# Are antibiotics for animals safe and effective for human use?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-antibiotics-for-animals-safe-and-effective-for-human-use/668444>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 9, 2013, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-antibiotics-for-animals-safe-and-effective-for-human-use/668444 "2013-09-09T21:44:36Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\
**Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-antibiotics-for-animals-safe-and-effective-for-human-use/668444/1 "2013-09-09T21:44:36Z")

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A friend of mine has an infection. He doesn’t want to pay for a doctor’s visit, so he’s taking an OTC antibiotic called “Fish Pen Forte.” It’s an antibiotic (penicillin) for fish. My friend claims it’s the same as doctor-prescribed penicillin.

I googled it, but all I could find were posts from survivalist-types who (also) claim it’s the same as penicillin intended for human use.

Is there any truth to this?

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**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\
**Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-antibiotics-for-animals-safe-and-effective-for-human-use/668444/2 "2013-09-09T21:47:39Z")

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Some medications for animals are indeed the same as for humans, but others are not, or even toxic to humans. So… it _might_ be, but it might not.

In addition, purity standards may or may not be the same for animal medications as for human.

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**Author:** ![aNewLeaf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@aNewLeaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aNewLeaf)\
**Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-antibiotics-for-animals-safe-and-effective-for-human-use/668444/3 "2013-09-09T21:48:15Z")

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Frequently it’s the exact same product. Tolerances for impurities may be somewhat greater, but still within safe limits.  
Doesn’t mean it’s a good idea, but using the correct med from the wrong source beats self-medicating with internet remedies.

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**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\
**Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-antibiotics-for-animals-safe-and-effective-for-human-use/668444/4 "2013-09-09T21:56:17Z")

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is he looking green around the gills?

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**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\
**Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-antibiotics-for-animals-safe-and-effective-for-human-use/668444/5 "2013-09-09T22:04:21Z")

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Does he know that the organism in question is sensitive to penicillin?  
Does he know the proper dose for humans?  
Does he know whether there is other stuff in there besides the penicillin?

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**Author:** ![picker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/picker/32/13969_2.png) [@picker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picker)\
**Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-antibiotics-for-animals-safe-and-effective-for-human-use/668444/6 "2013-09-09T22:18:13Z")

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Seems fishy to me.