ANTIBIOTICS are usually something you’ll come across if you suffer a nasty bug.
The life-saving pills are used by millions every year, for a whole host of issues.
They are specifically used to help our bodies fight off bacterial infections.
And once upon a time, they were handed out relatively freely.
But many countries have joined the fight to prevent antibiotic resistance, the drugs are no longer routinely used to treat all infections.
Antibiotics don’t work for everything and here we take a look at how long it takes them to work and whether or not you need to take the full course.
How long does it take for antibiotics to start working?
Antibiotics start to work straight away — but you might not get them until you’ve felt unwell for a while.
They work by or preventing bacteria from spreading or killing them, the NHS states.
However, they don’t work for viral infections.
This includes colds and flu, Covid, chest infections, ear infections in children, and most coughs and sore throats.
In most cases they will be prescribed to you if the bacterial infection won’t clear up without them or if you could infect others.
Medication could also be given if the infection would take too long to clear on its own or if it carries the risk of more serious complications.
When will I feel better?
Everyone is different – as is their response to antibiotics.
Most people will feel better towards the end of the course, but this varies, and will depend on the drug being taken.
Most antibiotics should be taken for one to two weeks but shorter treatments work just as well in some cases.
Your doctor will decide the best length of treatment and correct antibiotic type for you.
If you have completed the course and don’t see any signs of improvement, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Do I need to take my full course of antibiotics?
It can be tempting to stop taking antibiotics as soon as you’re starting to feel better – but doctors say you shouldn’t as it can result in the infection returning.
Doing so also contributes to the growing issue of antibiotic resistance.
If you forget to take an antibiotic, it’s not the end of the world, but take that dose as soon as you remember and carry on with the course of antibiotics as normal.
But if it’s almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one and continue your regular dosing schedule.
Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one as this can increase the risk of side effects.
What are the side effects?
The NHS states that most commonly, people will feel sick, be sick, have bloating and indigestion, while others also have diarrhoea.
Guidance states that some people might also have an allergic reaction to the medication – especially penicillin and another type of antibiotic called cephalosporins
