to use my DP's antibiotics?

[LittleLionHeart]

DP got conjunctivitis last week and now I've got it. I'm laid up with it, feeling ill and tired too (? Don't know why).

I've got to be in work tomorrow as my boss as off and I'm manning things (lawyer).

WIBU to use his unopened second tube of antibiotics? He's finished his course.

use it

Given that you can buy chloramphenicol over the counter then I don't see a problem (I'm a nurse).

It's not like he didn't finish a course of oral antibiotics that may not be appropriate for your type of infection.

However bacterial conjunctivitis doesn't normally make you feel poorly so it might be viral conjunctivitis in which case the antibiotic cream/drops won't work. See your pharmacist or GP if it persists or worsens.

What Sidge says.

Use it

It's it's just chloramphenicol eye ointment then yes I would, you can buy it from the pharmacy (I'm a nurse). Did your DH really go to the GP for that?

Calm down Charis, what a ridiculous post.

Yes, I would use it if it is just cloramphenicol eye cream, as it's exactly what you can buy over the counter from the pharmacist and it's silly to purchase that if you have an unopened tube at home which the other person isn't using.

If you are a reasonably intelligent person, you don't need a dr to diagnose conjunctivitis if your partner had it- just whack something in there right now to get a full day's treatment in before going to work (and then risking spreading it).

Sounds like your immune system is really down.

I'd get some really good quality probiotics to give your immune system a boost . Probio do some good ones.

The word probiotic means for life and anti biotic means against life. Antibiotics wipe out the good guys in your gut, needed for good digestion and probiotic puts them back . So whenever you take a course of antibiotics and I hope none of us would ever do this lightly then you need to take some probiotics at different times in the day to re colonise your gut.

Sidge's advice is great, this is what the new NHS helpline should be like, and isn't!!!! (as they just run through great checklists of non-relevant symptoms and you don't get to speak to a nurse initially).

Use boric acid as an eye wash

www.ehow.com/how_5022435_use-boric-acid-eye-wash.html

Bacterial conjunctivitis will clear vast majority times without antibiotics. Probably not quicker using the drops/ointment. You can get resistant conjunctivitis.

That being said you can buy chloramphenicol and lots of gps readily prescribe it. Especially to small children who can pass it on easily (it is contagious).

However if you feel run down the conjunctivitis is probably part of a virus so I wouldn't use the antibiotics personally. I'd stick to bathing eyes in cooled boiled water, avoid touching eyes then anyone else, wash pillow cases, avoid mascara and wait a couple of days.

Lots of pharmacies provide a minor ailments service where they will assess you and give out medication such as chloramphenicol and calpol, to save wasting a GP appointment.

I think charis was being sarcastic.

I bathe our eyes in this house with chamomile tea (boil a few teabags for 5/10 min and cool). Chamomile is antibacterial/anti-inflammatory and I find often the redness/swelling goes away without using anything else. You then just soak a cotton wool pad and bathe them a few times, making sure to use one pad per eye and wash hands.

I wouldn't hesitate to use something though if I had a big day tomorrow.

You might have a virus separately to the conjunctivitis, there's all of a sudden a lot of colds/viruses about, and you might be starting with something.

I would just whack it in. I tend to do crap like that though..hope you feel better soon, Op.

No! do not use it or any Antibiotic without speaking to a medical professional please!. You need to asses any other medications you are or might be taking for what are known as contraindications.

As other posters have said an over the counter med such as Optrex may well be a better bet. You shoudl be able to find a pharmacist open somewhere on a sunday unless your right out in the sticks. Even then you migh tbe able to find an out of hours doctors practice or even a local hospital. I've had that in the past and its not pleasant so sympathies for you!.

You can buy chloramphenicol eye drops over the counter so i probably would use chloramphenicol ointment, that's exactly what you'd be given anyway.

It's unusual to be that ill with conjunctivitis though.

Optrex infected eye contains chloramphenicol, which is what the OP has at home. So what is the point in her wasting a fiver on something she already has?

As others have said, it isn't like she's taking oral anti-biotics that may be inappropriate.

I've had conjunctivitis a few times, but only once has it made me feel ill in myself. Dr still only prescribed the cream though

Last time I had conjunctivitis it took about 3 weeks to go away, bright red weeping eyes, had to get repeat prescriptions of the cream and loads of Optrex Infected Eye stored in the fridge, and used every speck of it. Like othe posters I came on to say NO but seeing as its conjunctivitis I say Do It. Hope you feel better soon

I would like to be the eighty-ninth poster to say you can buy chloramphenicol OTC.

I was quite ill with conjuctivitis.

Dr told me to stay off work & I thought that he was having a laugh.

Got home & crashed out for hours!

Next day the same thing. Managed to be up & about for a couple of hours & then was totally wiped out.

Yes of course you should use it. It's a topical application, it's fine

Way better than wasting it anyway

Charis may have been a tad OTT but as a word of warning, years ago at work I was feeling really ill and my then boss persuaded me to take 2 of his tablets. After three days in a coma I woke up in hospital. I was young and stupid he got a good telling off and I would never take anyone else's medication, nor would I share mine.

Eye drops I'd use them. Tablets no as pps have said. Improper use of the tablets is crazy.

If its eye ointment then I would use it. In other countries it's not even a prescription item for this condition, you can buy in the chemist