That’s the problem. Amoxicillin is *too* routine now and OTC Amoxicillin only helped accelerate penicillin resistance overseas, where the emergence of bad resistance patterns were first noted. It basically doesn’t work very well *and* for most current usages it isn’t needed. Oh yeah, Amoxicillin costs $4.00 at Wal-Mart for the typical prescription. It might cost more than that OTC because you’d need special packaging for liquid forms which must be refrigerated after mixing. As an aside, special packaging (sterile unit dose packages for liquids and special blister packs for pills — these things are bulky compared to the 100, 500, or 1000 count stock bottle) are one reason why meds cost more in hospitals versus the local pharmacy.

Only to the extent that having such routine antibiotics as Amoxicillin OTC would not change much distribution of this drug as prescribed by doctors.

Are you really going to tell me that I don’t know how American medical care system works when I have spent nearly 20 years of my life in it? Plus that is part of the reason why I’m not in it any more and generally advise people *not* to get in it.

Some of what you write is true, however, you are also not being realistic in how American medicine works.

You child complains of an ear ache. Mother brings child to the doctor. THe doctor prescribes amoxicillin. Everyone is happy, probably because they have just billed a hundred dollars or more for the 15 minute office call.

In other words, if amoxicillin and other low end antibiotics are otc, nothing has changed.

Again, I would not advocate this without using information to flag overusage (whatever that would be) and anyone who reaches that level would not be able to get the anti-biotics otc.

@ Mark,

Antibiotics have been so overused (by doctors, but amoxicillin is OTC in many countries and their resistance patterns are worse than ours in some areas of the world) that multi-drug resistance is common in the wild (not just the hospital or nursing home). OTC antibiotic dispensing is bad news for everyone. Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus is spreading rapidly. Most sinus and ear infections are viral in origin and no antibiotic is required for treatment. Only persistent cases (more than 10 to 14 days duration) need antibiotic treatment. Even with this, it is easy to overlook fungal infections. Fungal infections are treated with much more toxic drugs, which will require closer monitoring.

“How much does the antibiotic you received for your child’s ear infection cost?”

Usually the person will respond with their co-pay, or even their out of pocket costs.

However, the real cost of that antibiotic is $100+ more than that because you first need to go to the physician to get the prescription for that antibiotic.

The fact is that in almost 100% of the cases the parent can diagnose the ear or sinus infection just as readily as the pediatrician or family doctor. They could easily go directly to the pharmacy and receive the Amoxicillan or other similar anti-biotic.

Anticipating the argument, in the modern world the usage of such drugs can be monitored. Therefore, any “over usage” of an antibiotic would trigger a flag and then you would have to see a physician to receive more of the drug.