Should New York City residents stockpile antibiotics to protect themselves against bioterrorism?
DOHMH strongly recommends against stockpiling antibiotics. The inappropriate use of antibiotics is not without risk and may cause the development of antibiotic-resistant strains of common bacterial diseases. Improper use of antibiotics may also cause serious side effects including: diarrhea, abdominal symptoms, rash, allergic reactions, and potentially dangerous interactions with other medications. Individuals who stockpile antibiotics would also be more likely to use expired medications. Finally, stockpiling of antibiotics could lead to shortages of national supplies for routine or emergency use. A large stockpile of pharmaceuticals — including antibiotics that are effective against the most likely bacterial biological agents — has been created by the federal government and is available for rapid shipment to the affected area, if necessary. OEM and DOHMH have developed a detailed plan to ensure the ability to rapidly distribute medications from this national stockpile to all those a
