Named the reason for the disappearance from the pharmacy counters of a popular antibiotic

They buy for future use and for mobilization

In pharmacies, there are difficulties with amoxiclav, one of the most common antibiotics. This drug is practically absent in most metropolitan pharmacy chains: pharmacists refer to the re-registration of the drug. However, this is not the only thing – it seems that increased demand is to blame for the disappearance of amoxiclav: the drug is on the list of “tactical first aid kit” for the mobilized and has become the subject of feverish purchases.

Amoxicillin and clavulanic acid “in one bottle” – either amoxiclav or augmentin – this is one of the most common and popular antibiotics prescribed by a doctor, including for respiratory diseases. For example, when a bacterial infection “stuck” to a body weakened by a virus. Now in the capital there is almost no “first line” of this antibiotic – that is, you can still get it with a strong desire, but this process cannot be called easy, you will have to “catch” it at the other end of the city.

– No for about two or three weeks, – told “MK” in one of the pharmacy chains. – They say that the drug is on re-registration. Wait, probably not earlier than a month.

Let’s add to the re-registration the traditional difficulties with logistics: the antibiotic is produced in Slovakia. There is also a domestic analogue – actually “amoxicillin + clavulanic acid”. But not everything is all right with him either: within the city, large networks do not sell this antibiotic, it is not available. One of the networks, for example, sends buyers to Klin, Elektrostal and Serebryannye Prudy. Others simply write: “no and unknown.”

“This is an antibiotic of the first choice, it is prescribed, including in mild cases,” the general practitioner of one of the Moscow city clinics told MK. – For example, the standard scheme is to prescribe it based on the results of a blood test for acute respiratory diseases of a bacterial nature. There is an old method, which is now not very welcome: give an antibiotic on the fifth day if the temperature continues to hold.

Recall that in recent decades, antibiotics in the treatment of common diseases have been tried not to be abused due to the phenomenon of antibiotic resistance: the few pathogenic bacteria that survived after the “attack” by the antibiotic leave “offspring” resistant to these drugs. As a result, populations of pathogens appear that are not afraid of popular antibiotics.

– What is happening now in pharmacies is a panic buying of medicines, which, in fact, should be sold strictly according to the prescription, – says the interlocutor of MK. – But antibiotics are not on the list where narcotic and psychotropic drugs are, criminal liability for their sale without a prescription does not threaten. Therefore, many pharmacists simply ask: have you been prescribed or are you just buying? And if you answer “prescribed”, they sell the antibiotic.

They buy, apparently, not only in reserve, but also for mobilization first-aid kits: antibiotics (and, above all, the same amoxiclav) are included in the lists of recommended drugs that instructors advise taking with you to the army.

– Here, despite the resistance, it is difficult to disagree with the recommendation, – the doctor of the city polyclinic reflects. – Yes, resistance, yes, it’s bad, but citizens with a weakened immune system, not hardened, and over the age of 30 find themselves in the field during the cold season … Many infections that require an antibiotic are possible here. Therefore, here all means are good, including “from a cannon to sparrows.”

You can replace amoxicillin and clavulanic acid with other antibiotics – however, most of them are “second” and even “third line”. That is, they are stronger than required for the treatment of conventional diseases. Of course, they can also be used “for fishlessness”, but it is very likely that they will eventually talk about resistance in relation to these drugs.