To order antibiotics online?

[Sugartits87]

Pretty sure I've got some sort of ladies problem. It's not an STI as I've been tested for that. Could be BV or something similar. My doctors are useless - can't get an appointment for ages. And I don't want to go to the GUM clinic. After a quick google I was surprised to learn you can buy metronidazole online from Superdrug. Has anyone done this before? Is it safe to do this if you are pretty confident as to what the condition is - I.e BV?

YANBUZ it's no different to Push Doctor etc. You have to answer questions first and pay for it. Just like a cheap private GP.

*YANBU. not sure where the Z came from

Have you ever taken that before?
It is not a normal antibiotic at all. There are a lot of warnings, if you drink alcohol while you take it you could die.
I had to take it twice in one year after surgery and I was then ill with stomach problems for over 2 years afterwards
It is not something I would ever take without a prescription, it is not amoxicillin

I would just pay to see a private GP (often it can be done online if necessary) and get them to prescribe you the correct medication.

I have taken it before many years ago and I know not to drink with it. I'm just wondering if it's safe to take it without prescription.

Superdrug etc will give you a prescription they cant just issue it

Yabu.

Ordering antibiotics online for something 'you're fairly confident' you have because you 'don't want to' go to the gum clinic? You're being irresponsible and run the risk of taking antibiotics unnecessarily.

"I'm just wondering if it's safe to take it without prescription."

Why would you trust internet strangers with this?

Please seek the face to face advice of a medical professional.

You can buy treatments for BV at a normal pharmacy so if you're sure it's that you don't need a prescription.

If you had a recurrent issue and know the antibiotics work than fair enough. But 'pretty sure' you've got "some sort' of woman's issue is hardly a reliable diagnosis. The antibiotics could make it worse, or mask symptoms of the actual issue.

Why don't you want to go to a GUM clinic? Is it embarassment or time restriction? Are you near a walk-in clinic? Even a chat with a pharmacist first is better than a vague self diagnosis.

YABU. Get a diagnosis and then get the correct treatment.

You can even get those over the counter testing kits that tell you if you have thrush or BV now so that’s definitely a good first step.

Metronidazole is used to treat BV but it's a pretty powerful antiB with some nasty side effects (for some). You must not drink alcohol on it. I'd suggest trying products like BalanceActiv or myltigyn actigel first, they're specifically for BV, can be bought in pharmacy or online and in my experience they're very effective.

I did recently from superdrug online

I haven't taken antibiotics for many years. I have had issues with pelvic infections (not sti related) in the past. My old gp would just issue a prescription based on my symptoms. I've been ok for years but am now seeing symptoms I recognise and unfortunately I now have a new GP where you can't get an appointment for ages. I have my own reasons for not wanting to go to the gum clinic.

Even if I were to take one course of antibiotics needlessly it's not a regular occurrence so I assume it wouldn't cause problems such as becoming immune and so on?

But I haven't heard of being able to order them online before so I was just seeing if it's something people do.

So you actually know the bacteria that you’re growing? In fact, do you actually know what is wrong? I mean for certain?!

This behaviour is one of the main reasons we have so much trouble treating patients with antibiotics these days.

Please take some responsibility for your own health and see a medical professional.

so you take an antibiotic which might not work for whatever it is you might have - don't be daft - go to a doctor & get checked & get correct treatment for whatever it is that you do or do not have. You could make yourself ill & still not get the correct treatment -google is not a good method of diagnosis or treatment - at the very least talk to a pharmacist

YABU. Antibiotic resistance is a very real threat to public health and taking them without professional medical advice and prescription is irresponsible

The problem is it's so hard to see a medical professional! It could be Trichomoniasis but my GP 'doesn't test for that' and in any case metronidazole treats that the same as it treats BV.

I have seen my GP. She said it could be BV or trich but as they don't test for trich I should go to the gum clinic for a full screen. I already know I don't have the other more common STIs as I screened for them using a home test kit.

I wanted to discuss the possibility of getting metronidazole with my GP again but I can't get an appointment. Please don't assume I haven't tried getting medical advice first because I have. Now I'm getting impatient and just want it sorted.

It really isn’t that difficult @Sugartits87. You phone your surgery for an emergency appointment (which all GP surgeries provide) and go and see a doctor. Failing that, you go to the GUM clinic. No one likes doing it but sometimes you just have to pull up your big girl pants.

There's treatment for BV over the counter at a pharmacy. Just go in and ask for it!

My last comment still stands. You’re still suffering symptoms, you phone for an emergency appointment, GP assesses if you need treatment.

And I’d imagine the GUM clinic tests for trich that’s why you’ve been told to go there.

Go to the GUM clinic then! Do not order antibiotics online. You need to be tested properly.

I haven't done it but I would for BV. My GP will prescribe those antibiotics over the phone for me.

They do make you feel rubbish tho, the gels are good and I would try those first if I was you.