Antibiotics...

[Myrona]

I've heard a lot of pharmacies here (fanda springs to mind) sell some prescription drugs w/o a prescription. Are antibiotics (e.g. augmentin duo forte) among some of these drugs? I'm curious...

[PDLM]

You may not get them under that specific brand name, but it's just a cocktail of Amoxycillin & Clavulanic Acid which is used to overcome resistance to Amoxycillin alone which has become prevalent in populations like Hong Kong where antibiotics have been so widely abused for so long.

Amoxycillin on its own would almost certainly be available at Fanda or other local pharmacies.

[Claire ex-ax]

Fanda is where we buy antibotics when needed.

[Myrona]

How do you know what type of antibiotics to get? Or do you get the same one every time even for different ailments?

[MissyOz]

Different antibiotics target different organisms, depending on what kind of infection you have. I really would suggest you go see a doctor for prescribed antibiotics, otherwise taking them liberally breeds resistance and may only mean more trouble for you in the long term.

[Myrona]

Different antibiotics target different organisms, depending on what kind of infection you have. I really would suggest you go see a doctor for prescribed antibiotics, otherwise taking them liberally breeds resistance and may only mean more trouble for you in the long term.

Oh, I know that. Currently, there is nothing wrong with me (and if there was, I would certainly go see a doctor before prescribing myself medication that I know nothing about) - I was just curious about what people generally do when it comes to antibiotics.

[chowfun]

If you know for sure you're not allergic to a type of antibiotic, keeping some in the medicine cabinet could be useful sometimes. Amoxycillin seems to have minimal side effects for most people.

Obviously, go see a doctor when you get sick.

[joey_w.hk]

I am allergic to Pennicilin, so what antibiotic should I buy for my travel bag - when I am in China for example and I am not that confident about the doctors there? When I come down with something, it's usually tonsillitis.

[hello_there]

I am allergic to Pennicilin, so what antibiotic should I buy for my travel bag - when I am in China for example and I am not that confident about the doctors there? When I come down with something, it's usually tonsillitis.

This is really a question for your doctor, not an internet forum. There are quite a few antibiotics similar to penicillin that you may also have an allergy to so taking advice from someone who doesn't know your medical history (especially if you will be travelling in China) is a recipe for trouble. BTW, tonsillitis can be bacterial (various kinds and treatment is specific) or VIRAL in origin, in which case any antibiotic would not help. A good doc will usually test before prescribing meds for throat ailments. Anyway, assuming you won't talk to your doctor, erythromycin is often prescribed for individuals with penicillin allergy.