Anyone had antibiotics for a covid19 cough?

[Bubbinsmakesthree]

...and if so did it help?

My cough’s been quite bad for 5 weeks - if it wasn’t covid I’d be at the GP by now to see if they thought I needed ABs (in my experience it’s what I’ve needed to shift long-standing coughs in the past).

But i can’t get an appointment with my GP and NHS 111 has been chaos and I don’t know if i am wasting everyone’s timing trying to get seen.

They would only help if you had a bacterial infection. Antibiotics don't work on viruses. The cough can last for a few weeks

I think you can end up with a bacterial infection after the virus as this happened to my MIL and she was treated with antibiotics.

No it wont help. The cough can last though.

If you think you've got a secondary infection though, it could be bacterial the antibiotics would help then.

One sign of a secondary (bacterial) infection would be coughing up yellow/green mucus, are you having anything like that? As others have said the CV cough can unfortunately last for weeks :/

I’ve had ABs for a viral cough that turned into a secondary infection a number of times - every time a doctor has thought it necessary to prescribe them it’s blitzed the cough within a day or two.

Bobbins - do you know how your MIL ended up with ABs - was it because she was acutely ill or for persistent symptoms?

This is the thing - normal a cough like this after over 5 weeks would have me at the GP but they’re refusing to see anyone with CV-related symptoms and the NHS 111 triage doesn’t seem set up to deal with mild-but-persistent symptoms.

@riveted1 yes lots of mucus coming up, mostly creamy-yellow

My mums has abs it’s helped. She’s a frontline nurse. Tested positive two weeks ago. Gp gave antibiotics a week ago and they helped

I would seek help your GP should be taking calls to ring you back. Covid or not don't put up with it for weeks. I had a Covid cough and it didn't last that long.

Had antibiotics didnt really help, but it's not uncommon to develop a secondary bacterial infection so worth a try if its lingering.

I had two courses and they definitely helped. It isn't beyond the realms of possibility that you now have an infection too.

One sign of a secondary (bacterial) infection would be coughing up yellow/green mucus, are you having anything like that?

That’s a myth. Coloured mucus can also be a virus.

OP, are there no other ways to contact the GP? No online or video call consultations?

I’m not sure, she was quite unwell but not hospitalised. I think she was prescribed them 2-3 weeks after symptoms started?

A friend had AB for a cough a week after likely Coronavirus, nhs 111 said it was likely a secondary infection and it cleared up quickly