How to use antibiotics: 10 do’s and don’ts
In this article we will describe how to use antibiotics: 10 do’s and don’ts.
Key points (5 top tips)
- Take antibiotics only if you need them
- Take them exactly as your doctor tells you, and they have been prescribed
- Do not share your antibiotics with others, or take antibiotics prescribed for someone else
- Do not save them for later (another infection in the future)
- Discard tablets correctly.
It is important to know the following things when taking antibiotics; as medication can only work properly, if they are used correctly.
Anyway. Let’s focus on how to use antibiotics: do’s and don’ts.
1. Do antibiotics work for all infections?
No. They are only effective against bacterial infections.
2. Should I have antibiotics?
Antibiotics only treat certain infections caused by bacteria. So only take them if prescribed by a doctor. Antibiotics do not work against viruses.
3. How long should antibiotics be taken for?
Usually 3, 5 or 7 days – but it can be two weeks; and sometimes many weeks for long-term infections.
Antibiotics should be taken for as long as the doctor has prescribed them. In fact, take them exactly as your doctor tells you, and they have been prescribed.
Just because the symptoms of the illness subside, it does not mean that all of the bacteria have been killed. Remaining bacteria may cause the illness to start up again.
4. What should I do with leftover tablets?
Discard tablets correctly.
If there are some tablets left over, they should not be kept for later use or given to other people. Leftover medication can be disposed of in the normal rubbish or dropped off at some pharmacies. Pharmacies are not obliged to accept opened medicine though.
It is important not to dispose of the medication by pouring it down the drain or flushing it down the toilet. That is bad for the environment and also contributes to bacterial resistance.
5. Can people share antibiotics?
Absolutely not. Do not share your antibiotics with others. Similarly, do not take antibiotics prescribed for someone else.
6. Can the tablets be broken into smaller pieces to make them easier to swallow?
Doing this can stop some medications from working properly.
7. What food can you take antibiotics with?
Antibiotics are usually taken with water because taking them together with fruit juices, dairy products or alcohol can affect how the body absorbs some drugs. Grapefruit juice and some dietary supplements containing minerals like calcium can also work dampen the effect of antibiotics.
8. When should you take antibiotics?
You should take them as asked (and written on the prescription). This may be one, two, three or four times a day.
Some antibiotics are always meant to be taken at the same time of day; others are meant to be taken before, with or after a meal.
If you are supposed to take the medicine three times a day, for example, it is best to take them at set times; so that the effect is spread out evenly over the course of the day.
You could remember the regular times of 6 a.m., 2 p.m. and 10 p.m. for an antibiotic that needs to be taken every 8 hours, for example.
9. Can you take antibiotics together with other medications?
Yes, usually. Because antibiotics can interact with other medications, it is important to tell your doctor if you take other medications too. Antibiotics might interact with some blood thinners and antacids, for example. Some antibiotics can make birth control pills less effective.
10. What should I do if I develop a side-effect, or I am not getting better in 24-48 hours?
Talk to your doctor, before stopping them – unless you very unwell.
Common side effects range from minor to very severe health problems and can include: a rash, nausea and/or diarrhoea, and yeast infections (e.g. vaginal candida in women).
Summary
We have described how to use antibiotics: 10 do’s and don’ts – with 5 tops tips. We hope it is clearer now.
Other resources
This is good leaflet about antibiotics.
10 most common antibiotics
3 most common antibiotics
What is an antibiotic?
Antibiotics: 10 questions and answers
