AIBU to share prescribed medicine

[hipposarerad]

I seem to have an infection in my cuticle that is proving very stubborn. I've been attacking it with tea tree oil, but I've just run out. It's throbbing a bit, quite swollen and feels somewhat warm.

Dp has some antibiotic spray left over from when he got an ear infection, the active ingredients are dexamethasone, neomycin and acetic acid. I've just sprayed a bit on my finger in desperation.

I'm sure most of you are thinking "just go to the GP you bellend" but that's just not possible.

I have my autistic 7 year old ds2 at home most of the day (his school timetable is 2 hours per day - no sign of an increase) and I don't drive, meaning I spend a fair bit of time on the bus. This means there isn't enough time to get from school to the surgery and back in time to pick him up.

We don't have much in the way of family help; dp's dB and sil have teenagers, one of whom is also autistic - they aren't available, my family haven't really bothered with us since diagnosis. Plus, my neice had a baby a year ago and who are you going to invest your time in - a 7 year old nephew with challenging behaviour or a perfect first grandchild?) Both my parents are dead, there's only dp's ddad, who is pretty spry but still 80 years old - I don't want to pester him.

So, I'm using a medicine that was prescribed to someone other than myself. Will my finger feel better soon?

If it wasn’t an antibiotic I’d say it’s fine. I’ve shared “treat the symptoms” drugs (pain killers, anti-emetics etc) that have a standard dose for adults all the time.

But antibiotics are more iffy.

It won't help. It either needs draining or oral antibiotics. Dexamethasone is a steroid which is the last thing you want!

The infection is in your finger, there isn't much you can put on the surface that will sort it out.
Soaking it helps relieve the pressure and may help it drain, but it might turn nasty. You really need to see your GP and get some antibiotics.

Frankly I'd be worried about it turning into sepsis and if you end up in hospital with that or worse - I'm not sure anyone has died from a cuticle problem

Go for it, or ask the GP to fax a scrip for Fucidin over to the pharmacy. Both will work.

The tea tree oil will probably not have done it any good.

Could you get to a pharmacy, would that be any easier than the journey to the GP? They can check minor things and might have something you can buy over the counter?

Go to the chemist and speak to the pharmacist as a starting point.

If it requires an antibiotic then Fucidin is unlikely to do very much at all. Generally fluclox would be prescribed.

patient.info/health/paronychia-leaflet

Steroids should usually be avoided on infected skin tissue. Not a good idea

The only thing from a pharmacy would be a drawing ointment (if there is anything to draw). I would generally recommend that and soaking in warm salty water - at the same time I advise to make a GP appt.

The appt can always be cancelled if the infection clears.

DD has had a few minor nail infection (mainly due to her nibbling and picking at the skin surrounding her nails) and when we've been to the GP with it, she's been given Fucidin ointment or, on a couple of occasions when it's been worse, oral erythromycin. Like the OP, I'd give it a go with the antibiotic spray she's already got but keep an eye on it, and if it gets no better in a couple of days, or worse, off to the GP or walk-in centre.

" I'm not sure anyone has died from a cuticle problem"

I believed the same but got a proper bollocking for waiting, an x ray, and 2 appointments with plastics/trauma consultants after ignoring some persistent minor swelling. Luckily all repaired after 2 courses of second-line antibiotics!

Please don’t use the antibiotic spray - get proper advise. Otomize (the clue is in the name) is not for nail infection, it’s for the ear. You would never find a GP prescribing it for a nail because it would be the wrong thing to use.

There is some terrible advice on here.

Dexamethasone one of the ingredients in the sprayis a steroid .It is used as an anti inflammatory..totally unsuitable for an open wound.
Go to your pharmacy if you cannot get to a gp

Sharing antibiotics like this also contributes to antibiotic resistance, which is why less antibiotics are now available/ effective. Antibiotics aren't like painkillers, where they all do the same job, just slightly more or less effectively. Only certain antibiotics kill certain bacteria. You have used a random antibiotic for a condition it hasn't been prescribed for, there's no way of knowing wheather this specific one will work on the bacteria you have, but if not, any bacteria in your body will have been exposed to the medication and will now be able to develop resistance to it, so next time it's encountered, it will be even less effective.

This is why you should always take the full prescribed course of an antibiotic, because the strongest, most resistant bacteria live through the early phases of treatment, leaving them free to reproduce and continue getting stronger. Doctors now will often take a swab of a wound and test the bacteria to find out which antibiotics are effective before prescribing, because this is such a big problem.

Antibiotic resistance is not something to be taken lightly. If you are concerned about your finger, you need to go to a pharmacist or doctor and get advice and a proper prescription. In the meantime, saltwater soaks, hot compresses and a dressing to stop it getting knocked is probably sufficient. I know you said it's hard to go to the doctor but it will be worse if you have to go into hospital because you've got a serious infection.

Thanks for the info, I was just wondering if I would be doing more harm than good.

I'll be in a pharmacy later as dp needs another prescription picking up. We're down to our last few quid until Monday when carer's allowance is paid. I'll ask advice whilst I'm there and keep up the salt water soaks until the I've got money for whatever medicine I need.