Antibiotics: What to ask before you start a course?

Antibiotics saves lives, and when a patient needs antibiotics, the benefits outweigh the risks of side
effects and antibiotic resistance. So what do we need to know or ask before we start a course?
1. Ask about your pill schedule
-Ask and Pay full attention to the doctor’s order or prescription. If the instruction says “take
every 8 hours” then you should take it as is and Never Miss a Dose.

2. What if you miss a dose?

-Never double the next dose if you’ve missed one. Taking a double dose will increase the
risk of getting side effects. Take your missed dose as soon as you remember or if its nearly
time for you next dose, skip your miss dose altogether.

3. When should you feel better?

-Antibiotics begin to work right after you start taking them. How quickly you get better
after treatment varies. Even though you might feel better after a few days of treatment, its
best to finish the entire antibiotic regimen in order to fully resolve your infection.

4. Should you drink a full glass of water with it?

-Absolutely Yes. By diluting stomache contents, water helps get an antibiotic through your
digestive system.

5. Are there any foods to avoid?

-Some medications may not work with certain foods like dairy products and grapefruit
juices. It would be better to avoid them while on treatment so as to make the treatment
successful.

6. Should you take a probiotic, too?

-Taking probiotics during antibiotic treatment can reduce the risk of diarrhea, although the
two should be taken a few hours apart.

7. Is it ok to crush the pill?

-Do not crush the pill. Doing so can release all of the drug at once, increasing the risk of
side effects.

8. Why are you taking it?

-The doctor prescribed it to you because you have a bacterial infection in your body.
Antibiotic treatment will help your body get rid of the bacterial infection and prevent much
worse cases.