Article: Antibiotics: the dark side of wonder drugs.

How often have you left the doctor's office clutching a prescription for antibiotics? If this sounds familiar, it should - 75 percent to 100 percent (depending on the physician) of medical office visits conclude with a prescription. Between 50 and 80 percent of adult North Americans take a prescription medication within every 24 to 36 hour period.

Antibiotics don't affect the progress of uncomplicated viral infections like colds or flu at all - any apparent benefit is coincidental. On the other hand, antibiotics have many harmful side-effects. Allergic reactions are common. Antibiotics kill the "good bacteria" in your body as well as the "bad" ones - throwing ...

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