to want GPs to make people sign

[MumInBeds]

to say they understand that it is important that they take all of an antibiotic course (unless medically advised or they have an allergic reaction) before they give them the prescription.

It's not a contract one can enforce but signing to say they understand will hopefully make people think twice about giving up part way.

Is it a common thing that people don't take all of the course?

(don't know anything about it...)

I wasn't aware a lot of people didn't take their full course of medication, surely it's common knowledge to take the full amount prescribed?

Wouldn't it be easier and less time consuming to simply tell them to read the packet?

LaWeasel - It was in the news the other day that the reason many bugs (like MRSA) are becoming immune to antibiotic treatment is that so many of us don't finish a full course.

Isnt the instruction of "you MUST finish the course" not enough guidance for even the dimmest of people...

YANBU

People are risking otehr people's lives and You must finish the course isn;t working; forcing people (who ahve the capacity) to read and sign to say they know the risks and that a loss of symptoms is not enough to stop- might just make people think.

It is one of those things I used to think was common knowledge but in the past few months I have met several people who have stopped part way as they were feeling better (then were shocked to get ill again) and studies are showing this is common and that it is happening often enough that there is a serious risk of resistant bacteria causing serious illness in the general population.

It may be that the genie is already out of the bottle, especially with some countries making antibiotics available to buy in part courses and the continued over prescription but every little must help hold back the inevitable until a new medication is available for use.

worraliberty I think most GPs do tell people to read the label and even remind people to finish the course but that doesn't seem to be enough.

YABU i've been advised to stop 7 day courses after 5 days before now (usually due to them not working) and have been told that most, if not all, should work by day 3-5 and that there is little use in taking a 7 day course.

Makes me wonder why they prescribe the 7 day courses.

Then sod 'em really if they can't be arsed to do what their GP tells them...not much else anyone can do (shrugs)

perhaps worra- except that the stopping is causing an escaltion of anitbiotic resistant bacteria that place us ALL at risk.