Why are we urged to finish our antibiotics even when we feel better after just a few days?

Answer 1

It's to be certain that all the germs have been killed by the antibiotic. If you stop the drug after a few days, the remaining germs can mutate and develop a resistance to the drug, and come back to make you sicker than you were before.

Answer 2

Just some clarifications here - as most have said the reason for finishing the course is to prevent antibiotic resistant bacteria. The clarification I want to make is that this is an evolutionary process - the individual bacteria don't develop resistance the population becomes more dominated by resistant forms due to selection by the presence of the antibiotic. Not taking all of the course of antibiotic encourages this process as well as taking an antibiotic when it is not necessary (don't press your physician for an antibiotic if s/he doesn't suggest it, and don't take the remainder of an old bottle of antibiotics (self-prescription)). Finally, contrary to what one answerer suggested, antibiotics do not kill viruses, only bacteria. Antibiotics should not be taken for a viral infection.

Answer 3

Dosages of antibiotics depend on the individual, the infection that is being treated, and the presence of other medical conditions. For children, the dosage usually is based on body weight and is lower than the adult dosage. To be effective, an entire treatment with antibiotics must be completed, even if the symptoms of infection have disappeared. Furthermore, it is important to keep the level of antibiotic in the body at a constant level during treatment. Therefore, the drug should be taken on a regular schedule. If a dose is missed, it should be taken as soon as possible. If it is almost time for the next dose, the missed dose should be skipped. Doubling up doses is generally not recommended.

Some individuals may have allergic reactions to antibiotics. If symptoms of an allergic reaction (such as rash, shortness of breath, swelling of the face and neck), severe diarrhea, or abdominal cramping occur, the antibiotic should be stopped and the individual should seek medical advice.

Because antibiotics can affect bacteria that are beneficial, as well as those that are harmful, women may become susceptible to infections by fungi when taking antibiotics. Vaginal itching or discharge may be symptoms of such infections. All patients may develop oral fungal infections of the mouth, indicated by white plaques in the mouth.

Injected antibiotics may result in irritation, pain, tenderness, or swelling in the vein used for injection. Antibiotics used in cancer patients may have numerous side effects, both minor and severe; however, most side effects are uncommon or rare.

The more common side effects of atovaquone, aztreonam, cephalosporins, ciprofloxacin, clindamycin, gentamicin, metronidazole, and SMZ-TMP include:

nausea and vomiting
diarrhea
loss of appetite

Answer 4

You are urged to finish anitbiotics because the dosage that was given to you by the doctor is the recommended amount to kill the bacteria/virus in your body. Just because you feel better after a few days does not mean that the virus is gone. It just means that the virus has been destroyed enough to make you start feeling better. There is still a long road ahead to killing the virus.

But when you stop taking the medication, you risk doing even more damage because viruses can evolve, like we can, to elements that can kill them. If it doesnt kill them, it only makes them stronger. There are actually super-viruses that exist that are immune to a lot of our antibodies because people did not finish their dosage. So finish taking your meds.

Answer 5

Because it is important that the bacteria is gone. IF you stop taking antibiotics before the prescribed period of time which is normally 7 days, it is very likely that the bacteria will just be dormant for awhile and will come back again. This time, you might need a more strong medicine because they (bacteria) have grown resistant.

Answer 6

you must finish your rx of antibiotics to make sure the bacteria or infection is completely exhausted. By only taking it for a couple days , one might feel better but the infection can become immune to a small dosage, therfore it would be able to reform and re-infect.

Answer 7

If you don't finish the antibiotics, the bad germs could build up a resistance to the atibiotics or they could make a strong comeback because they weren't all killed off. Either way it would be bad news for you.

Answer 8

to ensure whatever bacterial invasion of your body is eliminated, if you quit simply when you start to feel better, any remaining bacteria could develop an immunity to the drug which would make them harder to kill next time you became infected

Answer 9

you might feel better,but the 'bug' is still alive .if you dont finish the full course they will multiply and make you even sicker

Answer 10

Because the bugs will survive and get incurable buggies. Next time you get your bugs back and you will probably never ever get better again.