Pharmacists: Over-use of drugs threatening future generations

Pharmacists are calling for tighter controls to stop the over-prescribing of antibiotics.

The Irish Pharmaceutical Union, which is holding its annual conference in Galway today, has raised concerns that the over-use of the drugs is threatening the lives of future generations.

It is asking both patients and GPs not to resort to antibiotics unless absolutely necessary.

Kathy Maher, incoming Vice President of the IPU and a pharmacist in Meath, said it is well-known that antibiotics lose their effectiveness through over-use.