[andrei_says_]

Except that they get prescribed a lot, almost as an insurance.

[acchow]

And in some countries, they give antibiotics for viral infections because patients just want them!

Got the common cold? Here's some Amoxicillin!

[janekm]

Worse, in China they are sold OTC and are as popular as you suggest (aside from being the thing that is prescribed on nearly every doctors visit to a health center). Even though anti-viral medicines (for what little good those do...) are also available OTC...