Why Millions Of Americans Are Faking Symptoms To Get Antibiotics From Their Doctors

Why Millions of Americans Are Faking Symptoms to Obtain Antibiotics

A significant portion of the U.S. population is intentionally misrepresenting their health status to secure antibiotic prescriptions, according to a new study that highlights a growing breakdown in trust between patients and clinicians. The survey, which polled nearly 1,000 individuals across the country, found that 28 percent of respondents admitted to exaggerating or fabricating symptoms for themselves to obtain these medications. A nearly identical percentage—27 percent—reported doing the same on behalf of a child in their care.

The research, published in JAMA Network Open (paper one, paper two), suggests that these actions are rarely driven by malice. Instead, they stem from a desperate desire for relief and the intense pressure to recover quickly for work or school commitments. Many patients hold the firm, albeit often misguided, belief that antibiotics are a universal cure for illness, regardless of whether the infection is viral or bacterial.

The Trap of Misplaced Expectations

Antibiotics remain one of the most vital tools in modern medicine for treating bacterial infections, but they are entirely ineffective against the viruses responsible for the vast majority of cold and flu-like symptoms. Experts warn that when patients push for these drugs unnecessarily, they face the risk of adverse side effects, while the broader population faces the mounting crisis of antimicrobial resistance.

“It is a tough situation,” says Alistair Thorpe, a research assistant professor at the University of Utah Health and co-lead author of the study. “People are experiencing unpleasant symptoms, and they can have this strong feeling that antibiotics are the only thing that can help them feel better. Being told to just rest and wait is a hard thing to do.”

The study reveals that this behavior is often reinforced by past medical interactions. Patients who have felt their concerns were previously dismissed by physicians are more likely to overstate their current symptoms to ensure they are taken seriously. Furthermore, some patients have been conditioned by previous, inappropriate prescriptions; if a person recovers from a viral infection after taking antibiotics, they may incorrectly credit the drug for their recovery, strengthening the psychological association between the medication and healing.

Fostering a Culture of Clinical Trust

The research team emphasizes that the solution lies in improved communication rather than increased suspicion. Andrea Levy, a professor of social sciences at Connecticut State Community College Middlesex and coauthor of the study, notes that the goal is not to police patient behavior but to create an environment where patients feel validated without needing to resort to deception.

“The practical takeaway is not for clinicians to become more suspicious of their patients,” Levy says. “Instead, clinicians need to create interactions where caregivers and patients feel heard enough that they don’t feel the need to exaggerate in order to be taken seriously.”

For healthcare providers, the challenge is to strike a balance: effectively communicating why antibiotics are inappropriate for certain illnesses while ensuring the patient feels that their suffering is recognized and their needs are prioritized. Angela Fagerlin, chair of the University of Utah’s department of population health sciences and senior author of the work, argues that the next phase of research must focus on testing communication frameworks that help clinicians and patients better understand each other’s perspectives.

“We want a long-term relationship between a patient and health care provider to be based on trust, openness, transparency, and people having each other’s best intentions in mind,” says Thorpe.