nhs cutting back on drugs prescribed?

[Chrysalis]

A issue with anti biotics is when prescribed the dosage should be enough to take care of infection, so if someone takes anti biotics, but then stops before its finished the infection comes back resistant to the antibiotics (so its worse than not taking them at all).

I have noticed outside of the uk some consider 2 weeks as a minimum course of antibiotics for tooth related infections.

Prior to about 2 years ago dentists used to always give me 7 days worth of antibiotics.

In the past 2 years or so its now always only 5, the problem been since I have got from an emergeny dentist its hard to go back to ask for more, as its extremely hard to get an appointment.

The most recent lot I was given my abcess only started going down from about day 4, pain went away from day 5 and at the end of the course the abcess was noticebly shrunk but still there. Now its grown again (probably resistant) thankfully pain still gone but am annoyed that it probabyl wouldnt have done this if I had a longer prescription.

Have nhs changed policies to reduce drugs given to save money or is it the case for whatever reason in the past 2 years dentists have seen fit to just give me less. Still waiting to get registered on a permanent dentist, my area is sevely overwhelmed.

Last year I went to a private dentist who gave me 10 days at the end of the 5 days I had of the emergency nhs dentist, he told me if I was nhs he would have gave me less, I didnt start asking him questions, but he chose to make that statement to me. Wish I went to him this time also but didnt.

[joglynne]

It appears that the NHS has been tightening up it's guidelines for the use of antibiotics. I have had a bit of a rootle around the web and found this PDF

http://extranet.cambridgeshire.nhs.u...20Dentists.pdf

The treatment table at 12.0 appears to show that antibiotics should be given for a period of 5 days but I haven't ploughed through the whole PDF.

[dilli-theclaw]

I was on antibiotics more or less constantly since January. I only stopped three weeks ago.

[Chrysalis]

thanks that more or less confirms what I suspected, its changed internally.

Of course I still wonder why, because under dosage of antibiotics is serious.

[joglynne]

Originally Posted by Chrysalis

thanks that more or less confirms what I suspected, its changed internally.

Of course I still wonder why, because under dosage of antibiotics is serious.

Unfortunately overuse of antibiotics has also had serious consequences. Unlike a lot of other drugs there have been very few new antibiotics created and as bacteria strains become resistant to the existing drugs available there are less and less ways of combating what we have come to feel are treatable illnesses.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/20...lth-infections

If the condition being treated has not cleared up then it is up to us to revisit the prescribing professional and have a further course of treatment considered as has presumably been the case for dilli.

[dilli-theclaw]

Originally Posted by joglynne

Unfortunately overuse of antibiotics has also had serious consequences. Unlike a lot of other drugs there have been very few new antibiotics created and as bacteria strains become resistant to the existing drugs available there are less and less ways of combating what we have come to feel are treatable illnesses.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/20...lth-infections

If the condition being treated has not cleared up then it is up to us to revisit the prescribing professional and have a further course of treatment considered as has presumably been the case for dilli.

indeed, all mine were given to me from the foot clinic.

[joglynne]

Originally Posted by dilligaf1701

indeed, all mine were given to me from the foot clinic.

The first reference I found when looking for an answer to Chrysalis's post dealt with hospital guidelines and boy are they expected to jump through hoops. Anyone interested in seeing the procedures for the use of antibiotics in hospital can have a look see at the following PDF.

http://webarchive.nationalarchives.g.../dh_131181.pdf

[Chrysalis]

Originally Posted by joglynne

Unfortunately overuse of antibiotics has also had serious consequences. Unlike a lot of other drugs there have been very few new antibiotics created and as bacteria strains become resistant to the existing drugs available there are less and less ways of combating what we have come to feel are treatable illnesses.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/20...lth-infections

If the condition being treated has not cleared up then it is up to us to revisit the prescribing professional and have a further course of treatment considered as has presumably been the case for dilli.

problem is if there is a gap allowing the bacteria to come back then the 2nd course likely wont be effective as then its resistant to the drug.

under dosing does actually increase resistance in the wild.

What you speak of is people been given anti biotics when its not needed in the first place or if there is better treatment available, but if anti biotics is given it really should have enough given to make sure it does its job.

[Angua]

Was on IV Antibiotics for suspected appendicitis. Once the operation was completed I had one final dose then finished. No massive dressings or stitches on the wounds & I am healing nicely in my messy home. The ward did have a cleaner all day who made sure things were kept up to standard, bedding was changed every day too.