Can misuse of antibiotics weaken your immune system?

[wishmeluck]

Ive never been one to take antibiotics but this year after a small throat infection, i bought some over sees.  Since then I occasionaly self prescribed them for things i thought were infections.  I would pop them for a couple days then stop.  THen after breaking my arm my doctor put me on them for a week.  Recently i have had my wisdom teeth pulled and they put me on preventative antiobotics.  About a week after I finished the presctioption I developed an infection in the extraction site.  This current course of antibiotics is not fighting off the infection.  Is it possible that my reckless use of antibiotics has made this infection resistant?

[santee245]

Maybe you are right and I do have ocd, but unless you have been sick with pneumonia every 3 months and your throat almost swells shut, I guess I will continue to have it.  Right now I am struggling again with pneumonia, I just came to this site for help and did not expect to be told I have a disorder like ocd.  I don't need a psychiatrist to know when I have pneumonia, and I don't call using purell and lysol as a precautionary measure meaning that I have a disorder like ocd.   I do appreciate all of the comments and hope that I have not offended anyone.  Thanks for helping me out.

[marra]

you have ocd !

[santee245]

Hi,  I too take too many antibiotics, I also take too much medicine period.  I also get my antibiotics from overseas.  In my case my dr. is always busy, and she is so hard to get into and I get so many strep and pneumonias I feel safer with the antibiotics on hand. I know it is wrong, but I have asthma too and it doesn't take much to make me sick.  I did read the other day that too many antibiotics can not only weaken your ability to fight off infections by your own body, but they also affect the liver.  I have tried to cut back on them, the one thing that I am worried about is if they are real antibiotics.  I buy them from India and I am afraid they could be something dangerous, but I am also afraid of being sick.  My throat hurts so bad when I get an infection, I am afraid that my throat will close up.  I have tried to cut back now, and what has helped me is keeping my hands clean and using a hand cleaner like purell, when I go to the store after I use the carts I use the purell, I spray the door knobs on our doors and use my coat sleeve to open strange doors.  Use lysol on your door knobs, the dr. told me they do it every half an hour.  I always wondered why he was never sick.  Tell people if they are sick to stay away from you and your loved ones.  If you have kids, they are quite capable of bringing home anything, teach them to keep their hands washed that is the most important thing of all, clean hands.  I also found out recently that I am allergic to milk products.  I had so much trouble going to the bathroom that I got hemorhoids.  I just got tired of it and stopped milk, lo and behold, I can go to the bathroom now.  Hooray.  I hope this helps you out

[wishmeluck]

thanks i will look into all the info.. dentist just took me off recent batch of antibiotics after realizing it was an inflamation not an infection anymore.  think i may have developed penile yeast infection though.  hope not

[kenziesmom]

Try taking probiotic supplements.  You have taken a lot of antibiotics, which kill all bacteria, both good and bad.  Your body needs the good bacteria, or it may have difficulty fighting off infections.  

[Martha52]

The last visit to my doctor I read a notice posted that after several perscriptons of antibiotics your body may become immune to them and won't help you if you are sick and really need to take them.  Other medications can be used in place until it is determined if they are actually required.

[alchris]

Well if you abused antibotics continally I would say maybe you might become resistant to certain antibiotics but dont worry as you say it is not an ongoing thing for you.  Have you tried rinsing with a salt/warm water solution.  When I had my wisdom teeth pulled i was told to rinse my mouth 4 times a day for about a week so an infection wont come.  

[txtony]

well, misuse of antibiotics will cause antibioticresistant infections. say you have a throat inf, get on a course of antibiotics,for 10 days, but you stop in day 4, because you feel better.you may have killed most of the infection, the ones left behind, develop a certain immunity or a mutatation that makes them resistant to antibiotics, which may require heavier doses.  that is why doctors will tell you to finish the whole box even if you feel better.