General Practitioner Questions Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT)

“Is it safe to take amoxicillin if I don't need to?”

I have either a cold or a sinus infection - if latter not sure if it is viral or bacterial. I was wondering if it is safe to take amoxicillin? I read if it is a viral sinus infection it won't do anything at all but I was just wondering about side effects.

Female | 41 years old
Complaint duration: 4 days
Medications: Carvedilol, Amlodipine, Norethindrone
Conditions: sore throat, congestion, runny nose, clear nasal discharge, sneezingclear

2 Answers

GeneralPractitionerEar,NoseandThroat(ENT)
It is extremely difficult to distinguish between a viral or bacterial sinonasal infection during the first 7 days.

I do not recommend taking antibiotics unless your practitioner feels confident that you are likely suffering from a bacterial infection. As you noted, Amoxil will not alleviate a viral infection. At best, it won't do anything. At worst, you could have side effects of the antibiotic. Side effects of antibiotics are numerous and some of them can be quite severe. Therefore, I do not recommend simply taking them without the direction of a physician.
Today there are routine immunochemical assays for viruses and bacterial infections to guide patients and physicians in their choice of treatment. These are available in most family practice clinics. Today we do not give antibiotics without a clinical indication since it changes the microbiota in the colon.
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