I've got tonsillitis and have spare antibiotics in the house. Should I take them?

[millimat]

That's it really. I've suffer quite regularly but have found a stash in my drawer. I know they're what the gp would give me so should I just take them?

Absolutely not!

Why not?

Of course, why would you not do this? I also regularly suffer and need to start antibiotics immediately if I feel the beginnings of tonsillitis (psoriasis sufferer, so I risk a huge flare up). I keep a packet ahead so I’ve always got the necessary course in a cupboard for exactly these circumstances!

No. Definitely not.

Is it a full course you have?

Or will you be going to GP to get a prescription? So you will effectively just be starting the AB you know you will be prescribed a little early?

You shouldn’t, but I would, and make a gp appointment asap

I definitely would and go to gp tmrw

If it’s a full course then yes I would. But then I live in a country were GP visit and anti-bs would set me back over eighty euro

No not enough for a full prescription but my thought is that they would put me on until I can see a doctor.

Yes definitely. I’ve done this from time

I would, but then I am currently suffering with tonsillitis while I wait for a GP appointment so that might be clouding my judgement a bit!

I'm a teacher and know how bad my throat will be by this time tomorrow.

If they were prescribed for you, for the same complaint, and are still in date - yes I'd start taking them until you can get to the GP.

The only time I done this I had a tooth abscess and took some amoxicillin I had in the drawer, tbh if there was a gun in there I would have shot myself.

It’s not recommended though.

definitely. In Spain you just buy antibiotics at the chemist. I've done this before and know how awful tonsilitis is. Do it.

Why wouldn’t you?

It is so hard to get a GP appointment these days, even if you asked for an emergency appt. you might not it & GPs hate giving prescriptions for antibiotics.

Is it really so dangerous? Why? I’ve got a pack of antibiotics that I keep for emergency use. And do they become useless after their ‘best before’ date?

Nooooooooooo!!! Inappropriate antibiotic use is one of the biggest problems the world faces. Antibiotics will become useless if bugs become resistant to them.
Can you imagine being seriously ill or one of your DC being ill with a life threatening infection and no antibiotic will work because of so much misuse. Just because your gp has prescribed in the past doesn't mean it's appropriate. It might be a viral throat infection? How do you know it's not? Is it right antibiotic, the right dose and the right length of course? How do you know?

Honestly can't believe people are saying just take them! Seriously, have a read about antibiotic resistance.

If I knew it was bacterial I'd take them but it's often viral and I wouldn't get into the habit of taking them unless really necessary.

Tonsillitis is revolting. Underestimated in terms of how shit and unwell a person can feel when they have it.

My instinct is to say yes, take them, but no, you shouldn’t.

• You don’t have a full course which means the infection will/ may come back when you finish them

• They take at least 24 hours to kick in, so hold off until you see the Dr tomorrow and then they can prescribe you the full course and the right dosage etc that you need.

Feel better soon 💕

Is it really so dangerous?

It's not about it being dangerous It's about future generations having no antibiotics that work.

What Pineapple90 said! I can’t even believe that you’re considering it and that others are condoning it.

Having some ABs “lying around” also means you haven’t finished a previous course

I went through a phrase of having it over and over again and if I had spare tablets I took them. Looking back I wonder if it was a vicious circle, and I was starting courses feeling better and not finishing ect. I had it 9 times in a year so close to every month, I wanted them taken out, ect I was so run down.

It’s up to you, but I hope you feel better soon.

What if the go won’t then prescribe the full course because it’s started to clear up a bit because you’ve started antibiotics a few days prior to seeing them?

I’d be tempted but wouldn’t do it

I ‘m sure none of us are stuffing antibiotics down like sweeties and although I have a spare few I’ve never actually used them, hence asking would they actually work after their use by date? And of course I wouldn’t give them to anyone else.
But in this case the OP is a teacher, presumably with a busy day tomorrow, she obviously doesn’t want to call in sick or try & get a GP appointment in work time, so yes, if I was her I would take an antibiotic.

Why would you have spare AB’s? If you haven’t finished a course, then you are being VU.