TRUE! Antibiotics are NOT going to work to treat a virus.

We see this time and time again at Pinnacle Urgent Care: Patients come in feeling lousy and wanting to get back to their regular, healthy selves as quickly as possible. They know antibiotics can work fast, so they eagerly request one. 

As much as we’d all like the quick fix, our clinicians will take the time to explain treatment options that will be effective. The truth is the only cure for upper respiratory viral infections is time and your own immune system – not antibiotics. The better goal is to discuss different prescription options and over the counter options that can help treat the symptoms while your immune system goes to work. Clinicians avoid antibiotics in these cases for three reasons:

1. Unfortunately they don’t work  

2. They can have adverse side effects and  

3. Their overuse can lead to resistance patterns both in the individual and in the community   

First of all, let’s cover what antibiotics DO treat. When you have an infection caused by bacteria – strep throat, ear infections, pneumonia, or a UTI being great examples – an antibiotic is absolutely the best treatment. It can address the bacteria by either killing them or keeping them from multiplying, and helps the patient recover from the illness. (Remember, too: It’s important to take the complete prescription when you get an antibiotic – don’t stop taking it just because you begin to feel better!)

And although antibiotics can be truly amazing (and sometimes lifesaving) when needed, if they’re taken when they aren’t needed, patients can become resistant to them. This is dangerous because it means an antibiotic might not be as effective down the road in a situation where it IS required to treat an infection. Using antibiotics also kills good gut bacteria, so using antibiotics – especially when they aren’t required – can result in compromised gut health, resulting in symptoms including diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach pain. 

You’ve likely heard of a Z-Pak before, which is a 5-day antibiotic. We find these are often overprescribed for things like head colds, sore throats, and bronchitis, which, according to the CDC, should not be treated with antibiotics. 

So when you come in to see us at Pinnacle Urgent Care with an issue like a cold, runny nose, sore throat (that isn’t strep), the flu, COVID, or bronchitis, just know that we aren’t going to be sending you home with a prescription for an antibiotic – because that’s not going to help you feel better. We know you’re over being sick, but we’ll help you kick your illness to the curb with other methods (based on what your issue is) – not with the help (or hindrance, really, in this case) of an antibiotic.

Our goal is always to get to the root of what’s going on with you and then recommend the best course of treatment not just to help you feel better now, but to set you up for long-term health in the future, too. It means so much when you trust us with your care!