What is your opinion on antibiotics? Do you think we over use it?

1. 58

   tarajeyaramposted 12 years ago

   I would like to hear your opinion on antibiotics and our practice with it.  Many believe that antibiotics are overly prescribed and that we are seeing many resistance strains.

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      Dubuquedogtrainerposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Absolutely. I wrote about this 25 years ago as a registered nurse. We are indeed creating new resistant strains largely due to overuse and inappropriate use of antibiotics.

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   2. 71

      jaybird22posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Not only resistance strains, lets not forget that prescribed medication is a multi billion dollar industry.  Doctors push meds on people because they get kickbacks from pharmaceutical companies.  Pharmaceutical companies are finding medicine for everything now days. Everyone is taking medicine for something now days.

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   3. 60

      noenhulkposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Of course! We are over dependent of antibiotics. Pahrmaceutical companies are getiing richer everyday. We should turn to herbal medicine and natural medicine.

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2. 92

   habeeposted 12 years ago

   Yes. Too many doctors are far too quick to prescribe antibiotics for minor ailments.

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3. 73

   Kangaroo_Jaseposted 12 years ago

   From many conversations I've had with folk in Canada, Australia & New Zealand, the US, the UK and Europe, I have found that US citizens are the most medicated out of these countries and mostly with antibiotics, then with pain relief (using products like Xanax, etc).
   
   Its a major concern when one looks at it.

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4. 60

   couturepopcafeposted 12 years ago

   Antibiotics are too often given to children for anything right off the bat. Beef is loaded with antibiotics. It's in the feed. Same with chickens. It's supposed to keep the herd and flock healthy. I say bull. Other countries don't do it. Eat animals with no antibiotic use.

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      Eric Newlandposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Heh, I was always flat up told that livestock antibiotic injections make the animal fatter, somehow, thus more meat.
      
      They are over prescribed. The biggest problem is that people become resistant to them over time, and then you've got to keep escalating to stronger things or doing two courses to knock out one infection, making it more and more likely that you'll be screwed if you get a serious or life-threatening infection somehow.

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      1. 60

         couturepopcafeposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Maybe you're thinking of hormone injections to fatten? It's been 'speculated' (hah) that this is the reason girls develop at the age of 8 and boys are overly agressive. Too many hormones and steroids in beef and milk.

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         1. 61

            Eric Newlandposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            I must have heard it from a second-hand source that had it confused then. I distinctly remember someone insisting to me that the antibiotics make them fatter. Somehow.

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            1. 60

               Zebrahutposted 12 years agoin reply to this

               You're both right - antibiotics do cause livestock to put on weight (a handy side effect for meat producers) and they seem to do this by there affect on gut bacteria which in turn influence hormone production.
               
               It's the same for humans - the activities of H.Pylori for example, a microbe found in our gut, affects the levels of ghrelin, a hormone whose effects include suppression of the use of our fat stores and stimulation of the parts of the brain which control feelings of hunger. This hormone also plays a part in gastric emptying which can be a problem because we may not feel full and end up eating more than we need to.

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   2. 59

      Naturallygrassfedposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I simply don't agree in giving animals antibiotics and even hormones. Let the cattle eat grass, and they will be fine.

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5. 69

   brakel2posted 12 years ago

   I admire the physicians who tell patients that antibiotics  are not used for viral infections and refuse to give In to demands. No one ever over prescribed them for my family. Physicians need to educate their clientele. Some people believe they won't get better without pills. Then someday they won't get better when they have a serious bacterial infection.

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6. 59

   By His Wayposted 12 years ago

   Antibiotics are great. Incomplete use, misuse or overuse of them is a big fail.

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7. 61

   SomewayOuttaHereposted 12 years ago

   yes

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   1. 55

      Robertr04posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      A healthy body produces it's own antibiotics.

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8. 60

   ThussaysNanaMarieposted 12 years ago

   I use antibiotics only if I have to. I would have tried other remedies for th eproblem before I resorted to antibiotics. I avoid it like no man's business. I recommend garlic and honey until then. Keeps people at bay or keeps you sweet lol.

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9. 59

   h.a.borcichposted 12 years ago

   I think antibiotics are definately misused often.
   
     People are uncomfortable muddling thru any viral stuff and want a quick fix pill. The drug companies are profitting not only in sales, but in the constant need for stronger/different antibiotics, and in pain meds too.
   
     I strongly agree that the hormones and antibiotics given automatically to herds (food supply) either to fatten or cut production costs is negatively affecting people health. All the drugs cause dna mutations and that side effect is not fully realised yet. I only buy meats and dairy that are antibiotic/hormone free in self defense.

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10. 69

    BlissfulWriterposted 12 years ago

    Yes, antiboiotics are overused.  They are sometimes used for viral infections which it has no effect.  Overuse of antiboitics in cattles also leads to super-bugs.  Use of antibiotics on self, can kill the healthy bacteria in the gut which we need.

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