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When we don’t feel well—like really don’t feel well for too long—we want a fix NOW. That’s why so many of us may pressure our doctors to put us on antibiotics. When treating an infection through natural remedies is just taking too long, we can crave something that will just knock the infection right out of us. We want that prescription-strength stuff, that the virus won’t stand a chance against. But, antibiotics are rough on our bodies. Very rough. They destroy bacteria in the body, which is how they kill a bacterial infection, but in doing so, they also destroy many of the beneficial bacteria your body needs to thrive. Antibiotics are serious stuff, and shouldn’t be treated as casually as you may treat over-the-counter medications. Each time you want to take antibiotics or are prescribed some, know you’re putting your body through a lot. Here are things to know before taking antibiotics.

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Know your allergies
First off, know your allergies. Common antibiotics like Dicloxacillin, Oxacillin., Nafcillin, Amoxicillin, and Ampicillin are part of the penicillin family. If you’re allergic to penicillin, taking these could cause severe reactions such as wheezing, vomiting, swelling of the face and tongue, and other terrifying symptoms.