Antibiotics are easily obtained online without a prescription, which contributes to the growing problem of antibiotic resistance in the US. Purchasing antibiotics this way can be unnecessary, as antibiotics do not treat viruses, and improper use without medical guidance fails to provide important dosage and allergy information. Obtaining antibiotics online also circumvents the doctor-patient relationship that helps ensure antibiotics are only used when truly needed and taken correctly. To reduce antibiotic resistance, measures need to be taken to prevent the non-prescription online sale of antibiotics within the US.

1. Antibiotics Online-
Without a Prescription
contribute to antibiotic resistant bacteria

2. How does antibiotic resistance happen?
also known as super bugs or super infections

3. MRSA
is from a
antibiotic
resistant
bacteria
Warning:
the following slide
contains graphic
images of
patients affected
by MRSA!

4. What MRSA can do:

5. Antibiotic Resistance is a problem here in the
U.S.

6. One reason antibiotic resistance is such
a big problem here:
• Antibiotics are easily
obtained online
without a prescription
HOW?
• Illegally through loopholes
like:
-operating outside of the U.S.
-mailing medication in discreet
envelopes to avoid customs
confiscation

7. The troubles with obtaining antibiotics
online without a prescription:
May be unnecessary-antibiotics do not work against viruses that cause colds., the flu,
and most sore throats. UNNECESSARY ANTIBIOTIC USE HELPS TO CREATE MORE
ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANT BACTERIA
Do not contain adequate teaching that would be obtained from
the doctor & pharmacy-
antibioticsforsale.net noted the following about a common antibiotic- doxycycline:
“To order Doxycycline without a prescription You must know needed dosage, how to take this
medicine and all possible side effects.” Most people do not know this type of information. If
a person is not advised to take the full course of antibiotics and stops taking the antibiotics
when they start to feel better they are contributing to making antibiotic resistant bacteria!
Allergies to medications not taken into account-
A patient allergic to the antibiotic penicillin may have a cross sensitivity to the antibiotics in the
cephalosporin classification
Other medications not taken into account & many more reasons

8. Why would someone want to buy
antibiotics online without a prescription?
• Possibly cheaper
(the site I examined
was not)
• Discomfort with
seeing a doctor
• Cultural norm
(many countries
have antibiotics
available over the
counter)

9. The U.S. needs to
take measures to
keep antibiotics
from being available
online without a
prescription to help
lower the
prevalence of
antibiotic resistance
here!

10. Image where found on Google Images