Home Live Well Blog Medicine Cabinet 4 Things to Know About Antibiotics 4 Things to Know About Antibiotics Most people will take an antibiotic at least a few times in their life. Here are some important things to keep in mind. 09/20/2017 Antibiotics don’t work for everything. They only kill bacterial infections, so they won’t help if you have a virus like a cold or the flu. Overusing antibiotics can cause more harm than good. Bacteria can adapt and become resistant to the medicine, making infections harder to treat. Work closely with your doctor to find the best treatment. If you are prescribed antibiotics, take them as directed. It’s important to take all your medicine as directed to keep the infection from coming back. Don’t save or take old antibiotics. Different antibiotics treat different types of infections. An old one may not help. Taking it may even put you at risk for drug resistance. Adapted from Cleveland Clinic. 4 Things You Need to Know About Antibiotics. Published December 23, 2014. Accessed September 20, 2017. Why ConnectiCare Find a Doctor Our Plans Resources Live Well Individuals and Families Medicare Advantage Medicare Supplement Media Center Pharmacy Blog ConnectiCare Centers Contact Us Legal Information Careers Glossary Access the ConnectiCare portal Sign in Legal Nondiscrimination Policy Important Legal Notice Site Requirements Social Media Policy Privacy Policy Interoperability Information LANGUAGE ASSISTANCE: Español Português Polski 中文 Italiano Français Kreyòl Ayisyen Русский Tiếng Việt العربية 한국어 Shqip हिंदी Tagalog λληνικά ខ្មែរ ગુજરાતી ©2021 ConnectiCare. All Rights Reserved. Any information provided on this Website is for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice and should not be substituted for regular consultation with your health care provider. If you have any concerns about your health, please contact your health care provider's office. Also, this information is not intended to imply that services or treatments described in the information are covered benefits under your plan. Please refer to your Membership Agreement, Certificate of Coverage, Benefit Summary, or other plan documents for specific information about your benefits coverage.