The development of antibiotics is one of the world’s greatest discoveries! They are an incredible advancement in modern medicine and have greatly reduced our risk of serious illness or death when suffering from a bacterial infection.

Taking a round of antibiotics is one of the easiest and most reliable ways to start feeling better quickly, but it is important to be careful about their use. If you are also currently taking another prescription, you need to clear it with a medical provider to ensure that the two medications will not interact with each other poorly!

Our AFC Urgent Care Tyvola Road team can help you better understand the relationship between antibiotics and other medications below.

What Do Antibiotics Do to Your Body?

Antibiotics were designed to target the bacteria within your body. That not only includes the harmful bacteria from your infection, but also the naturally occurring bacteria in your gut.

That is why following your prescription directly and only taking antibiotics when you need them is recommended. Consistent overuse of antibiotics can disrupt your gut health over time and cause you more problems later in life.

Infections That Require an Antibiotic Prescription

• UTI (urinary tract infection)
• Strep throat
• Ear or sinus infections
• Bacterial pneumonias

Is My Medication Dangerous With Antibiotics?

Every one of us is unique and has different medical needs. This is why it is so important to seek a medical provider’s evaluation before taking any sort of medication or antibiotic. Certain medications can react poorly or be rendered ineffective while antibiotics are in your system, so you may be left vulnerable!

More specifically, some blood-thinning medications can react to antibiotics like cephalosporin and can actually increase your chance of uncontrolled bleeding if you get hurt. If you are on a birth control prescription, a round of antibiotics can make your birth control temporarily ineffective! You will need to be very careful during this time to protect yourself. In any case, discussing your full health history with a medical provider will ensure your safety before starting any new medication.

Things Not to Mix With Antibiotics

• Alcohol
• Contraceptive pills
• Blood-thinner medications
• Any medication not cleared by your doctor

Antibiotics are a great resource, but only when they are used in a responsible way. If you think you need a prescription for an infection you have, come see us at one of our AFC Urgent Care Dalton!