If you are feeling sick, avoid taking any left over antibiotics that you or a friend may have from a previous condition. It is important to visit your doctor to determine the cause of your illness since antibiotics won’t help viral infections like the flu and the common cold. In addition to being ineffective for non-bacterial diseases, using antibiotics when they are not needed allows some bacteria to become resistant to the medication, making the bacteria stronger and harder to kill. If you are prescribed antibiotics, be sure to continue taking the medication even if your symptoms improve. Stopping an antibiotic regimen early also contributes to antibiotic resistance.
