Reliance on Medicines and Self-Medication

Abstract

Antibiotics are a medical treasure, perhaps the most important therapeutic discovery in the history of medicine. But they are being misused. In some cases, they are taken when they are not needed at all; in others, they are prescribed and used inappropriately. For example, they are given in too small or too large amounts or for too long or too short periods of time. The old adage applies here. “Too much of a good thing can be bad.” In the case of antibiotics, we must add, “so can too little.” Not only quantity, but length of usage, either too long or too short, can affect the therapeutic and environmental consequences of these agents.