To use an 'old' antibiotics prescription without visiting my GP?

[JemimaPuddlePop]

So just to clarify first of all, I'm no Doctor but I do know the basics - antibiotics only work for bacteria, nothing viral etc. I don't go straight for antibiotics at the first sign of illness.

Anyway...I have a 7 day course of amoxicillin in my medicine cabinet, which was prescribed in December. At the time I'd had a terrible sore throat for a week and was about to go away for a fortnight. Went to the GP who said it seemed like a virus, tonsils were huge but 'normal', no pus or temperature, but gave me the prescription because I was going away...with advice to take them if my symptoms got worse/didn't clear, if I developed a temperature or pus etc.

So I got the prescription but my symptoms cleared literally the next day so never used them.

I've now had a sore throat for about a week again but over the last day it's gotten much more painful. Woke up this morning feeling shivery and have a (mild) temp. Looked at my throat this morning and my tonsils are now covered in white spots.

Wibu to just take the antibiotics I have?Dh thinks I should book an out of hours appointment today but it seems a little pointless as I'm pretty sure the GP would prescribe anti biotic anyway...the dc have had a couple of throat infections in the past and white pus usually means the GP gives antibiotics.

Aibu?

That was an unnecessarily aggressive post

I'm not stamping on newborn kittens here, just trying to avoid a possibly wasteful ooo GP appointment.

Thank you for the sensible posters who've given a considered reply.

Hope you feel better soon JemimaPuddlePop

Tyeysoges - although I don't agree with the op taking a medication without at least checking with a doctor people with recurring problems do often know what is wrong and what is needed.

Ds has lot of chest infections, I can tell when it's an infection and when it's his asthma so when I think it's an infection the gp will happily give him antibiotics without seeing him.

i was tempted to use an packet recently, to save on the cost. however it was a different antibiotic and I couldnt find it anyway.
you know you shouldnt.

Be careful, some pharmacies won't give you the antibiotics when the prescription is that far out of date.

Antibiotics tend to be needed when they are prescribed so most pharmacies will question any script that is over a month (or they do at my local pharmacy anyway).

No idea about which antibiotics are good for sore throats as I'm not a doctor.

ask the GP.
if you have already bought and paid for a packet of antibiotics
or gargle with salt walter and suck on a lozenge

ent to the GP who said it seemed like a virus, tonsils were huge but 'normal', no pus or temperature, but gave me the prescription because I was going away...with advice to take them if my symptoms got worse/didn't clear, if I developed a temperature or pus etc.

Just re-read.
and my answer is YEs, take them.

Amoxicillin will work, but isn't ideal - Penicillin V is the recommended antibiotic for tonsillitis (which you have, if you have enlarged tonsils and bacterial exudates). Why not take the amoxicillin until you get a chance to see your GP and get some penicillin?

I just love the way the OP claims to "know the basics"! Exactly how many years of medical training have you had OP? How many medical text books have you read? What other illnesses could the symptoms you describe be a symptom of? What are the effects of taking the wrong drug for the wrong condition? What are the issues around the overuse if antibiotics/incorrect antibiotics?

Why do you think GPs study for so long when "the basics" are so easy to grasp?

If youre that sure you're doing the right thing in taking some medicine that was prescribed months ago for symptoms you now have which look a bit similar, why are you even bothering to ask the MN experts?

You're not wasting an appointment. You are ill and you need medical advice. Please phone OOH, that's what they are there for.

Should be 10 days of penicillin v or 5 days of clarithromycin.
Amoxicillin used to be used informally as a diagnosis for glandular fever due to causing a rash that looks like drug allergy.
Amoxicillin often given in children though not ideal as better tolerated it works but there are risks as per maras2

I think you have some anger issues TywysogesGymraeg , your posts are verging on hysterical

I'm in Wales, so prescription costs don't figure.

Anyway, I phoned ooo and got a call back from the on call GP who asked asked a few questions and told me to take the amoxicillin.

I thought by calling ooo you'd get a receptionist who'd book you an appointment...didn't realise a GP would call you, so you learn something everyday! Fingers crossed they kick in quickly now.

I have done this before, Jemima, in extremis, when I had a recurring problem and had antibiotics which the doctor had given me before "just in case" the situation got worse.

I'm a GP

Congratulations

Twy is right though...

It must be incredibly irritating for GP's to deal with people who have self-prescribed or who don't follow protocol because they think they think they know better or because 'they read up on it on the internet'.

And to make it worse it's the HCP's that gets blamed for AB resistance...

the GP did say to use at a later date,

TBH, its not really the using or not using of the ABs that wound me up. Its the "I know the basics" comment that pissed me off. I'd love to know what the OP considers "the basics" of medicine to be, because in my book, "basics" certainly wouldn't include prescribing any kind of medication. I can't get over the audacity!

I wouldn't be confident using a bridge designed by an architect who knew the basics, and wouldn't want my kids taught by a teacher who knows the basics, or go in a plane piloted my someone who knows the basics.
I little knowledge is such a dangerous thing OP.

I've done it but I am married to a GP

I'd LOVE to be married to a GP (got health anxiety)

i would just take them, don't see what the big deal is, theres plenty of countries where u can purchase it over the counter, I did when I had an ear infection on holiday.
hope u feel better soon

Jemima not sure you deserve the vitriol either. I'm a doctor too and I think you were asking a reasonable question. ( I don't mind you saying you know the basics - I would claim to know the basics about many things)

Amoxicillin is broad spectrum so may work, but you ought to phone NHS24 or out of hours to check because there's no point dealing with the side effects (assuming you get them, I do) if it's not going to help. I get a prescription to keep 'in case' due to recurring UTIs which often for some bizarre reason flare up over bank holidays when GP is shut, and it's fine if you know exactly what symptoms mean you need to use them, but if it's something you don't have often, you probably don't know for certain, if that makes sense?

I don't think that anyone can claim to "know the basics" if medicine if they have never even studied it. I have never studied it. As a lay person my impression is of a vast, complicated and often changing field. It does interest me sometimes, but is could never get my head around it, and tend towards the view that a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing.

I remember being prescribed amoxicillin for a lung infection when heavily pregnant many years ago. I think I recall my GP saying he wanted to start with it because it was one of the most widely tolerated in pregnancy. I was feeling as rough as a badger's arse though, and trying to cope with my lively three year old too, so not at my best for taking things in properly.

OP, hope you are better soon.

Of course you can know the basics. It's science, not voodoo. And antibiotics for tonsillitis is rather basic science.