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.

What would fix the issue is to have culture results quickly and in every setting, from swab to result in an hour would do nicely!!

I have been interested and entertained to read your replies however nothing convincies me that we need a doctor to prescribe such an item,
In general for certain things anyway.
As the saying is you can't cure stupid,yes sadly some are however most aren't,
laws are made sadly to cover the lowest denominatior in life very sadly.
It's like we have to be treated like a child because of every idiot that exists instead of common sense existing.
I haven't run out and bought antibiotics because ive been able to often in My life so sadly the laws that dictate the control here on antibiotics I still find nuts and crazy.
It's like saying no one can drive a car because they kill,or banning smoking or alcohol totally(I don't smoke or drink as it happens but don't want stop others doing as they wish ).
Or how about banning anything else that puts a slight possibility to your health.if you want to be so so careful better we all live in a sterile pod each hey.
I find so funny those that quote the guardian as though it's to be believed when it's about as reliable as alll other papers like the daily fail the sun and telegraph,times,....along with all the other rubbish that's printed and added online daily and any other media which in reality means probably 5 percent truth in its entire papers or reports online alike to any other media form.
Maybe we are immune to some antibiotics fair enough maybe there are idiots that take loads if they could but 99 percent of the world has enough brains not too.
Isn't it sad that legislation is basically aimed at the ill educated And basically the thick and stupid and sub normal in society.
However nice to read your replies everyone.

nothing convincies me that we need a doctor to prescribe such an item,

FFS

Maybe we are immune to some antibiotics

You really don't understand do you? It's the bacteria that are becoming immune, not us.

No, no you don't have to be treated like a child because there are idiots out there. You have to be treated as someone without the qualifications required to prescribe such a resource in the correct manner. Unless you want to extend compulsory school leaving age by 3/5 years to include medical or pharmaceutical qualifications then suck it up buttercup because you haven't a clue what you are talking about.

You need a doctor to prescribe antibiotics because they know which antibiotics are best to treat particular conditions. There is no point taking the wrong antibiotic - it won't work, and the infection could get worse, and you will be helping antibiotic resistance to grow.

Doctors are better placed - due to all that training - to tell whether younhave a viral infection or a bacterial one. None of the people who are pro over-the-counter antibiotics have been able to tell me how they can tell what is a viral infection and what is a bacterial one. If you have a viral infection, there is no point whatsoever taking antibiotics - none.

Even hindsight isn't a good judge of whether an infection was bacterial or not. If you have an infection, take antibiotics, and get better, that doesn't mean it definitely was bacterial. It could just as well be that you had a viral infection, that your body's own defences fought off, and the antibiotics did not help at all.

But the big, unanswered question is this - how are we to cope with the growth of antibiotic-resistant bacteria? If it goes on growing, we could well end up with people dying of what used to be easily treatable infections - and then it will be too late. As a previous poster has said, there have already been deaths, due to antibiotic resistant infections.

And OP all of your posts have displayed that you have zero idea of how bacteria work nor how anti biotics are used in treatment.

Isn't it sad that legislation is basically aimed at the ill educated And basically the thick and stupid and sub normal in society.

Not quite. The legislation is aimed at protecting the rest of us, who'd quite like a world where antibiotics continue to work, from the people in that category who, like you, can't grasp how antibiotics and antibiotic resistance work.

Your ability to evaluate relative risk also seems very poor.

If there was a way to have antibiotic resistance only affect fuckwits who can't understand how antibiotics work or use them responsibly, I'd be happy to see them doled out with fewer restrictions. Meanwhile, thank heaven for those laws that aim to protect the rest of us.

this official enough?

Isn't it sad that legislation is basically aimed at the ill educated And basically the thick and stupid and sub normal in society.

However well educated you might be, unless you have thorough medical training, I doubt you can reliably differentiate between bacterial and viral infections, which one is most appropriate for a specific bacteria and which one that particular bacteria is likely to be resistant to.

How long a course would you need. What do you then take if you fail to improve and for how long? Might you need one 50mg tablet 4 x daily or is your particular infection needing 100mg per dose? I've had to take a LOT of antibiotics and although I am able to keep an emergency supply at home, I would not presume I have the level of knowledge to go out any buy antibiotics and self-medicate. I also wouldn't trust a chemist to sell me something appropriate just on a description of my symptoms.

Right now, I'm stuffed if the antibiotics I need fail to work because thanks to overuse generally there are currently no alternatives available.

So basically op is saying
"Jeez it doesn't matter about all the issues raised I even agree with them but I an speshul and should be able to contribute to said issues if I want "( stamps feet)

In some countries like Norway most doctors won't prescribe antibiotics without a blood test confirming that your illness can be treated with antibiotics.

In some countries like Norway most doctors won't prescribe antibiotics without a blood test confirming that your illness can be treated with antibiotics.

but even when it could be treated with ab's you might not need any as your body usually successfull at fighting infections.

OP, you have clearly not looked at the antibiotic guardian links if you think this" I find so funny those that quote the guardian as though it's to be believed when it's about as reliable as alll other papers like the daily fail the sun and telegraph,times,....along with all the other rubbish that's printed and added online daily and any other media which in reality means probably 5 percent truth in its entire papers or reports online alike to any other media form."

It's ANTIBIOTIC GUARDIAN, not the newspaper the Guardian. Read that link and then tell me 'nothing convincies' you.

Have you heard of the concept of willful blindness? Try this TED talk.