Boycott Amoxicillin

The other day, I had to take my younger son to the doctor. He had a fever of 102 degrees, even when I had administered medication for it. He also had been complaining of what it seemed to be a small cut on his knee.

The pediatrician prescribed an antibacterial cream for the knee, and Amoxicillin. Previously, I had taken him to the doctor for some indigestion... The doctor, the same doctor prescribed Amoxicillin. The doctor did not prescribed nor treated my son's fever.

I have like three jars of Amoxicillin in my fridge that I do not intend to give to my child at all.

Antibiotics started way back with the Sumerian culture, as a nature derived ailment it could be welcomed. But its massive production and attached commercial interests in distribution tends to bump the best interest of the patient.

I mean, doesn't it concern you how easy it is to find a medication that is supposed to be prescribed by a physician?

I take a closer look at my son's medication to better reference this article and I read that this is not merely Amoxicillin but Amoxicillin and Clauvulanate Potassium. According to the United States National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health "Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid seems to be associated with a higher risk of Stevens-Johnson syndrome, purpura and hepatitis than amoxicillin alone." It is also associated with a higher risk to develop liver disease.

Children are especially at risk to develop resistance to any kind of antibiotics and some physicians have risked their good relations with pharmaceuticals stating that "antibiotics are not always the best answer."

Antibiotics in general are best taken on an empty stomach. Why is this? In general, antibiotics are known to have this common side effects: diarrhea, upset stomach, skin rash and nausea. Other less common reactions are: anemia, blood disorders and psychological reactions.

West Ward Pharmaceuticals Corporation, located in Eatontown, New Jersey, is a subsidiary of Hikma Pharmaceuticals, a leader in injectable or any kind of generics, to include oral antibiotics. This corporation is so big it acquired Baxter's injectable business for $110 million cash in 2010, warehouse, employees and supply chain included. Hikma is primarily established in North Africa and the Middle East, where it leads the market. In 2009, this mogul reaped revenues of $637 million dollars. West Ward Pharmaceuticals reports anything from 100 to 500 million dollars a year.

I am not saying good or bad guys here. I am just saying is a business, and we are just a link in the business. It is not about health, is about sales. So, if your health is not first order business, top priority for them, shouldn't we take a stand?

So, what's the program? Doctor's orders, if I do not follow through I am negligent especially when it comes to children's health, I could be prosecuted. That's the feeling anyhow. The Administration for Children and Families under the United States Department of Health and Human Services, places under severe neglect if a parent fails to administer prescribed medication.

"A medical doctor may view a parent as neglectful if the parent repeatedly forgets to give his child a prescribed medication" I wonder if this includes refusing to give the child the medication for whatever reason.

In June 2011 the Canadian Medical Association accused the pharmaceutical industry of failure to include drug information vital to properly prescribed medication for children. Did I mention that our health is not priority anymore?

Above all, if you are allergic to Penicillin you should know you can't take most or any antibiotic. Chances are your doctor did ask you in writing and maybe you went auto-pilot filling out the form in order to get some immediate service. Is like signing a blank check or a contract without reading it.

Morally it is the physician's duty to interview you verbally, filling out the form as you go. But, again, mass production is of the essence, so now the doctor before seeing you has you fill the forms (self service) while you wait for him. Now you do your own assessment, basically. You do your own children's assessment. The doctor prescribes in auto-pilot because this is the wonder drug the pharmaceutical via its fancy ads and other perks, told the doctor there was no way he was going to go wrong.

So, you trust the doctor, your doctor trusts the pharmaceutical, the pharmaceutical is based on fairy tale/mythological studies. The FDA is in auto-pilot, first approving without requesting basic further studies, to later slap the industry in the hand and let them go their way.

An auto-pilot trillion dollar producing industry. No answers are required anymore because nobody is asking anything anymore... We just take and go.

I understand the title for this hub is farfetched and delusional. Antibiotics have saved many lives and historically are in record of being of greater benefit in many cases. What I say here is that there is not the same effort in promoting alternative and cheaper methods of improving our immune system, which is key when it comes to win the battle against harmful bacteria.

There is good bacteria that lives in "harmony" with this harmful bacteria. Infections arouse when there is an imbalance between the two, when harmful takes over.

Antibiotics do not restore this balance. Antibiotics attack all bacteria. It is blind to which bacteria should stay and which bacteria should go. This is the main reason why it causes diarrhea, especially in children.

Antibiotics do not kill viruses, and when they kill bacteria, they kill what you do not need and what you do need in order to function at your optimum level. Think of bleach on your jeans.

Their stock is phenomenal, though, a sure investment.

I remember like a shooting star, when in one of my visits to my son's doctor, she once prescribed a probiotic. I was sure thrilled to give that to my son! Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that first and foremost, treat gastrointestinal illness, boost immunity and slow the development of certain forms of cancer. Wait a moment! How come my doctor doesn't emphasize this information?

There is no money there. Probiotics are cheaper, not much loot to distribute.

The best thing about probiotics is that they are so practical and come so natural they are widely found in what some call now Super Foods.

The United States allows its cattle to splurge in antibiotics. Do you eat meat? Well, at least now you already had your antibiotic with food. There is a slight chance that antibiotics can promote or allow for cancer cells to develop.

I am about to flush this venom down the toilet.

Let's talk Echinacea, Garlic, Onion, Ginger, and Mint instead... some awesome remedies there!