"Unnecessary medication use makes treating diseases more difficult" warning

Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Pharmacology faculty member Prof. Dr. Coşkun Usta stated that we are entering a transitional season where unnecessary medication use is common, warning that unnecessary medication can be used to take precautions against illness at the slightest sign of malaise, which makes treatments more difficult. 

Expressing that every age group should be conscious about medication use, Usta said, "A lot of unnecessary medication is used to take precautions in advance against the risk of epidemics, flu, and similar diseases at the slightest sign of malaise, or patients may stop taking the medication used in treatment too early. We have very serious mistakes regarding medication use."

Usta emphasized that no one can use medications as they please, and that they must be prescribed by physicians as a result of examinations. He also noted that while most viruses cannot be treated with antibiotics, it is necessary to know whether a virus, bacteria, or fungus is causing the illness.

Stating that the perception of "I cannot overcome the illness without using antibiotics" is very wrong, Usta pointed out that misinformation and bad taboos spread faster in society.

'ANTIBIOTICS DO NOT KILL VIRUSES'

Drawing attention to the fact that proper nutrition is one of the most important key factors in protecting against diseases, he said, "We need to spend the money we would spend on medicine on proper nutrition. I believe that if we eat the right fruits and vegetables during seasonal transitions, we will be much healthier."

Usta stated that antibiotics are used incorrectly to kill biological organisms, and concluded his words as follows:

"Bacteria change their genetic structure and gain resistance against us. After unnecessary antibiotic use, populations of bacteria and germs emerge. Let us not use antibiotics for no reason so that we do not create resistant bacteria in our bodies. This also makes the treatment of diseases more difficult. One of the biggest mistakes is using antibiotics when infected with viruses. Antibiotics do not kill viruses; our public needs to know this. In cases like the flu and influenza, let us never use antibiotics for no reason; their medications are different. For example, we could not treat COVID-19 with antibiotics."