For how long should I take antibiotics?

Question

I took erythromycin for 10 days because I had a throat infection, I finished the treatment 3 days ago, now the doctor prescribed another antibiotic for five days... someone told me they will not work, is it true?

Answer 1

Until you're well.

Answer 2

No, that is not true. Perhaps the erythromycin wasn't the correct antibiotic for the particular infection that you have. Take the new antibiotic as prescribed until it is all gone. Also eat yogurt with live cultures so you don't wipe out all of your good bacteria as well. Feel better soon!!

Answer 3

Antibiotics do work and you should take them for as long as the prescription tells you to. Most often, they will tell you to take the antibiotic until you have finished off the antibiotic. so if you took erythromycin for 10 days and still have some left take it until it is gone. ask your doctor if you have more questions or call your local pharmacy and they would be more than happy to help.

Answer 4

I used to work for a doctor and i do know that sometimes an infection is so bad, that it takes two rounds of antibiotics. A doctor will usually tell you to take all of them, even if your feeling better. Many people make the mistake of stopping when they feel better, but the antibiotics are most effective when all the dosage is taken.

Answer 5

Its best to trust the doctor. They are not always right, but they usually know what they are talking about. They know what antibiotics work on what infections, they know the doses and duration of treatment. If the new antibiotic doesn't work there is a super excellent chance that there is another one that will work, but for now its probably best to go with what the doctor says. Good luck!

Answer 6

If you take antibiotics every time you get a sniffle they will lose their effects on you. If you rarely use them you will be fine. If you don't take this 5 days worth you may have the infection for a much longer time since the 10 days worth didn't work! Or it could be a different infection all together! I would take it and get completely well. If you stop now the infection will continue growing.Hope you feel better soon!

Answer 7

ALWAYS take the antibiotic until it is gone.
The only exception would be if you have an allergic reaction to it.
By not taking it until it is gone (even if you feel better), you risk the infection coming back, and because the germ was exposed to the antibiotic but not killed, it may be resistant to that antibiotic now.
It's people like you that cause many of the epidemics of antibiotic resistant bacteria.
TAKE YOUR MEDS AS PRESCRIBED!

Answer 8

it depends...
you should take antibiotics for 5 days at least once u have started a treatment
if u stop the treatment sooner it is a risk that your organism will get an resistance to the antibiotic...and the next time u might need it it won't work and u will have to take stronger ones

Answer 9

You didn't say what the new med is but erythromycin is a mild antibiotic, so i am guessing it did not clear the infection completely so the doc. prescribed something stronger.

Answer 10

Find another doctor.

Most throat infections are viral - antibiotics don't help. Strep throat, which is a bacterial infection, is generally treated with penicillin for 10 days (e-mycin can be used too, but for 10 days).

Answer 11

Is the "someone" a medical person? If not, don't listen to them. Your doctor knows what's best for you. Different antibiotics attack different types of germs. If you don't feel better, after taking the antibiotics, call your doctor's office.