Q. Can I get drug resistance if I continue to take Amoxicillin for recurrent ear infections?

Hi doctor,

I am afraid of bacterial resistance from taking so many antibiotics in three years. I am scared of Cipro and want to take Amoxicillin again, but I have had four courses in two years. I am about fed up with antibiotics. Two years ago, Amoxicillin was prescribed for a swimmer's ear I had, which immediately got better. Then I took a Z-Pak later that year for a recurring infection. Months after that, I was prescribed a Z-Pak for a sinus infection in the same year. At the end of last year, I was put on Amox for a tonsil infection, and they gave me Clindamycin after that for pretty much no reason because one of my tonsils is just larger than the other. The infection was gone. Now, six months later, I have a bad acute swimmer's ear infection and refused to take oral antibiotics until the pain was unbearable. I am on Ciprofloxacin and hate it. The side effects are scary, especially for a singer. I want to discontinue and use Amoxicillin once again. Can I do this? Should I be worried about bacterial resistance? It has been six months since I used Amox last. I was never on antibiotics as a child, and now for about three years, I have been on more than one course twice a year. This is getting to be ridiculous. Please help.