Side Effects of Common Antibiotics

• Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has asked the manufacturers to inform the general public about known side effects and symptoms after the intake of seven popular antibiotics.
• Manufacturers were also asked to mention the information about the adverse reactions of these medicines in leaflets inserted into drug packets or on promotional literature.

Followings are the aforementioned seven antibiotics:

What are antibiotics?

• Antibiotics are medicines that help stop infections caused by bacteria. It is done by killing the bacteria or by keeping them from copying themselves or reproducing.
• The word antibiotic means “against life.” Any drug that kills germs in our body is technically an antibiotic. Medically, that is meant to kill bacteria.
• Before scientists first discovered antibiotics in the 1920s, many people died from minor bacterial infections, like strep throat. But after antibiotics became available in the 1940s, life expectancy increased, surgeries got safer, and people could survive what used to be deadly infections.
• Some antibiotics work on many different kinds of bacteria. They are called “broad-spectrum.” Others target specific bacteria only. They are known as “narrow-spectrum”.
• There are infections caused by viruses- common cold, flu, most coughs, some bronchitis infections, most sore throats, and the stomach flu. Antibiotics won’t work to treat them.

Why information of side effects is important?

• The idea is to ensure that doctors and users are aware of the adverse reactions.
• The patient need not to be panic on seeing the symptoms. The symptoms mean s/he is allergic to the antibiotic.
• For women taking birth control pills, antibiotics may keep them from working, so they should speak to doctor about alternative birth control methods.

Causes for side effects:

• Our stomach is full of bacteria - both good and bad. Antibiotics often affect our digestive system while they’re treating an infection. This collateral damage to our body is called side effect of antibiotic.
• Common side effects include- vomiting, nausea, diarrhoea, bloating or indigestion, abdominal pain, and loss of appetite.
• The symptoms of the side effects are: Hives – a raised, itchy skin rash, coughing, wheezing, tight throat or trouble breathing.
  
  

  Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation It is the National Regulatory Authority (NRA) for discharging functions assigned under the Central Government under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. It works under Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. Its headquarters is located New Delhi. It has six zonal offices, four sub zonal offices, thirteen Port offices and seven laboratories spread across the country. Objectives- approval of New Drugs, conduct of Clinical Trials, laying down the standards for Drugs, control over the quality of imported Drugs in the country and coordinating the activities of State Drug Control Organizations.