When To Take Antibiotics Posted or Updated on 17 Nov 2025

Taking antibiotics when you don't need them puts you and your family at risk.

Antibiotics don't work for:

• colds
• flu
• vomiting
• most coughs
• most ear infections
• most sore throats
• most diarrhoea
• most cystitis

Take your pharmacist's advice!

Antibiotics are needed for:

• Serious bacterial infections including
  • sepsis
  • pneumonia
• urinary tract infections
• sexual transmitted infections like gonorrhoea
• meningococcal meningitis

Take your doctor's advice!