To think that we should be able to buy antibiotics accross the counter like a good number of other countries

[Carollocking]

Why do we need to go through the rigmarole of doctors just to get an antibiotic when we know what we need.
What reason is there to prevent us access to them without seeing a doctor.
I know we're not the only country like this but there are plenty of places you can just buy them at the chemist.

OP have you understood the main point being made? That availability of antibiotics is not just about the individual patient (you) but about the bigger picture and the possible world disaster of using them in such a way that will make them utterly useless in quite a short space of time (the whole of humanity)?
Do you understand? Because you're not coming across as understanding.

yeah the BNf book I know of pretty well from been allergic to something in the past it took the doctor a good long time to check to make sure the allergic ingredient wasn't in the item she wanted to prescribe (not an antibiotic by the way before the band wagon starts again)

Yes OP, but she wasn't checking am ingredients list. She was looking up the drug's contraindications. Which, again, your

*your average person isn't to know. Many simply assume that commonly used mecications are suirable for them. Most people simply don't have the knowledge or experience to self prescribe, especially when talking about such an important category of drugs.

OP, the reason is simple: people like you would abuse anti-biotics and we'd all suffer as a result.

You should also think about your own logic here OP...you just claimed you know the BNF "pretty well"...because someone else took the time to check something in it for you. The arrogance there is astounding.

Seriously, 3 days is a tiny amount of time to wait before wanting antibiotics. The majority of people can fight off minor bacterial infections without antibiotics, but because of massive overprescribing lots of people want antibiotics at the first sign of a sniffle.

I'd rather wait a few days and see a qualified medical professional than be able to buy whatever antibiotics I wanted, whenever I wanted them- the prospect of widespread antibiotic resistance leading to a world where once again, you risk death from a small cut because there is no effective way to prevent infection is fucking terrifying.

OTC antibiotics isn't the answer. Having GP surgeries equipped with the appropriate kit to test for bacterial infections is the answer. Here in Germany (where we pay about twice what the NHS costs IIRC, but there you go) if you turn up at the GP with a cough or whatever they will actually swab you and prescribe on the spot, rather than sending you away for 3 weeks to see whether you get better or get fucking pneumonia like they do in the UK. It is very helpful for people like me who get frequent chest infections.

PURPLE -as others have said, if you have a recurrent condition like cystitis you can with your doctor's say-so to have a repeat prescription though s/he may advise you be checked out further if using them. Or you can dial 111 and ask to speak to a doctor who will be able to fax a prescription to a local chemist or the nearest one open on Sunday.

To the poster who mentioned cystitis. Some GPs will let you drop a sample in and the GP or nurse practitioner will ring you back later.

Another thing to consider is the patient who will continue to take antibiotics rather than see a doctor and the underlying cause may be missed. E.g. Someone with an ongoing cough may take course after course of antibiotics when what they need is an X-ray to detect their lung cancer or they have a completely different cause e.g. Reflux.

@Toomuch. That sounds brilliant. But are German surgeries found in every town or do you have to travel far? Unless the tests are simple y/n reaction types, then presumably you have to have specialist lab staff to examine the swabs? there are just under 8000 GP practices in England - so using two lab staff per practice (underestimate since some big city ones need more) at £30,000 ea (counting salary and employment costs) would be £480m. It would garner a high customer satisfaction rate but might be too expensive.

Dh now works in pharmaceutical industry and in far east especially there is a huge problem with fake drugs.

rather than sending you away for 3 weeks to see whether you get better or get fucking pneumonia like they do in the UK.

That's not actually how the system works. Having tests might make patients feel more satisfied, but they're often an expensive waste of time. Look at America, who will whack you in the CT scanner for a runny nose.

The doctor looked up something in the BNF and you're moaning about they the time they took? Would you rather they get it right or not?

Christ on a bike. I think you're being deliberately goady. Or stupid.

Yabu. Mil stocks up on antibiotics when she's away and is that I won't take any from her. She doesn't even speak the language on the boxes so has no idea which of her pick and mix she's offering. DH and his brother have been taking them for years and I am genuinely worried as to the damage she's caused them. And don't get me started on her over the counter inhalers

I know when I need antibiotics

really? do tell me what the number needed to treat is for antibiotics for tonsillitis. It's pretty high, by the way.

yabvvu

for most infections (bacterial or viral) no treatment is needed. your body is pretty good at dealing with that.
you might feel like shit unwell for a bit, but rest, fluids & painkillers is all it needs usually.

The Centor guidelines for antibiotics for tonsillitis.

This isn't about the extra days that you felt unwell and uncomfortable because you couldn't magically diagnose what kind of infection you had and safely decide what pills would be effective against it and buy them over the counter.

It's about people like my friend's little boy, who died a few weeks ago because of the infection he acquired during cancer treatment that didn't respond to antibiotics. Why didn't it respond? Fuckwits who overuse and misuse antibiotics.

You'll forgive me if I don't weep for your inconvenience, and instead think prescription policy should focus on the long term future of antibiotics to benefit those whose lives depend on them.

I think it'd be a terrible idea but if you really want to fuck around with your health to the detriment of everyone else there's always the internet.

Why do we need to go through the rigmarole of doctors just to get an antibiotic when we know what we need.

YABU

People who think like you are contributing to the overuse of antibiotics, with potentially catastrophic effects on the rest of us.

Use your imagination: imagine a few years into the future when resistance to antibiotics is such that there are NO more hip replacements, NO more knee replacements, organ transplants are rare, and people you know are dying of tuberculosis.

I live in one of the countries where you can buy antib's over the counter.

I know people who buy them when they have A COLD.

No wonder antibiotic resistance is happening - and it's fucking scary.

YABVVVU.

@Carollocking - which antibiotics are most effective for a wound infection, or a chest infection?

Who do you think knows more about prescribing - you, with your VAST experience of needing antibiotics three times, or a doctor who has done years of medical school plus the extra years needed to become a general practitioner?

What will happen when we run out of antibiotics that are effective, because idiots (and idiotic countries) have used them for viral illnesses, or used the wrong antibiotic for their infection, or not used them correctly (failing to take the proper course etc) - and this has led to the majority of infections being antibiotic resistant, and when people are dying in their droves from infections we used to be able to cure?

What will we do then?

If you want to be part of the problem (which you would be, if you were buying antibiotics whenever you, with your entire lack of medical knowledge or training), you need to have a plan for how to deal with antibiotic resistance.

By the way, I am not expecting any sensible answer to these questions from you.

millie I'm not a microbiologist so don't know all the details but my kids' GP surgery can for example test for strep while you wait, and IIRC I had my spit tested the last time I had a chest infection. It's a small town, just a couple of GPs in each surgery.

You are aware of what MRSA is?