What Happens if You Continually Miss Doses of Antibiotics
01/14 What happens when you miss a dose of antibiotics (And what you can do)
People, especially in India see antibiotics as magic portions that will help them get rid of any and all illnesses. They believe this so much that they pressurise the doctors to prescribe antibiotics even when they do not need it.
02/14 What are antibiotics?
Antibiotics are medicines that are used to fight infections caused by bacteria. These are also called antibacterial and treat infection by decreasing and eventually killing the growth of the bacteria.
03/14 How do antibiotics work
Antibiotics work by killing bacteria or suspending their growth. They do so by attacking the wall or coating that surrounds the bacteria, interfering the reproduction of the bacteria or by blocking the protein production in bacteria.
04/14 How long does it take antibiotics to work?
Antibiotics start to work right after you take them, though you might take some time to feel better. How quickly an antibiotic works depends on the medicine as well as the infection you are being treated for.
05/14 The common course
The course can vary from three, five, seven to fourteen days. Even though you might start feeling better before you finish your course, it's strictly recommended to finish the entire course in order to fully resolve the infection.
06/14 What happens when you do not complete the dose of your antibiotic?
If you leave your antibiotics without completing the full course, you can develop antibiotic resistance and the infection might also not go away completely. Thus, it is advised not to stop your antibiotics without consulting your doctor.
07/14 What do doctors say?
It is always important to stick to your dose of antibiotics, especially because the doctor would not prescribe it unless necessary (talk to your doctor). But if you happen to miss a dose, you can have it soon after you realise it, suggests Dr Tarun Sahni, senior consultant, Internal Medicine, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, Delhi. He further adds that if the gap between the missed dose and the time when you realise is longer and closer to the time for your next dose, it is best to forget about the missed dose. Just take the next dose at the right time.
08/14 What is antibiotic resistance?
Antibiotic resistance occurs when the bacteria, which is supposed to be killed by the antibiotic can no longer be controlled by it. According to the recent data, 2 million people are infected with bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics, resulting in 23,000 deaths. When we take an antibiotic, the sensitive bacteria are eliminated. The bacteria that survive during the treatment are often resistant to that antibiotic. These bacteria have unique characteristics that do not let antibiotics work on them.
09/14 What to do if you miss a dose of antibiotics?
Antibiotics are usually taken between one to four times a day. The dose should be equally spread throughout the day and taken at the same time each day. This helps in maintaining a constant level of medication in your bloodstream. But if you miss a dose by mistake, do not double the next dosage. Taking the double dosage can increase your risk of getting side effects.
10/14 What you can do then?
You can take the missed dose as soon as you realise that you have missed it. But if it's nearly the time for the second dose, skip the first dose altogether and tell you doctor about the same.
11/14 When you miss several doses
Contact your doctor if you have missed multiple doses of your medicine. And it's very important to tell your doctor if you have missed doses because of side effects or illness.
12/14 How to ensure that you do not forget taking your antibiotics
Set reminders on your phone to help yourself not to forget taking your crucial antibiotics. You can also buy a pill organiser and arrange your medicines in each compartment carefully for each day.
13/14 Why you always need to finish your course
Even if you feel completely fine, you should never leave the course of your antibiotics incomplete. Because if you do not finish the course, the infection might come back soon.
14/14 Remember
Never keep a hold of antibiotics you have taken in the past with a mindset of using them again if you feel the same symptoms are reoccurring.
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Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health-news/what-to-do-when-you-miss-a-dose-of-antibiotic/photostory/71296530.cms
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