To not take the antibiotics I've been prescribed?

[lomplanter]

I have tonsillitis. Tonsils are swollen, red, covered in white patches. I haven't taken any antibiotics yet, but have used throat spray.

I went through a phase of regularly getting it, and was hospitalised once in 2021. But the last time I had it was around three years ago now.

I went to the pharmacist and under the new service he gave me some antibiotics and throat spray. He examined me etc.

I attended because earlier, I felt pretty unwell. Hot, aching, fatigued, nauseous, and just generally shit. Along with the throat pain (definitely bearable). I had definitely over exerted myself prior.

I feel much better better now, still not amazing but not horrendous. I can cope with the pain of swelling.

I really don't want to take them unnecessarily and fuck up my gut microbiome/health.

DP thinks I'm being ridiculous, and should just take them. I feel like I shouldn't? Maybe I should wait?

AIBU?

I’m with your husband. I think you’re being ridiculous.

Yes, completely daft.

Utterly bonkers

Okay thank you.

It's just I feel now I can go about my daily activities so didn't want to take them unnecessarily.

Take the antibiotics. If you’re worried about your gut biome get some probiotic yoghurt or something!

I would hold off for a few days personally. Drink tonnes of water, eat mega healthily including fresh ginger and garlic. Rest as much as you can.

It takes your gut over a year to get back to equilibrium after antibiotics.

It is highly likely your own immune system will clear the infection without the antibiotics. Antibiotics reduce the average duration of illness by 16 hours only in tonsillitis. If you are already starting to feel better I would hold off. You can always take them if you feel worse again

I wouldn't take them... I think see how you go especially if you've had an upturn ... no point in wasting antibiotics on something that can/may clear up on its own. If it doesn't then take them, at least you'll know. I'm not a big fan of antibiotics either they really affect my micro biome badly so would wait and see. Good luck op

Can you take half a tablet at a time and spread them out? I'm quite slim so I always take less than the standard dose of things and spread them out.
Standard anti-B doses make me very poorly, learnt the hard way.

Unless you’ve been advised by a professional to do this then please don’t. You’re asking for an antibiotic resistant infection doing this

I wouldn't start them yet, I would wait and see how you get on without. It's much better if you've managed to fight off the infection yourself.

Hold off for a couple of days - my son had tonsillitis a couple of weeks ago; swollen tonsils covered in white spots. 36 hours later they were completely clear - no antibiotics taken, his immune system just did its thing.

I would take them, I've seen someone end up with quinsy leaving it untreated. Not pretty

Personally I would hold off if you are feeling better. I think most tonsillitis are viral and clear on their own. To know if it’s bacterial you would need a swab which is rare in the UK.

This is such dangerous advice. Apart from anything else lots of tablets have a special coating on them so they don’t cause damage to your oesophagus. If you split them you can actually end up burning your throat and causing real damage. You wouldn’t necessarily know which tablets can and can’t be split by looking at them.

Take them. I had tonsillitis about 10 years ago. Tonsils and throat red raw and covered in white spots. Put on a course of antibiotics but it came back 3 more times within a matter of weeks tonsillitis. The last infection spread all the way up into my ear and ruptured my eardrum. I now only have partial hearing in my left ear. Take acidophilus if you're worried about healthy gut bacteria.

YABU I take penicillin VK every single day of my life as I have no spleen! One course of abx will not harm you! To make you feel better about your gut biome take a good quality probiotic at the same time

Please don’t listen to some of the randomers on the bloody internet. You consulted a medical professional who prescribed antibiotics, so take them. You say you have white patches on your tonsils, a sign of it being a bacterial rather than viral infection. How many days has it been going on? If more than 3 or 4, it’s more likely bacterial. Your gut will sort itself out, but right now your tonsils need some antibiotic assistance. Take the antibiotics (as prescribed, not cutting doses or anything else).

Also! One day people will die of sepsis because they're so uneducated and frightened to take abx the way they should be taken!

So you were hospitalised with this before, and now feel ill with the same thing, saw a Pharmacist, had the antibiotics but don't want to take them? Utterly stupid.

Ridiculous

My son had the burst eardrum, meningitis, his sinuses are still infected.

Tonsillitis can easily get chronic so unless you're constantly on antibiotics I would take them. In any case, better to use an iodide solution for gargling rather than throat spray - it's what I had prescribed against tonsillitis by the ear and throat specialists at our local teaching hospital and will be much more effective.

If you're generally in good health with no serious underlying conditions and starting to feel better I'd wait. If you can avoid (unnecessary) antibiotics it's better for you (and for other people too). People don't seem to realise how serious a problem antibiotic resistant bacteria are becoming.

If you start them though, please take as directed (and definitely don't take a lower dose as a PP suggested!)

Are you prone to tonsillitis? I used to be and this seems like bollocks. I’d be floored. Really ill. 2 or 3 doses and I’d be functional. So - while it may take a similar amount of time to clear the infection (not sure really) the way you feel while it’s happening is very different.