Was I prescribed the wrong medicine for a cold?

May 24, 2009 11:33 AM

Why did this doctor prescribe Penicilin vk 500 for me when the description says it's not for fighting a cold or flu and yet that's CLEARLY what I have?

I've been feeling like crap the past three days, since someone passed on his cold to me. I went to the Med Center today and this doctor (he didn't strike me as the brightest) prescribed Penicilin VK 500 for me. He told me (only after I asked him for a diagnosis, go figure) that I had Upper Respiratory Infection bka the common cold. So I'm trying to figure out if this guy prescribed the wrong medicine for me or not. To add to my confusion someone told me that he was prescribed Ampicillin tr which is supposedly specifically used to treat colds. Is this what I should have been prescribed? I ask because I didn't leave the emergency room with a very positive impression of the doc, so I don't put it past him that he could have made a mistake.

Can anyone shed light on this? Thanks

posted by anonymous to health & fitness (15 comments total)

IANAD, but from what I understand, if the upper respiratory infection is caused by bacteria and not a virus, then penicilin will treat it.

If you just have a cold, which is caused by a virus, there is no treatment to get rid of it. All you can do is take whichever over the counter drug helps relieve the symptoms and let it run its course.
posted by rancidchickn at 11:43 AM on May 24

From the information you've given it does seem inappropriate that you were prescribed this medicine. The vast majority of upper respiratory infections are caused by viruses, which are not affected by antibiotics; neither penicillin nor ampicillin will work. If you have had symptoms for longer than a week a bacterial infection becomes more likely and an antibiotic may be helpful.
posted by monocyte at 11:44 AM on May 24 [1 favorite has favorites]

Well, it seems to me that you might have lucked into some antibiotics. If you don't think this is what you need (as viruses generally just get better on their own, with time and reasonable homecare), you could always have the Penicillin prescription filled and then save it for a trip to Mexico or something (Montezuma's Revenge? No problem.).
posted by whimsicalnymph at 11:49 AM on May 24 [1 favorite has favorites]

To add to my confusion someone told me that he was prescribed Ampicillin tr which is supposedly specifically used to treat colds.

No, it's not. Nothing is used to treat colds in non-immunocompromised people.

Upper Respiratory Infection bka the common cold

He probably does not think that you have a cold. He thinks you have something like a group a strep or h influenzae (which is not the flu). Some people get bacterial infection on top of a viral infection, which could also be the case (though I have no idea how he would have guessed that looking at you). It's not a great choice of placebo (if he genuinely thought you have a cold), since some people react badly to penicilin.
posted by a robot made out of meat at 11:49 AM on May 24

You can generally tell if a given illness is viral or bacterial by the color of a person's mucus.
posted by cmgonzalez at 12:18 PM on May 24

he probably thinks you have a bacterial infections on top of your viral infection. Viral infections can and frequently do lead to bacterial infections.
posted by fifilaru at 12:21 PM on May 24

You can generally tell if a given illness is viral or bacterial by the color of a person's mucus.

I asked my doctor about this and he told me this isn't true. Color can also depend on how old the mucus is and how much air it's been exposed to rather than just what is causing it.
posted by RussHy at 12:24 PM on May 24

He told me (only after I asked him for a diagnosis, go figure) that I had Upper Respiratory Infection bka the common cold

Did he tell you that you have an upper respiratory infection better known as the common cold, or did he tell you that you have an upper respiratory infection, and you are telling us that "upper respiratory infection" is better known as the common cold?

If the latter, your assumption is not warranted; "upper respiratory infection" is not another name for the common cold. The common cold is an example of an upper respiratory infection. There are others, including bacterial-based ones.
posted by Flunkie at 12:40 PM on May 24

Dear lord. Ask Metafilter health answers get worse and worse by the day.

Well, it seems to me that you might have lucked into some antibiotics... you could always have the Penicillin prescription filled and then save it for a trip to Mexico or something (Montezuma's Revenge? No problem.).

Wow. "Lucked into antibiotics" that can cause rashes, diarrhea, yeast infections, and anaphylaxis? Not to mention penicillin will do nothing for infectious diarrhea.

You can generally tell if a given illness is viral or bacterial by the color of a person's mucus.

Absolutely untrue.

"upper respiratory infection" is not another name for the common cold.

Eh, yeah, it kind of is. While technically yes, "upper respiratory infection" means "infection in the upper respiratory tract," giving someone a diagnosis of "Upper respiratory infection" in medicine generally suggests a viral, cold-like syndrome. If a physician thinks it's some sort of more specific infection, like a sore throat, he or she will call it sore throat or pharynigitis. If the thought it strep throat, they'll call it "strep pharyngitis." "Upper respiratory infection" is usually a catch-all term for a cold-like syndrome, usually thought to be of viral etiology, not requiring antibiotics.



Penicillin VK is often used for adult strep throats, tooth or gum infections or other skin/soft tissue infections; who knows what your doctor was actually thinking. Colds--if that is what you have, and I have no idea if you do or not, since I am not evaluating you--are of viral origin and not responsive to antibiotics.

My guess: maybe your physician assumed you went to the doctor for antibiotics, but didn't ask you specifically, since you went for a cold, and most people don't normally feel the need to see the doctor for a cold? Or maybe he/she was concerned about a bacterial superinfection? Or maybe you're immunocompromised or have some other problem that we don't know about that your doctor does? Impossible to say; I try not to judge.

(I am not your doctor, you are not my patient, this is not medical advice, just general educational information and can't really be applied to a specific patient.)
posted by gramcracker at 1:03 PM on May 24 [8 favorites has favorites]

I asked my doctor about this and he told me this isn't true. Color can also depend on how old the mucus is and how much air it's been exposed to rather than just what is causing it.

Color isn't the end-all determining factor, but in a quick assessment, sometimes they use it. I've gotten that information from several doctors over the years.
posted by cmgonzalez at 1:33 PM on May 24 [1 favorite has favorites]

people go to the doctor for things that don't need medicine. some doctors try to explain that antibiotics aren't needed. some doctors realize that patients aren't the brightest crayons and delicate little snowflakes. they prescribe antibiotics, knowing full well that the pills are effectively a placebo and that the patient will get better with or without antibiotics in about 3-5 days.
posted by nadawi at 3:27 PM on May 24 [1 favorite has favorites]

In general, if you have concerns about a doctor's diagnosis and you want a second opinion, you're better off getting that second opinion from another doctor rather than random strangers on the Internet.
posted by flabdablet at 4:55 PM on May 24

Penicillin and Ampicillin are closely related antibiotics. Antibiotics have no effect on viral infections - only on bacterial infections. Colds are caused by viruses NOT bacteria, and unless the doctor had a culture done of your sputum (unlikely, and you would know if he had), there is no indicator mentioned here that would make me think you have a bacterial infection. Taking antibiotics when they are not needed is unhealthy, so if I were you, I would not take any antibiotics at this point.

Now, if a week goes by and your symptoms are the same or worse, then the likelihood that you have a bacterial infection of your lower respiratory system seems more possible. In that case, you might consider taking an antibiotic.
posted by serazin at 7:03 PM on May 24

Call your doctor or a nurse at the clinic where you went and ask for clarification. In the meantime, if you really think you have a cold, then you don't need antibiotics, you need to rest, drink fluids, and wait for your body to heal itself.
posted by mai at 10:43 PM on May 24

My bad gramcracker!

Momma always said free advice is worth what you pay for it.
posted by whimsicalnymph at 8:57 AM on May 25