The antibiotic amoxycillin, typically prescribed for lower respiratory tract infections such as bronchitis, is no more effective than a placebo for reducing symptoms, according to new research.
A randomised placebo controlled trial found that patients given amoxycillin did not recover quicker or have significantly fewer symptoms.
While new or worsening symptoms were more common in the placebo group, the results showed patients taking antibiotics experienced more side effects including nausea, rash and diarrhoea.
Read more at University of Southampton