Do not ask your doctor for antibiotics to treat the flu or a cold. These illnesses are caused by viruses. Antibiotics only kill bacteria. A study from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that approximately 50 million of the 150 million outpatient prescriptions for antibiotics dispensed each year are unnecessary. Don't pressure your doctor into giving you unnecessary medicine.
Many people stop taking antibiotics before they have destroyed the infection.
When this happens, the surviving bacteria develop resistance so that the medicine won't kill them anymore. Most people have to take their medicine for 7-10 days or more, even if they feel better on day 3. If you stop your medication early, you are allowing some of the infection to grow and become stronger, thus helping resistance form. All of this could happen, and you would be completely unaware of it. So, it is important to complete the entire course of treatment.