Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhy Finish a Prescription?If You Miss a DoseDo Not Double Up On DosesAvoid Missing a Dose
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Why Finish a Prescription?
If You Miss a Dose
Do Not Double Up On Doses
Avoid Missing a Dose
Antibiotics are used to protect against and treat bacterial infections.Completing the entire course of treatment as prescribed is essential for eradicating the underlying condition completely. Taking your prescribed dose regularly keeps the concentration of medication in the bloodstream at constant levels.
Missing doses can make antibiotics less effective and prolong the course of treatment. A 2019 study concluded that late or missed antibiotic doses in hospitalized individuals were associated with a longer hospital stay.It can also result inantimicrobial resistance, making the infection difficult to treat.
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Why It’s Important to Finish Your Full Antibiotic Course
Skipping doses or taking them at irregular intervals may cause:
Completing the antibiotic course as long as prescribed, even if you feel better, is essential. Stopping your treatment regimen early may prevent the infection from going away completely.
Some bacteria may also survive and develop resistance to the antibiotic. Antibiotic resistance happens when bacteria adapt to withstand one or more antibiotics due to DNA recombination. Those antibiotic-resistant bacteria will be harder to treat in the future and may cause long-lasting infections.
What to Do If You Miss a Dose
Here’s what to do if you:
If you miss one or more doses, take them as soon as you remember. However, do not take more than one dose at a time to make up for the missed dose.
Never take a double dose. Doubling up on the dose or taking more than prescribed can result in increased side effects. These may include:
How to Avoid Missing a Dose
It can be difficult for some people to remember taking their doses as prescribed. Here are a few tips that may help you stay on track:
Summary
Antibiotics are drugs that kill or inhibit the growth of germs called bacteria. When prescribed, it is essential to take them regularly and as long as prescribed. Missing doses can lower the effectiveness of the treatment and even lead to antibiotic resistance.
If you miss an antibiotic dose, take it as soon as you remember. But if it’s nearly time for the next dose, skip the missed dose. Take the following doses at regular intervals.
Do not double up on a dose to make up for the missed dose. This can increase the risk of side effects. Talk with your healthcare provider if you miss several doses.
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Antibiotics.Patel CN, Swartz MD, Tomasek JS, Vincent LE, Hallum WE, Holcomb JB.The effects of missed doses of antibiotics on hospitalized patient outcomes.J Surg Res.2019;233:276-283. doi:10.1016/j.jss.2018.08.015.MedlinePlus.Antibiotic resistanceGrill MF, Maganti RK.Neurotoxic effects associated with antibiotic use: management considerations.Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2011;72(3):381-393. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2125.2011.03991.xRezaei NJ, Bazzazi AM, Naseri Alavi SA.Neurotoxicity of the antibiotics: a comprehensive study.Neurol India. 2018;66(6):1732-1740. doi:10.4103/0028-3886.246258
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Antibiotics.Patel CN, Swartz MD, Tomasek JS, Vincent LE, Hallum WE, Holcomb JB.The effects of missed doses of antibiotics on hospitalized patient outcomes.J Surg Res.2019;233:276-283. doi:10.1016/j.jss.2018.08.015.MedlinePlus.Antibiotic resistanceGrill MF, Maganti RK.Neurotoxic effects associated with antibiotic use: management considerations.Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2011;72(3):381-393. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2125.2011.03991.xRezaei NJ, Bazzazi AM, Naseri Alavi SA.Neurotoxicity of the antibiotics: a comprehensive study.Neurol India. 2018;66(6):1732-1740. doi:10.4103/0028-3886.246258
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
MedlinePlus.Antibiotics.Patel CN, Swartz MD, Tomasek JS, Vincent LE, Hallum WE, Holcomb JB.The effects of missed doses of antibiotics on hospitalized patient outcomes.J Surg Res.2019;233:276-283. doi:10.1016/j.jss.2018.08.015.MedlinePlus.Antibiotic resistanceGrill MF, Maganti RK.Neurotoxic effects associated with antibiotic use: management considerations.Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2011;72(3):381-393. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2125.2011.03991.xRezaei NJ, Bazzazi AM, Naseri Alavi SA.Neurotoxicity of the antibiotics: a comprehensive study.Neurol India. 2018;66(6):1732-1740. doi:10.4103/0028-3886.246258
MedlinePlus.Antibiotics.
Patel CN, Swartz MD, Tomasek JS, Vincent LE, Hallum WE, Holcomb JB.The effects of missed doses of antibiotics on hospitalized patient outcomes.J Surg Res.2019;233:276-283. doi:10.1016/j.jss.2018.08.015.
MedlinePlus.Antibiotic resistance
Grill MF, Maganti RK.Neurotoxic effects associated with antibiotic use: management considerations.Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2011;72(3):381-393. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2125.2011.03991.x
Rezaei NJ, Bazzazi AM, Naseri Alavi SA.Neurotoxicity of the antibiotics: a comprehensive study.Neurol India. 2018;66(6):1732-1740. doi:10.4103/0028-3886.246258
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