In this article, we will figure out whether you can drink antibiotics and antiviral drugs at the same time or not. Colds occur quite often, especially in autumn and winter. This happens due to the ingress of viruses, bacteria and mix infections into the human body, that is, those that have several types of infectious agents. You can protect yourself from this only with strong immunity, but, unfortunately, not everyone can brag of it. Some people without a doctor’s prescription immediately begin to drink a huge amount of medicine, the more the better. But this approach is wrong and can end in failure.
What to do at the beginning of the disease?
Before starting treatment, it is desirable to identify the true factors provoking the disease. Only a doctor can conduct a high-quality diagnosis, and he will also help you choose the most effective medicines.
Self-medication is not allowed, as this can lead to serious complications that will result in death. If the first signs of a cold occur, it is necessary to contact a medical institution for help in a timely manner.
The course of therapy depends on whether the disease is caused by a virus or bacteria. Antibiotics and antivirals may be prescribed at the same time.
What are the features of antibiotics?
Antibiotics are substances that have bactericidal and bacteriostatic properties. That is, they are simultaneously engaged in the destruction of bacteria harmful to the body, and the suppression of their further reproduction. The growth in the number of pathogenic microorganisms stops, the person is recovering.
But not everything turns out so well for a person in the treatment of antibacterial drugs. The fact is that along with pathogenic bacteria, useful ones also die. They are important for health, so after recovery their number must be restored. Especially if you have to take antibiotics and antiviral drugs at the same time.
Antibiotics may have:
- Narrow or wide spectrum of action.
- Only bacteriostatic properties that do not kill bacteria, but stop their reproduction.
- Only bactericidal properties, that is, contribute to the death of bacteria and their removal from the body.
special instructions
Antibacterial agents may have a different chemical structure. They affect different types of bacteria in their own way.
There are a lot of medicines on sale, so it is difficult for the patient to choose the right ones on his own. They should be prescribed by the attending physician after the diagnosis.
In addition, bacteria have the ability to quickly adapt to drugs, for this reason, the effectiveness of treatment may decrease. In simple words, the drug may not help the patient. Then you need to replace the antibiotic with another.
To identify the sensitivity of pathogens to a specific group of antibacterial agents, you need to take a swab from the throat or nose for analysis.
Can I drink antibiotics and antiviral drugs at the same time? About it further.
What are the features of antiviral drugs?
Antiviral agents are interferons. When the virus enters the body, these proteins are produced by it in order to protect. The work of the human immune system is based on this. Cells carry out the memorization of a virus. And when a second invasion occurs, the body immediately blocks unwanted microorganisms, then carries out their withdrawal.
An adult has a large number of his own interferons. But young children are more vulnerable due to an underdeveloped immune system. Therefore, in the case of colds, it is advisable to introduce interferons in the form of drops or lozenges from the outside. Drops can be used in the eyes and nose of the baby.
Drugs with antiviral properties work most actively only in the early days of the disease. During this period, the virus has not yet entered the cell space. But when this has already happened, the treatment becomes ineffective, because there is no way to get drugs inside the cell.
It is recommended that vaccinations be given before an epidemic of colds. This is especially important for children and the elderly; their immunity is weakened. During vaccination, an immunoglobulin is produced, with the help of which the destruction of viruses in the cells occurs.
Many are interested in the question of whether it is possible to take antibiotics and antiviral drugs at the same time. We continue to consider it.
When are antivirals and antibiotics indicated?
If a person has ARVI, then you can start drinking antibiotics, as with bacterial infections. Among these diseases:
- Pneumonia, in which inflamed lung tissue. Assign a reception of "Ceftriaxone", "Ampicillin", "Sumamed."
- Pyelonephritis, the kidneys become inflamed in this case. Appointed "Augmentin", "Amoxiclav."
- Cystitis, in which the bladder becomes inflamed. With him, the reception of "Monural", "Ampicillin" is shown.
- Peptic ulcer with infection of the duodenum or stomach Helicobacter pylori. It will help taking "Azithromycin", "Metronidazole", "Ampicillin."
- Enteritis or colitis, the small or large intestines become inflamed. The doctor will prescribe Levomycetin, Furazolidone.
Antibiotics for prevention
Prevention of the development of diseases of bacterial origin in the form of complications after a cold is carried out using antibiotics. When the immunity is weakened, the conditionally pathogenic microflora activates and becomes dangerous for the body.
Antibacterial drugs may also be prescribed before or after surgery.
And against viruses, medications are needed only if the infection has already begun its development. That is, they do not drink them for prevention, it is pointless.
The following diseases are indications for taking antiviral agents:
- ARVI, herpes simplex virus, papillomavirus, cytomegalovirus;
- HIV infection and other types of diseases.
But is it possible to drink antibiotics and antiviral drugs at the same time?
Antiviral and antibiotic compatibility
Thanks to the action of antibiotics, bacteria in the body cease to multiply. That is, any foreign life dies. The antiviral drug activates the immune system, whose job is to defeat viruses after their invasion. Substances in the composition of medicines imitate the presence of the virus, which activates the defenses.
The simultaneous use of an antibiotic and an antiviral drug is not needed, because after the antibiotic enters the body, the antiviral agent ends. The compatibility of these medicines is pointless. This is confirmed by the reviews of doctors.
Or antibacterial drugs can do unusual work. They may begin to help kill viruses with the drug against them. That is, there will be tangible benefits from the joint application. Only the attending physician can correctly prescribe drugs, then you can take antibiotics and antiviral drugs at the same time.
In what cases can doctors prescribe such a treatment? This often happens if the infection of a person was due to a virus, which provoked a weakening of immunity. Then a bacterial complication developed due to the activation of pathogenic microflora. This is a known fact of superinfection in acute respiratory viral infections, when secondary bacterial pneumonia develops against its background.
HIV infection often leads to various complications of diseases arising from pathogenic microflora.
What do doctors recommend?
It is possible to take antibiotics and antiviral drugs at the same time, but adhering to certain recommendations.
Antibacterial drugs must be washed down only with water, if milk is used for these purposes, then the effect of the drugs can be neutralized, the desired therapeutic effect will not be. Juice is also not recommended, as it will be slowly delivered by blood to the destination.
This will provoke an overdose effect. Small children are not recommended to prescribe the same drugs with an antibacterial effect in case of repeated illness. The reason for this is the immunity already developed in bacteria.
The course of antibiotic treatment should not be interrupted, again, due to the possible development of bacterial resistance. Also, an untreated infection threatens a relapse, and this will require stronger drugs. Antiviral and antibiotics are drunk at the same time quite often.
The benefits of prebiotics
To benefit from antibiotics more than harm, you need to drink prebiotics and probiotics. These funds will bring beneficial microflora to the body, which contributes to:
- To increase the functionality of the immune system, the development of antibodies to certain types of virus.
- Prevent the development of certain infections.
- Not attaching harmful bacteria to the intestinal wall and inhibiting their growth.
- Strengthening the mucous layer in the intestines.
- Inhibition or destruction of toxins that can produce harmful bacteria.
Antiviral drugs must be drunk, following the instructions for use. The dosage should not be exceeded, but at the same time too little should not be taken. After all, then there will be no desired effect. There may be an allergy to these funds, therefore, when its signs appear, the drug is stopped.
Conclusion
Antibiotics and antivirals simultaneously should preferably be taken with caution.
After all, antibiotics often cause side effects, including allergic reactions. Therefore, they are taken only when there is a great need and only on the recommendation of a doctor. A mandatory indication for admission is superinfection, as well as a long-lasting high temperature, especially in a child.
Now it became clear whether antibiotics and antiviral drugs can be taken at the same time.