Why do doctors prescribe antibiotics for viruses?

[WinkOsmosis]

Why would they do such a thing? Are they stupid?

 

[Ladies Man]

so while your immune system is weak another bacteral infections don't invade your system


but i don't like it... it's better to let them run their course then to take med's cus the next generation of infections are stronger

 

[911paramedic]

Old school, they think that if you go to the doctor you should leave with medicine. Younger doctors don't do this as much because of the resistant strains that are popping up because of careless prescriptions.

If you do get an antibiotic for a good reason TAKE THE ENTIRE PRESCRIPTION.

Thank you for your time.

 

[Mark R]

Because they aren't sure that it is a virus.
Because most patients expect a prescription instead of 'go to bed, have a hot drink and take a tylenol'.
Because some viral infections pre-dispose to getting a bacterial infection.

These are not particularly good reasons for antibiotics (with the exception of the last in some circumstances)- and antibiotic treatment of minor illnesses, such as sore throat, without good evidence of bacterial infection is frowned upon.

As has been mentioned earlier, antibiotic resistance is a growing problem, over-prescription of antibiotics is one of the reasons for it. In some ways, resistance is a vicious circle - as physcians discover that their old antibiotics sometimes, don't work, they turn to new ones - sometimes inappropriately - with the result that resistance to these newer drugs is increasing faster than hoped.

 

[aircooled]

It's a combination of 2 things.. One is the patient wants to leave with a pill that makes them better, the other is the pharmaceutical companies pay the doctors for prescribing certain medications.

My wife works for a large pharmaceutical company so I know for a fact that there are kick-backs to the doctors, etc.....

I personally do not take antibiotics unless it's absolutely necessary..

 

[dullard]

Originally posted by: Ladies Man
so while your immune system is weak another bacteral infections don't invade your system


but i don't like it... it's better to let them run their course then to take med's cus the next generation of infections are stronger

Exactly right. There is a small chance that a bacterial infection can take place if the virus successfully weakens your immune system.

Also they do it just to please the customers. It is sad how many prescriptions you can get just by asking. My hometown doctor prescribed asthma medicine (including steroids) to anyone who said they were out of breath at anypoint in their life (such as running track). It is easier for them to prescribe a plecebo (antibiotics) than to deal with the patients.

 

[911paramedic]

Originally posted by: Ladies Man
so while your immune system is weak another bacteral infections don't invade your system


but i don't like it... it's better to let them run their course then to take med's cus the next generation of infections are stronger

A virus is not effected by antibiotics, they do nothing. Virii have no cures.

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: Mark R
Because they aren't sure that it is a virus.
Because most patients expect a prescription instead of 'go to bed, have a hot drink and take a tylenol'.
Because some viral infections pre-dispose to getting a bacterial infection.

Sums it up pretty well right there. Also it puts some more money into everybodys pocket except yours if they give you a prescription.

 

[simms]

Originally posted by: 911paramedic

Originally posted by: Ladies Man
so while your immune system is weak another bacteral infections don't invade your system


but i don't like it... it's better to let them run their course then to take med's cus the next generation of infections are stronger

A virus is not effected by antibiotics, they do nothing. Virii have no cures.

Yes, but if your immune system is weak, other bacteria may come and invade your weakened system... that's why we take them SOMETIMES.. but not always.

 

[Geekbabe]

Originally posted by: Jellomancer
Why would they do such a thing? Are they stupid?

I have asthma that's's been well controlled but when I get upper respiratory infections I often end up with secondary bacterial pnenmonia
a round of antibotics often ensures that I don't end up really sick.

 

[guyver01]

Because as others have said... the virus will severely weaken your immune system,and then other bacterial infections will happen alot stronger.

i knew someone who had AIDS... he ended up dying of pneumonia...

the HIV virus weakend his immune system so badly that his body couldn't even fight off a cold.

 

[BaliBabyDoc]

It's a combination of 2 things.. One is the patient wants to leave with a pill that makes them better, the other is the pharmaceutical companies pay the doctors for prescribing certain medications.

My wife works for a large pharmaceutical company so I know for a fact that there are kick-backs to the doctors, etc.....

The pharmaceutical industry and popular media have created the pill=cure ethos. Only weak-willed and consumer-minded physicians will give medically-unnecessary prescriptions.

The only doctors being paid to prescribe certain medications are unethical ones. The majority do not practice quid pro quo medicine but it is a significant problem in the discipline.

It is an exception NOT the norm to give patients antibiotics as prophylaxis against latent bacterial infections. People with chronic diseases: cystic fibrosis, sickel cell disease, asthma, HIV/AIDS, etc get special consideration b/c best-evidence demonstrates a clear benefit.

To the contrary the vast majority of upper respiratory infections (sinusitis, rhinitis, pharyngitis) are viral and in otherwise healthy people it is BAD medicine to give antibiotics. Even clear bacterial infections like ear (otitis media) are not treated by the antibiotic neither is strep throat. In both cases antibiotics merely reduce the risk of complications like mastoiditis (which can lead to meningitis) and rheumatic fever from untreated strep.

 

[Analog]

secondary bacterial infection.

 

[FoBoT]

to appease hypocondriacs

 

[Kadarin]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
to appease hypocondriacs

The medical/pharmaceutical industry should come up with a placebo "antibiotic" for that purpose. Load it up with vicodin or something so that the patient "feels" like it's working...

 

[FoBoT]

Originally posted by: Astaroth33

Originally posted by: FoBoT
to appease hypocondriacs

The medical/pharmaceutical industry should come up with a placebo "antibiotic" for that purpose. Load it up with vicodin or something so that the patient "feels" like it's working...

that is a good idea, except you would probably have to tell the patient, which would sorta mess it up

maybe just give anybody with a virus a shot of heroin to make them not care they are sick

 

[db]

What BaliBabyDoc said.

 

[ragazzo]

Some possibilities:

* Patients ask for prescriptions for ease of mind.
* Patients don't have patience.
* Patients have low tolerance for pain.

So doctors are somewhat forced to prescribe something. I do agree that most things are better left running their courses, like the common cold or minor infections. Now we have super virus/bacteria running loose.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Originally posted by: BaliBabyDoc

It's a combination of 2 things.. One is the patient wants to leave with a pill that makes them better, the other is the pharmaceutical companies pay the doctors for prescribing certain medications.

My wife works for a large pharmaceutical company so I know for a fact that there are kick-backs to the doctors, etc.....

The pharmaceutical industry and popular media have created the pill=cure ethos. Only weak-willed and consumer-minded physicians will give medically-unnecessary prescriptions.

The only doctors being paid to prescribe certain medications are unethical ones. The majority do not practice quid pro quo medicine but it is a significant problem in the discipline.

It is an exception NOT the norm to give patients antibiotics as prophylaxis against latent bacterial infections. People with chronic diseases: cystic fibrosis, sickel cell disease, asthma, HIV/AIDS, etc get special consideration b/c best-evidence demonstrates a clear benefit.

To the contrary the vast majority of upper respiratory infections (sinusitis, rhinitis, pharyngitis) are viral and in otherwise healthy people it is BAD medicine to give antibiotics. Even clear bacterial infections like ear (otitis media) are not treated by the antibiotic neither is strep throat. In both cases antibiotics merely reduce the risk of complications like mastoiditis (which can lead to meningitis) and rheumatic fever from untreated strep.

What he said...

 

[ElFenix]

the agent-client problem

 

[Anubis]

to treat the symptons

 

[element]

More info on antibiotic resistance and how it developed here.

 

[vegetation]

Of course, for the millions who don't have any health insurance, they would feel robbed if they left the doctor's office empty handed.

 

[BaliBabyDoc]

Of course, for the millions who don't have any health insurance, they would feel robbed if they left the doctor's office empty handed.

I assume you meant to be sarcastic? Decent physicians that felt the need to give antibiotics would give their non-insured (or otherwise financially constrained) patients samples sufficient to cover their treatment. It's one of the few areas where pharmaceutical companies and their minions actually serve the public good.

 

[katka]

I have NEVER known or had a Physician who prescribed an antiobiotic for a virus. I highly doubt that there is a financial incentive to do so either, because antibiotic are cheap, not patented, and have many cheap manufacturers. Kickbackscome into play with things like Prozac, which half the world in now on without any notable changes in society :Q. Also, with many of the Advertised patented drugs. If you see a commercial there is probably some financial incentive, as well as some danger to the product.