Antibiotics are essential medicines that treat bacterial infections and save lives. However, using antibiotics when they are not needed, or using them incorrectly, can contribute to antibiotic resistance.
Antibiotic resistance happens when bacteria change and become resistant to the medicines designed to treat them. This can make infections more difficult to treat and means that antibiotics may not work as effectively when they are really needed.
Colds and flu are caused by viruses, so antibiotics will not help you recover.
Leftover antibiotics may not be suitable for a future illness. Do not save or share antibiotics with others.
If you are prescribed antibiotics by your GP, nurse or pharmacist, always follow the instructions you are given.
By using antibiotics responsibly, we can help protect these important medicines and keep them working for ourselves, our families and future generations.
If you have any questions about antibiotics, your medicines or managing your symptoms, please speak to our pharmacy team. We are here to provide professional advice and support.
Together, we can Keep Antibiotics Working.
Feeling unwell and not sure whether you need antibiotics? Our pharmacist can assess several common conditions on the NHS through Pharmacy First — no appointment needed — and will supply antibiotics only when they are genuinely the right treatment.
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