The Wal-Mart effect: Free antibiotics

November 1, 2006

Some local pharmacies are giving antibiotics away for free to compete with Wal-Mart’s $4 generics. Will this lead to continuing overuse? Very likely:

From a patient care standpoint, I see this as a real problem. Wal-mart had the right idea, kind of, with offering some discounted chronic medicines – like blood pressure medicines and antidepressants. But, offering antibiotics?

Many studies have shown that you don’t need an antibiotic every time you get a respiratory infection. And, I even admit, if I’m on the fence for a diagnosis, I err on the side of possibly a bacterial infection, and I prescribe the antibiotic.



Related posts:

  1. Getting rid of a cold without antibiotics
  2. Why free antibiotics are a terrible idea, and what drug and grocery stores should give away instead
  3. Who are more likely to inappropriate prescribe antibiotics?
  4. Door-to-antibiotics time for pneumonia
  5. Too many doctors are calling in antibiotics over the phone
  6. Stroke and tPA
  7. Why are hospitals offering nurses free plastic surgery?


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{ 1 comment }

1 L. Miller June 2, 2009 at 12:42 am

Is minocycline one of the free antibiotics that WalMart provides?

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