GET THE LOWDOWN ON ANTIBIOTICS

A miracle cure or a pain in the gut? Our expert explains what you need to know about antibiotics

- RHONA MERCER

At some point in our lives, most of us will have gone to the GP with a persistent cold or flu in the hope of being prescribed antibiotics, and ended up walking away empty-handed (and a little frustrated).

According to GP Dr Alka Patel this is a common occurrence, but she explains that what many people don’t know is that antibiotics can have a hugely detrimental effect on many aspects of the body, including our gut health and mental wellbeing, and should only be taken when necessary.

She says, “When you’re not feeling well it’s understandable that you want something to help you feel better. I’ve had many conversations where I’ve had to explain that taking antibiotics when they’re not needed just won’t help and can do more harm than good.”

But despite resistance from medics to prescribe them when they’re not required, did you know that more than 1.5 million doses of antibiotics are dished out daily in the UK? In fact, antibiotic prescriptions in the UK – which can now be given out by pharmacists for conditions such as urinary tract infections and skin conditions – rose by 8.4% in 2022 compared with 2021.