Hello!
I actually have asked a very similar question on here in the past... probably more than once. LOL.
I personally do NOT go on abx right away with a cold. I wait and see if my immune system can "kick it" on its own. Usually I go through the whole stuffy nose/head and then it moves into my chest and then if it hangs around there for more than a week or so and doesn't seem to be getting better, I usually go on abx at that time. I can only do IV as I'm resistant to oral, so this is usually a big decision and causes quite a bit of angst.
At times, when I don't get the results I'd expected on IVs, I beat myself up cause it was likely just the virus and not necessarily time for abx.
But, I've also heard that some docs advocate going on IV meds whenever it moves into one's chest cause it can cause problems and permanant scarring, etc. if you let it fester. Even viruses hanging around in our lungs can supposedly make it so our bodies/lungs can't fight off the p.a. or whatever other infections we always have.
This is really a hot topic for me. I'd love to hear how others know its "time" for a clean out after a cold....