Antibiotics that work for strep throat?!


Question: Antibiotics that work for strep throat?
don't have the money to go to the doctor right now and I've had a sore throat and earache (mostly on the right side) for about a week now. I don't really feel sick, but this feels very similar to strep throat, which I had for the first time last year.

I have both doxycycline and cipro on hand that my husband didn't take. Do either of these work for strep throat? I know you shouldn't take other people's antibiotics, but I've taken both of these before and am not allergic to either.

Thanks.

Answers:

I'll first start off by saying that I know what it's like not to have money or insurance to cover doctor visits for things like this, especially since you feel you may know what's going on. However, as a nurse, I must stress to you the importance of not taking your husbands antibiotics for this. You mentioned that you know you shouldn't take other people's meds, which is good, but there are more reasons for this other than allergic reactions.

As you probably already know, strep throat is a bacterial infection that can certainly be treated with antibiotics. However, should it not be strep throat and you take antibiotics, you put yourself at risk in becoming resistant to antibiotic treatment now or even later in life with other infections. (If this is a virus that you have, it cannot be treated with antibiotics.) Unfortunately, the only way to know for sure is to seek advice from a physician or clinician and to be tested for a strep infection.

if it is a bacterial infection and you take antibiotics not generally prescribed for strep throat (cephalexin, amoxicillin, penicillin are the most commonly used to treat strep infections), you may increase your risk of the infection becoming resistant to antibiotic treatment. This, in essence, could cause a super infection that worsens and becomes more difficult to treat with medication alone.

I know this is not what you want to hear, I can empathize with you on that. However, antibiotic resistance is becoming very common these days which essentially hinders your ability to fight infections.

I hope this helps somewhat and I hope you feel better soon.

Best wishes :)

Licensed Practical Nurse




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