Antibiotics in the USA

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This article here talks about how Americans demand antibiotics, so doctors oblige:

http://www.healthline.com/health/antibi ... e-epidemic

It doesn't make since to me, however, since I have never demanded or even requested to be prescribed an antibiotic: The doctor always initiates the prescription.

In December 2013, I had bronchitis and visited the doctor after the coughing became so disruptive it was waking me up at night. My doctor initiated treatment with antibiotics (again, without any request or demand whatever beforehand from me) and symptom treatment. I went with the first round. She then wanted to give me more rounds, but I questioned the their utility and refused.

Just this month, I went to the doctor thinking I had too much earwax, expecting the doctor to remove it, but then she said I have otitis media and she put me on antibiotics (without any request from me) and symptom treatment.

This study is interesting, as it shows that if physicians perceive an expectation by the patient of receiving antibiotics, then they are much more likely to prescribe them. The physicians, however, often seem to be wrong about what their patients expect:

http://www.healthline.com/health/antibi ... e-epidemic

Antibiotics work, whether you believe in their efficacy or not.

You have the right to refuse treatment with antibiotics. You also have the right to refuse vaccinations, chemotherapy, and surgery for yourself.

You don't even have to go to the doctor if you don't want to - so why are you wasting your doctor's valuable time when you're just going to argue against his prescribed treatments?

Why not just avoid the doctor altogether, stay home, and let nature take its course?

Who knows? You may be the next recipient of the Darwin Award for lack of proper medical treatment!

When I refused the antibiotics, I went for a second opinion. I didn't just stop going to the doctor. These were posts I made here regarding the second round of antibiotics and the second opinion I obtained:

23 Dec 2013, 4:28 pm

viewtopic.php?f=24&t=246421&start=105#p5815649

26 Dec 2013, 9:17 am (emphasis added)



viewtopic.php?f=24&t=246421&start=105#p5820063

I'd also like to remind everyone that the topic of this thread is on the misuse and overuse of antibiotics in the USA, which actions are documented to lead to antibiotic resistance in bacteria, and NOT on the safety and efficacy of antibiotics.

the first place i practiced medicine was an urgent care. i was required to prescribe antibiotics for colds, for which these drugs are totally useless. so i totally agree with you, beneficii.

I think you're missing the point. The OP wasn't talking about antibiotics for bacterial infections where antibiotics are warranted. He/she was talking about doctors prescribing them for everything, including viruses, which antibiotics are completely ineffective against.
Overprescribing of antibiotics is part of the problem when it comes to antibiotic resistance. The other part is people not finishing their prescription, and some of the bacteria are still alive. They then become resistant to the antibiotic, and if another person is infected, then the previously used and effective antibiotic is no longer effective, and they have to go with a stronger one. If that person doesn't finish their prescription, then the bacteria then become resistant to the stronger antibiotic. Lather, rinse, repeat until there are bacteria that are resistant to all known antibiotics. It's becoming a huge problem.

Agreed. Part of the reason that doctors prescribe antibiotics so often is for children. The parents want the doctor to do something, so the doctor prescribes antibiotics, even though they know they won't help, but they want to make the parents feel like they're not ignoring the problem.

Sorry. I posted the wrong link here. I meant to post this:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17467120