Free Stuff: Antibotics at Meijer Pharmacy

In what Meijer is calling a no strings attached program:

The program covers leading, oral generic antibiotics with a special focus on the prescriptions most often filled for children. The following are FREE with your doctor's prescription, regardless of insurance or co-pay:

Amoxicillin
Cephalexin
SMZ-TMP
Ciprofloxacin
Ampicillin
Penicillin VK
Erythromycin

This a nice offer for those who need it, but in general I think this is a bad idea only because there seems to be some confusion between viruses and bacteria.

• Colds are caused by viruses, not bacteria.
• Antibiotics do not work at all in treating the common cold.
• Antibiotics are medicines that kill bacteria, not viruses.
• An environment that is more hospitable to the cold viruses is created when beneficial bacteria is indiscriminately killed.

Common sense says you can fight colds by washing your hands and keeping them away from your mouth and eyes. If you get a cold, rest and drink plenty of fluids, but do not load up on acetaminophen (Tylenol) unless you have a temperature higher than 105 degrees or muscle aches. If you exercise regularly do not skip, just lower the intensity. Stay bundled up so your body can work on fighting the virus not using energy to keep you warm.

Remember, cough syrup is a waste of money.