Antibiotics prescriptions available online

When taken as prescribed, antibiotics are generally well tolerated. They can, however, still cause some side effects.

Different antibiotics will have different side effects. Generally, the most common side effects of antibiotics include

• Abdominal pain and discomfort

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea

• Dizziness

• Photosensitivity (more common with tetracyclines)

• Fungal infections: Because antibiotics kill off protective bacteria in your body, they can allow certain fungal infections to form, including thrush and vaginal yeast infections.

Speak to one of our convenient online doctors about treatment if you develop these symptoms.

In rare cases, antibiotics may cause serious side effects, including those of a severe allergic reaction. These symptoms include:

• A fast heartbeat

• Wheezing

• Difficulty breathing

• Feeling lightheaded or faint

If you experience any of these side effects or other life-threatening symptoms, seek emergency medical attention immediately.

One of the main reasons to avoid overusing or misusing antibiotics is that doing so can lead to something called “antibiotic resistance” across the globe.¹ Bacteria can replicate at an alarming rate when you have an infection, sometimes as quickly as every five minutes! These bacteria evolve over time because some of them replicate with mistakes, which allow the bacteria to fight off an antibiotic. These bacteria survive and then multiply with that new ability.

It’s important to only take antibiotics when you have a bacterial infection. Your doctor can help guide you in making a decision on whether or not an antibiotic is right for you. 

The following conditions and substances may interfere with the efficacy of antibiotics or cause further complications:

• Alcohol

• Grapefruit juice

• Excess calcium, sugars, or yeasts

• Being pregnant or breastfeeding

Many antibiotics are safe for pregnant women, but some can be harmful, so tell your doctor if you're pregnant.

Some antibiotics may affect the effectiveness of other medications you are taking. For example, the antibiotic rifampin can affect the birth control pill's effectiveness. This is the only antibiotic known to reduce the effect of birth control pills, usually prescribed for tuberculosis. Aside from rifampin, you should not have any problems taking an antibiotic while on birth control.

Take antibiotics as prescribed by your doctor. The length of antibiotic treatment and the dosage will depend on your infection type. Based on your type of infection, antibiotics may be prescribed between 3 to 14 days. Complete the course of antibiotics as instructed to avoid a lingering infection. Antibiotics may be taken with food to avoid an upset stomach.

You can get antibiotics online by getting a prescription from a board-certified doctor. Before writing your antibiotic prescription, the doctor will diagnose your infection and take your medical history. If their medical judgment leads them to think you have a bacterial infection, they’ll send a prescription straight to your pharmacy. 

We make it easy to speak with a knowledgeable doctor online for antibiotics.

• Book a doctor’s appointment that is convenient for your schedule.

• Discuss your medical history and symptoms with your doctor online, who will diagnose your symptoms and provide a treatment plan.

• If your doctor decides to prescribe you antibiotics, your prescription will be sent to your local pharmacy for you to pick up.

If you get a prescription for antibiotics, you may feel tired and/or fatigued after taking them. This may be a symptom of whatever infection is being treated by the antibiotics or a significant but rare side-effect of the antibiotic itself.

Luckily, tiredness is not a common side effect of most antibiotics. Some antibiotics are more likely to cause fatigue than others, including:

• Azithromycin (Zithromax, Z-Pak)

• Ciprofloxacin (Cipro, Proquin)

• Amoxicillin (Amoxil)

Allergic reactions can happen with antibiotics and any medication. Allergic reactions to antibiotics can be mild, but some can be very serious and require immediate medical attention.

If you are allergic to a certain antibiotic, you will react to it almost immediately after administration. Symptoms can vary in type and severity, from a rash (hives),  to trouble breathing, and swelling in the tongue and throat. If you have a severe allergic reaction to an antibiotic, known as anaphylaxis, this can be life-threatening. If you develop these symptoms, you should seek in-person medical attention immediately.

Another type of allergic reaction that can occur with antibiotics is Stevens-Johnson syndrome. Stevens-Johnson syndrome is a severe illness affecting your mucus membranes and skin. Stevens-Johnson syndrome starts with flu-like symptoms, including sore throat and fever, and can progress to a painful rash that quickly spreads and causes blisters. The top layer of your skin shedding may follow this.

Other symptoms of Stevens-Johnson syndrome include:

• Skin pain

• Hives

• Coughing

• Swelling in your tongue or face

• Pain in your throat and mouth

If you develop signs and symptoms of Stevens-Johnson syndrome, you should stop taking the antibiotic immediately and seek in-person medical advice straight away.

For most infected wounds, you should seek medical treatment. Wounds should look and feel better as time goes on. If a wound looks or feels worse, it is likely infected. Specific symptoms of wound infection include:

• Skin around the wound is red or hot

• Swelling

• Oozing pus (a yellowish liquid)

• Redness may spread to other areas, often in streaks

• Aches, pains, or fever

• Malaise

If you experience any severe symptoms of wound infection, you should seek immediate medical care since infections can become life-threatening if improperly treated.

Infected wounds that aren’t treated properly can worsen, leading to loss of limbs or even death. Potential complications from untreated wound infections include:

• Cellulitis, an infection of deeper tissues that can travel through your blood

• Sepsis, a severe and potentially life-threatening infection of the blood

• Necrotizing fasciitis, also known as flesh-eating disease, which leaves large areas of skin painful and damaged

Our doctors frequently prescribe antibiotics for wound infections if deemed safe enough to do so over telemedicine, which can heal the infection quickly and help you avoid any serious complications.

Allergic reactions can happen with antibiotics and any medication. Allergic reactions to antibiotics can be relatively mild, but some can be very serious and require immediate medical attention.

If you are allergic to a certain antibiotic, you will react to it almost immediately after administration. Symptoms differ based on the person, but most allergic reactions manifest in the form of hives, trouble breathing, and swelling in the tongue and throat. If you have a severe allergic reaction to an antibiotic, known as anaphylaxis, this can be life-threatening. If you develop these symptoms you should seek medical attention immediately.

Another type of allergic reaction that can occur with antibiotics is Stevens-Johnson syndrome. Stevens-Johnson syndrome is a serious illness affecting your mucus membranes and skin. Stevens-Johnson syndrome starts out with flu-like symptoms, including sore throat and fever and can progress to a painful rash that quickly spreads and causes blisters. This may be followed by the top layer of your skin shedding.

Other symptoms of Stevens-Johnson syndrome include:

• Skin pain

• Hives

• Coughing

• Swelling in your tongue or face

• Pain in your throat and mouth

If you develop signs and symptoms of Stevens-Johnson syndrome you should stop taking the antibiotic immediately and seek medical advice straight away.

For a minor wound infection, it may be enough to keep the wound clean and dry and apply an over-the-counter antibiotic ointment. For most infected wounds, you should seek medical treatment. Wounds should look and feel better as time goes on. If a wound looks or feels worse, it is likely infected. Specific symptoms of wound infection include:

• Skin around the wound is red or hot

• Swelling

• Oozing pus (a yellowish liquid)

• Redness may spread to other areas, often in streaks

• Aches, pains, or fever

• Malaise
  
  

If you experience any severe symptoms of wound infection, you should seek immediate medical care since infections can become life=threatening if improperly treated.

Infected wounds that aren’t treated properly can become progressively worse, leading to loss of limbs or even death. Potential complications from untreated wound infections include:

• Cellulitis, an infection of deeper tissues which can travel through your blood

• Sepsis, a severe and potentially life-threatening infection of the blood

• Necrotizing fasciitis, also known as flesh-eating disease, which leaves large areas of skin painful and damaged

Doctors frequently prescribe antibiotics for wound infection, including:

• Amoxicillin-clavulanate (Augmentin, Augmentin-Duo)

• Cephalexin (Keflex)

• Clindamycin (Cleocin)

• Dicloxacillin

• Doxycycline (Doryx)

• Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim, Septra)