Frequently asked questions.

Antibiotics only work on some bacterial infections. They do not work for viruses.

It can be hard to tell the difference between a bacterial and a viral infection, but most common illnesses like coughs, colds and sore throats are caused by viruses. Viral infections cannot be treated with antibiotics. It is then about managing your symptoms.

You can explore the symptoms and treatments of common infections here.

If you are unsure about your symptoms, or they last longer than they normally should, you can get professional advice from your community pharmacist who can also let you know if you should see your doctor.

Bacteria are tiny living things that get nutrients from their environment. Most bacteria that live in your body are good. They help digest food, give nutrients and protect you against harmful germs. Sometimes harmful bacteria can get into your body and cause you to feel unwell.

Common infections caused by bacteria are some sore throats and UTIs like cystitis. Some infections caused by bacteria need to be treated with antibiotics.

Viruses are much smaller than bacteria and they are different as, unlike bacteria, most viruses cause illness. A viral infection begins when a virus attacks healthy cells in your body. Once there it takes over, creating more viruses like itself. Illnesses caused by viruses include common colds, chicken pox and coronavirus.

Antibiotics do not work for infections caused by viruses.

Even if you start to feel better after a few days, it is really important you complete the course of antibiotics exactly as your doctor or other healthcare professional advised.

Why?

If you don’t take the full course of antibiotics, as recommended by your healthcare professional, there’s a chance that the bacteria is not completely killed off. This means the infection can return, and it might be worse the second time around.

At the same time, the surviving bacteria in your system might be able to learn how to resist and fight back against what is supposed to kill it. If you don’t take the antibiotics as prescribed, to kill off the bacteria completely, the chances are increased that bacteria develops antibiotic resistance.

As bacteria develop antibiotic resistance, infections will become harder to treat. Operations and other treatments will become more dangerous.

It is important to follow the instructions on the label or those given to you by your healthcare professional. The main reason antibiotics are taken at a certain time of day, whether with or after food, is so that the medicine is absorbed into the bloodstream correctly.

Taking a dose too soon, missing a dose or waiting too long between doses can prevent the antibiotics working properly.

Some antibiotics need to be taken before food. Some need to be taken with or just after food. The general advice is to space doses evenly throughout the day, follow the instructions for the specific antibiotic you have been prescribed, and keep taking them until the course is finished or you are told to stop.

If you take your course of antibiotics as prescribed, there should be none left over. If there are, you can take them back to your local community pharmacy, where they will be disposed of properly. Please do not put them in your bin or flush them down the toilet. They should not be used to treat a later illness or shared with family or friends.

Why?

Taking antibiotics that have not been prescribed to you for a specific infection can lead to the overuse or misuse of antibiotics. Antibiotics are prescribed to different people for different reasons, even if symptoms might be similar. Using old antibiotics or sharing them could mean delaying effective treatment, make you or your family member sicker and even cause side effects.

Delayed or ineffective treatment can lead to the development of antibiotic resistant bacteria, making treatment in the future more difficult.

With most antibiotics there’s no reason you can’t drink sensibly and in moderation. But there are a few things to think about if you decide to have a drink.

If you are taking antibiotics because you have an infection, you probably don’t feel well. If you have too much alcohol, it is likely to make you feel more unwell and may make any side effects from the antibiotics worse.

Some specific antibiotics can have a very nasty reaction with alcohol. The most common of these is metronidazole. Mixing alcohol with these antibiotics can lead to flushing, headaches, nausea, vomiting and stomach cramps. Always read the warnings on your medicine label and avoid alcohol if advised to do so.

If you’re not sure, speak to your doctor, dentist or community pharmacist about your specific antibiotics and drinking alcohol.

Speak to your community pharmacist. They can help you choose the medicine that will work best for you and, if necessary, you can have a consultation under the Pharmacy First service where antibiotics could be issued, if required.

Pharmacy First is an NHS service that helps you get treatment for 7 common health problems at your local community pharmacy. It’s free and funded by NHS England, so you don’t need to book a GP appointment as you can have a consultation with your community pharmacist. The pharmacy team are highly qualified to give advice and treatment to help you feel better, fast. You can get advice over the phone or in person, and many are open late or on the weekend.

If you are ever worried that your symptoms might be something more severe, you can visit 111.nhs.uk or call NHS 111.