Testing Item for Pharmacists (Taking your Abx)

Taking Your Antibiotics

You have just filled a prescription for antibiotics.

READ THIS IMPORTANT INFORMATION.
Take it exactly as your healthcare professional tells you.
Do not skip doses.
Do not share it with others.
D
 o not save it for later. Talk to your pharmacist about safely discarding
leftover medicines.
If you have questions about your antibiotics, talk with your doctor.

WHY IS THIS CHECKLIST SO IMPORTANT?
All medicines can have side effects. You can protect yourself and others by
learning when antibiotics are and are not needed. Common side effects of
antibiotics can include:

Rash

Dizziness

Nausea

Yeast Infections

More serious side effects include Clostridioides difficile infection (also called
C. difficile or C. diff), which causes diarrhea that can lead to severe colon damage
and death. People can also have severe and life-threatening allergic reactions.

Antibiotics save lives. When a patient needs antibiotics,
the benefits outweigh the risks of side effects.

To learn more about antibiotic prescribing and use,
visit www.cdc.gov/antibiotic-use.

Diarrhea

1 out of 5

medication-related visits to the ED
are from reactions to antibiotics.