How many antibiotics have you had?

[MsOllie]

I was being curious today so looked up my GP record as I'm on antibiotics yet again
Since 2006 I've had 39 courses

I suffered with urinary tract infections for many years and was prescribed every antibiotic you can name.Fortunately I no longer suffer with this problem but after taking so many different antibiotics that doesn’t really surprise me.

I dread to think. I get frequent UTIs from sex and because of a chronic illness. I've had at least one course a month this year.

Absolutely loads. But I am immunocompromised so have to take them more frequently than normal people. Grateful for their existence, tbh!

In the last 6 months, 3 courses for a UTI.
Before that, twice for tonsillitis but they work so needed days in hosp on IV antibiotics.
At the minute, I have been sick for a few weeks and noticed yesterday I have white spots on my tonsils 😪so i need to get an antobiotic today and hope i dont end up in hospital.

As a child I suffered from ear infections so I took antibiotics from time to time.

But never as an adult as far as I can remember. I'm 48.

Probably 4/5 times.

Last lot was 2013

Before that I had some ear infection drop maybe 2009ish.

I don't think I've had more than ten courses in my entire life. Fewer than five courses as an adult that I can remember and nothing in the past 20 years or so.

I remember having banana medicine as I called it as a child for tonsillitis but they removed them when I was seven. But this was the early 1970’s, DH also had his removed as it was quite standard to take them out for recurrent tonsillitis.

As an adult I have had meds and at one point a lot as was seriously ill but nkt antibiotics as an adult I think I have had maybe 3 courses in 40 years.

I was on a couple of different antibiotics for about 6 weeks when a post surgery scar got infected but that was 10 years ago now. A bout of tonsillitis about 4 years ago and a UTI about the same time got me a weeks worth each (I’m a type 1 diabetic so a weeks course in normal instead of 3 days). Antibiotic eue ointment for a bout of conjunctivitis that wouldn’t shift. So 4, maybe 5, times in 10 years.

Hundreds, also for recurrent UTIs/catheter use/self catheterisation . Spent most of 2009-2020 on antibiotics until I had bladder surgery that seems to have, touch wood, fixed it .

As an adult, just once that I can recall, though I'm waiting on a GP appointment now where they are going to decide if I need some for an infected surgical wound, so that might be twice by the end of this week!

DH has never had them as an adult and of my 2 DC, one had a course at birth for suspected sepsis and none since, and the other has never had them.

SIL on the other hand (who is not immunocompromised by the way) could probably beat your total! She goes to the GP for things I wouldn't dream of (every sore throat, every cough, every chest infection, despite them more than likely all being viral) and 9/10 times comes away with antibiotics. It drives me nuts as I think they should only be used when there's absolutely no chance of something resolving on its own, e.g. someone is immunocompromised or has a serious bacterial infection. Otherwise my understanding is that we won't be able to use them at all in a few years due to resistance and we, or our children and children's children, will end up dying from simple things that could have been prevented.

I'd say no more than 10 times in adulthood (so 25+ years).

Once for an infected ingrown hair, once for tonsillitis, once after being attacked by two cats [needed 10 days of x2 different AB for that one! And a tetanus shot] the rest have been dental related.

Not sure as a kid but since I was 18 I'd say about 7 courses. I'm 27, but got tonsillitis and strep loads as a student

Since 2018, several lots after surgery, both tablet and through IV.

Last month, 7 days worth for infected foot due to gash where cat kicked me. Not had these before Co-amoxiclav.

Never usually get any effect from antibiotics but did this time, felt slightly queasy and off colour all week. Glad when I finished them.

A few times as a child for ear infections. Four times in total as an adult (tonsillitis/ post minor surgery / a UTI / dental abscess). After doing some work around antimicrobial resistance I would urge people to only take them when you absolutely need to and massively important, make sure you finish the course you are given. As a previous poster said, according to World Health Organisation dates, by 2050 people will be dying from basic things like minor cuts getting infected as they will be immune to all existing antibiotics due to such mass misuse for decades.

Once when i was in my 20s for a chest infection, another time when i was 50 for a uti. I would limit them as much as possible for myself and my dc, but when you really need them there's no alternative really is there?

40 and have never had any.

I prescribe a lot though. I just happen to get sick from viruses and have so far avoided obvious bacterial infection.

I don’t think I had any as a child, but as an adult 4 or 5 times for UTIs, one preventative course after a severe tear in childbirth and once for mastitis.
I really don’t like taking them though, and would always try to avoid it where possible.

I've not taken any since age 22. I'm 40 now. 6 year old never had them. Avoid wherever you can.

Overuse of antibiotics is causing SO many health problems both individually and in the water supply.

I’ve had them three times in 42 years. Infected tooth, mastitis, chest infection.

at school in the 80s people seemed to go on them all the time, my parents hardly ever took us to the doctors.

Several times a year for the last 5 years due to a bad run of health and lots of infections, they make me feel rough each time and doxycycline once a year for antimalarial medicine on regular trip.

Not many. Try to avoid them if I possibly can. I’ve a robust immune system, am lucky that I don’t get ill very often but when I do, I usually let things run their course and they generally clear up.

my husband has to have them at the first sign of infection symptoms because of compromised immune system. Usually at least once each month.

I had a bad case of strep throat in 2014 which I needed 86 anti biotics for. I haven't had any since..

I had a course after having my ds, as he peed as they were taking him out of the C-section and I got an infection, that was my last course. Ds is 21 this year.