To start taking these antibiotics?

[Maisymooster]

I've felt poorly for 8 days now. Started with sore throat, ear ache, head ache and general manky feeling. Was worse for first 2 days then day 3 & 4 improved slightly but still far from normal. Then yesterday I deteriorated again and have felt dreadful again. Would normally go to GP by now but it's so difficult in these times I would rather not. I've got some clarithromycin in the drawer that was once prescribed to my dd and she never took it as the tablets were too big! In past similar illnesses I am almost always prescribed the same antibiotic (we are mildly allergic to penicillin). I am wondering whether to start with them in the hope it might make me feel better. Aibu?

No. If you are ill enough to need antibiotics you need to go to your GP. It sounds like classic cold symptoms, I appreciate it could be bacterial but thats why you need to see a dr

Can't you contact your GP?

Ours are using AskMyGP and I've used it a few times and my doctors have been excellent. I started with an ear infection this week, it got much worse on Tuesday and I messaged in the middle of the night when I woke up in pain. Had a call back at 8.30am, chat on the phone and the doctor did a prescription for antibiotics which I collected later that morning.

I don't want to call the gp as you have to wait outside in the car park, it's a hassle and I assume they will just tell me it's a virus! Just thought I would try the antibiotics and if they give me diarrhoea I will stop!

Well if they think its a virus you shouldnt be taking antibiotics?

You should not be taking antibiotics that aren’t prescribed. You should hand them in to a pharmacy.
If it’s viral, it will pass. Pain relief and fluids til it goes. If you think it’s bacterial, you need to discuss it with your GP.

My gp did phone consultation for me to give me antibiotics.

Do not take antibiotics which weren't prescribed for you.

I wouldn't take them. Speak to your surgery. Gps are doing phone appointments now and you can get a prescription sent straight to your nearest pharmacy.

Sorry OP but yes YABU. While it's technically broad-spectrum, Clarithromycin is usually prescribed for chest infections and skin infections like cellulitis. I can't see how that relates to your symptoms. Are they even in date?

You also wouldn't have the right dosing to be effective even if it was the right antibiotic or indeed if one were needed. They will do naff all for a viral infection. Taking antibiotics unnecessarily is an awful idea and can cause issues in the future regarding immunity when you will actually need it, as well as gastric issues etc. Especially true I'd you're already limited with what you can take.

Why would you have to stand in the rain to have a telephone appointment with a GP? I doubt they would see you in person with symptoms such as that anyway at the moment. Even if they did surely standing in the rain is better than feeling ill for longer.

Just book a phone appointment and ask for advice if you've been suffering for this long.

Why would you take antibiotics unless you know 100% you have a bacterial infection?

We have had antibiotics for less than 100 years and our misuse of them has caused a rapid increase in resistance to them among a wide range of potentially lethal bacteria. Antibiotic resistance is considered to be one of the greatest health issues facing the human race. If you are feeling unwell enough to think you need antibiotics, you should see a doctor, who will prescribe the correct medicine, and you should take it as directed. By taking some random antibiotics you have left over from something else (meaning they were not taken correctly the first time round either) you are directly contributing to the problem. This especially goes for taking antibiotics for a viral infection, where they will be useless to help you anyway.

It’s no fun being ill, but try to imagine how not-fun it would be to desperately need an antibiotic that works only to find there are none left. In the last year of my dad’s life he spent over a month seriously ill and in solitary confinement due to having an infection that was resistant to all known antibiotics but one. In order to prevent exactly the kind of abuse that the OP is suggesting, this antibiotic can only be prescribed by a consultant of infectious diseases after all other possible treatments have been deemed ineffective.

The OP might think that taking her left over antibiotics is mostly harmless, but when her actions are multiplied (taking antibiotics for a viral infection, not taking the full course to completion, taking antibiotics for an infection they are not indicated for, etc) by many people who all think they aren’t contributing to the problem, you get a problem. We have a big problem coming our way that will make Covid look like a warm up act if we don’t stop misusing antibiotics.

Of course YABVU

If you have a virus the antibiotics will do absolutely nothing to treat it

And it’s just another small misuse of antibiotics which along with every other small misuse at a population level will eventually lead to antibiotics being mostly useless against actual bacterial infections.

I'll also repeat what others have said....the dose your dd was prescribed will not be the correct amount for you personally and your illness, even if it was bacterial. A course of antibiotics is carefully calculated to suit the person and their illness. By taking antibiotics not prescribed to you, you risk not killing the bacteria fully, which leads to further problems.
I hope you feel better soon.

No don’t take them. Call your GP and see if you can get a telephone app. You can even ask if you can take the tablets you have or need something different. If they need to see you they will but ours are issuing prescriptions without seeing you in some instances. Don’t worry about COVID if you need to go. I have been to ours a couple of times and they are not allowing anyone in without an app and staff are wearing ppe.

YABU. Antibiotic resistance is terrifying, either speak to a GP or just ride it out.

Yabu.
Do some research on antibiotic resistance.
It sounds viral.

I just saw you say I’ll take antibiotics and if they give me diarrhoea I’ll stop
🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️
PLEASE DONT DO THAT

Just thought I would try the antibiotics and if they give me diarrhoea I will stop!

I can't stress this enough, but if you start a course of antibiotics, you must finish it. You NEVER stop half way through.

Though to be clear, you absolutely shouldn't be taking them!

Pointless if it’s a virus.