How bad is it to take anti biotics for a long time, ?

Question

I've been on doxycycline (acne med) for 4 months. I know 4 months is not bad, but the med has been helping me so much I plan on using it for longer. I've read it can be bad to use anti biotics for a long time so I have some questions. One is, how long can I use the antibiotic and if i go off the med, can i go on a different one soon after stopping it?

Answer 1

You need to have a doctor get you off of it because erratic dosages like you are doing can create a superbug. I would get off of it as soon as I got a doctor to control the dosages until I can do it safely.

Now FYI after you stop safely WITH DOCTORS HELP just know that antibiotics are like going into a saloon back in the 1800's looking for an outlaw that killed you paw and you shoot everybody instead of just the criminal! Antibiotics kill good cells and good bacteria too that helps you to digest foods and fight bad bacterias. I know someone that has black teeth for life from overdosing on antibiotics.

Now another FYI. When bacterias die from antibiotics many stay in system for life and years down the road when a new infection occurs the new bacteria will communicate with the dead bacterias though the dead bacteria's plasmids. this is part of bacteria that even when dead it will pass on information to new bacterias making them resistant against antibiotics.

So think of antibiotics as like a six shooter hand gun that you can reload more than once or twice at best. You need these antibiotic bullets for possible life threatening illnesses.

I've served over 300,000 people at health food stores and NEVER has anyone that took olive leaf extract not been totally happy with it's infection fighting properties. Also Wild oregano is being tested on raw sewage to see if it can purify it.

Make up your own mind and good luck!

Answer 2

Its bad. Anti biotics not only kill off the bad stuff, but they kill off the good stuff too. Your digestive system and immune system will suffer the most.  

Answer 3

If you use anti biotics too much, or too long, or too often, your body eventually becomes immune to them and the anit biotics stop working. Part of the reason for this is because they even kill the good bacteria in your system, which you need to help fight off the bad bacteria.

Yogurt and kefir are good foods for probiotics.  If possible, read the book, "The Probiotic Revolution" by Gary B. Huffnagle. Ph. D. with SaraH Wernick

Answer 4

Yes it is bad.  You can get immune to it but also it can create yeast in your system which can cause a number of problems including constipation and eczema.  I would try natural approaches including garlic which is a natural antibiotic and zinc is also great for acne.  Check out my website for pure, clinically tested supplements.  www.shaklee.net/kandi.  Shaklee has had a great reputation for over 50 years.  My whole family uses the supplements including my 2 and 5 year old.  Best of luck!

Answer 5

For one bacteria is going to become immune to the antibiotics making it harder to fight off infections in the future.  They kill good and bad stuff in your body.  My baby had never had thrush (an infection of the mouth) and when they put her on a strong antibiotic at age 1 she got it because the antibiotic killed the "good" bacteria that keeps the bad away.  If that makes any sense.  They had to explain that to me because infants usually get thrush when they are newborn or a little after not at 1 year old and none of my kids ever had it.  I would check out some of the topical treatments that you see on TV all the time or bring this concern up to your doctor who is prescribing this to you.  He may just need to be reminded of how long you have been taking it.  Doctors got alot of patients and sometimes, it sucks, but if you don't speak up, he may not for a while.

Answer 6

Being on one antibiotic for so long isn't good, but antibiotics are not addictive. If anything it would be a mental addiction. Eventually the antibiotic will stop working, not because your body is resistant. Its because the bacteria become resistant. I was on doxycycline for about a month (which is how I found your question, I'm looking for answers myself) and have been fighting thrush for almost 3 months because of it. I've been treated for it by different doctors and over 5 different medications and nothing is working. If you dont know, thrush is a yeast infection in your mouth caused by the killing off of your bodys "good" bacteria. Its a very common condition when taking antibiotics for extended periods. You can also get yeast overgrowth in your gut and even get sores on your skin, which may be accompanied by thrush. In addition there is also a "bad" bacteria in your gut that may take over. Its called Clostridium difficile, or C. diff for short. I've had this once (again due to antibiotics) and it is horrible... it can kill you. Be careful with antibiotics!!! There are other, safer acne treatments. Search or consult a dermatologist.

Answer 7

Worse. They can STOP working, & you can get Addicted to Taking them (not to mention that you're throwing your money away- too!) !  Check with a Dermatologist & see what They say...  :)