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“Antibiotic side-effects can significantly disrupt patients’ lives”, say the authors of a new study.

Seventy-six per cent of the 684 respondents who had taken antibiotics during the previous year experienced side-effects, most commonly diarrhoea (29 per cent), nausea (29 per cent), skin rash/itchy skin (27 per cent), headache (20 per cent) and vomiting (19 per cent).

Sixty-six per cent of respondents were aware of possible side-effects before taking antibiotics. Awareness was higher among those aged 18 to 34 years (75 per cent) than those aged 75 years and older (51 per cent). 

Fifty per cent of people became aware of antibiotic side-effects by reading the information leaflet, 22 per cent were advised by a healthcare professional during their consultation and 17 per cent when collecting their antibiotics. Thirteen per cent searched online, while friends or family informed 10 per cent of respondents.

“Improving the quality of information given to patients at the point of prescribing may help to manage their expectations and empower self-management of mild side-effects,” the authors comment.

Most antibiotic side-effects were mild (37 per cent) or moderate (45 per cent). However, 15 per cent rated them as severe. After experiencing side-effects, 42 per cent of respondents did not complete their antibiotic course, with 32 per cent stopping without medical advice.

Overall, 29 per cent and 22 per cent of respondents reported an allergy to an antibiotic, and to penicillin specifically. Previous studies suggest, however, that many antibiotic allergy diagnoses may be inaccurate, especially when based on dermatological symptoms, which are common among children. 

“Patients should be encouraged to reassess longstanding antibiotic allergies to confirm that they remain valid,” the authors say. “Incorrect penicillin allergy labels can discourage the use of first-line, narrow-spectrum antibiotics.”