first time a medical 'fact' has changed.
 
viv1969 said:
My GP practice has a protocol in place when people present with "chest infections" following a cold or 'flu; they insist on a sputum sample.
Sputum as a result of a bacterial infection, is a truly revolting mess. That resulting from the tail end of a virus, whilst vile, is pale cream/white/clear, and won't be banished by antibiotics.
If they're in doubt from a visual check, they send the sample off to see if bacterial infection is present.
Click to expand...

Green and orange are the usual colours. :puke:
 
viv1969 said:
My GP practice has a protocol in place when people present with "chest infections" following a cold or 'flu; they insist on a sputum sample.
Sputum as a result of a bacterial infection, is a truly revolting mess. That resulting from the tail end of a virus, whilst vile, is pale cream/white/clear, and won't be banished by antibiotics.
If they're in doubt from a visual check, they send the sample off to see if bacterial infection is present.
Click to expand...

Just so and I wish more GP's would practice better analysis protocols, those samples were typical of many I used to have to handle in the 1970's on a daily basis. Oh, the joys of my placement in the microbiology lab........I much preferred haemotology & the cross matching labs :)
 
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Box Brownie said:
Just so and I wish more GP's would practice better analysis protocols, those samples were typical of many I used to have to handle in the 1970's on a daily basis. Oh, the joys of my placement in the microbiology lab........I much preferred haemotology & the cross matching labs :)
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I find some of the above comments mildly concerning. Especially asking receptionists for anti biotic. Whatever happened to professional diagnosis?

Thing is, nobody should ask for drugs. They should be prescribed following diagnosis of an issue
 
neil_g said:
I find some of the above comments mildly concerning. Especially asking receptionists for anti biotic. Whatever happened to professional diagnosis?

Thing is, nobody should ask for drugs. They should be prescribed following diagnosis of an issue
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Post google, we are all medical experts.

Last time I saw a doctor he appeared quite surprised when I told him I hadn't self-diagnosed on the internet before making the appointment.
 
ancient_mariner said:
I have asked for antibiotics - I suffer chest infections after colds, usually with a bacterial infection, and they can last many weeks. If there is no sign of the cough lifting after several weeks then I will sometimes request antibiotics to break the infection although last time the doctor effectively refused until I had been coughing for more than 6 weeks.
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Like Toni, I have asked in the past as I too need them when I get a cold as it always goes on my chest. Just getting over a bad cold now, just a bit of the cough to go :)
 
I just ask the nearest pig breeder, they usually have plenty. Just a pity about the MRSA, oh well;)
The Doc would probably say " Take three slices of bacon twise a day" :D
 
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neil_g said:
I appreciate there was a bit of tongue in cheek here, but super bugs aren't a laughing matter.

And yes the livestock use of antibiotics is a potential disaster in the makingm
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Super bugs? You just wait, we are not quite there Yet. Eventually some of the more nasty bacteria will "learn" from MRSA and then ........
Yes og was tongue in cheek but more in the dark humor category because its really ironic/tragic that while we are told to hold back and not use pinicillin sometimes egen when its actually needed the farmers get to use it in live stock to make the animals gain weight faster so they can save money. Money trumps human ligesom, thats sad.
 
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