Something fishy is going on. Of all the crazy health trends I thought I might discuss, this one never crossed my mind. And yes, the rumors are completely true – many people are turning to fish antibiotics to avoid the cost of a trip to the GP.
What amazes me about humans is the truly creative manner in which we go about avoiding unpleasant things. We would literally do anything rather than face something that causes us anxiety. Even something as dangerous as taking fish antibiotics.
What are Fish Antibiotics?
Maybe you have come across ‘Moxifish’ for sale on Amazon.  FishMox is a brand of amoxicillin (a penicillin-class antibiotic) sold without a prescription for treating bacterial infections in aquarium fish — things like fin rot, dropsy, open wounds, ulcer disease, and bacterial septicemia. It comes in 250mg and 500mg (“Forte”) capsules.
It’s labeled and formulated for ornamental fish (and sometimes pet birds), not for human use.
Fish antibiotics do not require a prescription, and some people have used fish antibiotics as a substitute for human medication. That’s risky — the dosing, purity standards, and quality control aren’t regulated for human consumption the way prescription antibiotics are, and using antibiotics without proper diagnosis can contribute to antibiotic resistance or mask a condition that needs real medical attention.
Why oh why would you take Fish Antibiotics?
There are online forums dating back over a decade ago with questions surrounding whether humans can use animal medication. Humans never fail to surprise…
One user of fish antibiotics told Mashable that she used a fish antibiotic called FishMox when she had a UTI, and it worked wonders.
“They worked incredibly. The UTI was completely gone within a week, and I didn’t get another one for at least 4 more years.”
She even said she’d use them again.
“Urgent care and doctors’ copays are so expensive, and it sometimes feels like I have to make a choice between having a provider and having groceries,” she explained.
Why you should not be using animal antibiotics
Daniel Freedberg is an assistant professor of medicine at Columbia University Medical Center’s Division of Digestive and Liver Disease. He shared the consequences of humans taking medications such as fish antibiotics, such as dosing issues.
“I’d have no idea how to dose fish antibiotics,” Freedberg says. “The differences in size and weight between humans and fish are too large. Antibiotics distribute within the body differently. (If I don’t know how) I doubt that people without medical degrees would know how to do it when self-medicating.”
He adds, ” It’s important for people to remember that antibiotics kill good bacteria inside you, too, and they also breed resistance to future antibiotic use.” This is a concern as it is a leading factor in the rise of ‘superbugs’, or antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
The FDA Weighs In
It’s important to keep in mind that fish antibiotics are not FDA approved and so could potentially lead to adverse reactions.
While it is chemically very similar to human-grade antibiotics, taking fish antibiotics is highly dangerous and illegal for humans. The FDA and medical professionals strongly warn against it due to unknown purity, incorrect dosages, and the severe risk of worsening antibiotic resistance
“Animal drugs should not be used to treat people, and patients should talk to their doctor about what medication is safe for them. Specifically, with regard to fish medications, the agency is aware that animal antibiotics are sold in pet stores for use in aquarium fish.”
The bottom line
In short, animal medication and human medication are two very different things.  The Tennessee Poison Center has noted incidents involving  humans taking antibiotics intended for treating fish. In one case, a patient self-treated an assumed bacterial infection with fish antibiotics and suffered severe gastroenteritis and dehydration requiring emergency department treatment with intravenous fluids and other medications.
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