Do's and Don'ts while taking antibiotics. How to drink antibiotics correctly and how often they can be taken. Folk methods for restoring the intestines after antibiotics

Thanks to the invention of antibiotics, mortality from infectious diseases has dropped to negligible numbers. Inflammation of the lungs and intestinal infections, which claimed millions of lives a hundred years ago, today are treated in a few days, even on an outpatient basis. The name of Louis Pasteur is forever inscribed in the history of medicine.

However, the same Pasteur, who invented the means of fighting infection, uttered the famous phrase: “Gentlemen! Microbes will have the last word." And the scientist was absolutely right. Over time, it became quite clear that antibiotics also have a lot of their "skeletons in the closet."

Side effects of antibacterial agents can be no less serious than the original disease that became the root cause of the treatment. A study conducted by American clinicians proved that antibiotic toxicity has become one of the most common causes of death in hospitalized patients. But do not rush to conclusions.

Let's try to consistently answer the burning questions: why sometimes the therapy of consequences becomes the result of the use of drugs? And how to recover after antibiotic treatment?

Antibiotics side effects

As you know, antibacterial drugs are divided into groups that have a common spectrum of action and similar side effects.

Penicillins

Antibiotics of the penicillin group are usually well tolerated. Rash and exfoliative dermatitis are among the most common side effects. However, the appearance of antibiotic-associated diarrhea in the treatment of penicillins (drugs Amoxicillin, Augmentin, etc.) is not uncommon.

Cephalosporins

Relatively safe antibiotics are cephalosporins of all four generations. Among the side effects attributed to these drugs, diarrhea occupies an honorable place. Rarely, hypersensitivity reactions are recorded: rash and fever. Ceftazidime is a third-generation antibiotic that causes liver dysfunction.

Macrolides

Side effects of macrolides (for example, the antibiotic Sumamed) include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and occasionally antibiotic-associated colitis and cholestatic jaundice.

Fluoroquinolones

When taking these drugs, gastrointestinal symptoms are more often recorded, including diarrhea, abdominal pain, and nausea. Allergic reactions develop much less often - rash and itching.

Aminoglycosides

The drugs in this group are among the most toxic. Of particular concern is the nephrotoxicity of aminoglycosides, which manifests itself in the development of acute renal failure, as well as ototoxicity, leading to hearing loss.

So, the spectrum of side effects of antibacterial drugs is extensive. But the most well-known adverse event associated with treatment with these agents is by far antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Let's try to figure out what caused this manifestation and how to deal with it.

Antibiotics and diarrhea: causes

To begin with, the likelihood of diarrhea or simply diarrhea during treatment with antibacterial agents is not so small: it ranges from 5 to 40%.

Diarrhea during or after antibiotic treatment can be caused by two completely different reasons:

imbalance of microflora that colonizes in the large intestine;
extremely rapid growth of opportunistic bacteria Clostridium difficile.

A stool disorder caused by changes in the composition of the intestinal flora is the symptom that is usually called in domestic medicine.

Dysbacteriosis - truth or myth?

Heated disputes about dysbacteriosis have not subsided so far. Many patients and doctors diligently look for signs of this condition and treat it. Meanwhile, Western medicine refers to the concept of "dysbacteriosis" is very reserved.

It should be noted that in Russia there is no nosological unit with such a name, that is, officially there is no such diagnosis. This is largely due to the fact that the composition of the intestinal flora is too diverse to establish clear criteria for the norm. Moreover, a healthy person has recovery mechanisms, and they start on their own.

The condition, which in our country is regarded as dysbacteriosis against the background of taking antibiotics, is called antibiotic-associated diarrhea by most European and American experts. The main and often the only symptom of disturbed intestinal microflora is loose stools.

Pseudomembranous enterocolitis - an unfamiliar name for a familiar problem

In about 5 to 15% of cases of antibiotic use, diarrhea that occurs during or after treatment is caused by the growth of Clostridium difficile. The disease that develops as a result of the reproduction of clostridia is called pseudomembranous enterocolitis. Most often, this complication is recorded in patients undergoing inpatient treatment.

The diagnosis of pseudomembranous enterocolitis is suggested first in any patient with diarrhea who has taken antibiotics in the previous three months and has been hospitalized.

Symptoms of pseudomembranous enterocolitis include:

mild to moderately severe watery diarrhea;
cramping pain in the abdomen;
lack of appetite;
malaise.

In severe cases, fever and dehydration may occur. If signs of enterocolitis appear, an urgent consultation with a doctor is necessary. And no self-medication!

Dysbacteriosis after taking antibiotics: risk factors and solutions

Much more often there is a less aggressive consequence of treatment with antibacterial drugs - dysbacteriosis.

The likelihood of developing dysbacteriosis and, as a result, antibiotic-associated diarrhea increases if the primary infection is caused by Clostridium, Klebsiella, Staphylococcus aureus, and some other pathogens.

In addition, the risk group for diarrhea associated with antibiotic treatment includes:

aged people;
patients in inpatient departments;
cancer patients;
patients taking proton pump inhibitors.

Recall that these drugs include drugs for the treatment of gastritis and peptic ulcer: Omeprazole, Lanzaprozol, Pantoprozol and others.

So, what should those 5–39% of patients do who, during or after taking antibacterial agents, felt the manifestations of dysbacteriosis?

First of all, don't be discouraged. In the vast majority of cases, diarrhea is not the reason for discontinuation of the main drugs.

And secondly, at least one more drug will have to be added to the main list of drugs.

The basic principle of antibiotic treatment is to do no harm to the patient. Thanks to antibiotic therapy, most infectious diseases are perfectly treatable. But in taking this group of drugs there are strict rules that must be followed.

During the production of an antibacterial agent, pharmacists dose the active ingredients in each tablet as accurately as possible.

Taking antibiotics under the supervision of a doctor is advisable in the following cases:

diseases of the lower respiratory tract (pneumonia,);
sexually transmitted infections;
infectious diseases of the nasopharynx (otitis media);
severe diseases of the skin and mucous membranes (furunculosis, folliculitis);
pathology and urinary tract;
aggravated by the consequences of poisoning, enteritis.

Due to the availability of broad-spectrum antibiotics, people began to abuse them, uncontrollably swallowing pills for any.

But the antibiotic is powerless against viruses, while pathogenic microorganisms quickly adapt to them and soon stop responding to the active components of the drug.

The intestine is the main immune organ and taking antibiotics without a doctor's prescription threatens to seriously undermine immunity. Only in the competence of the doctor to decide the harm or benefit will the patient receive from taking an antibiotic in each case.

How to choose antibiotics?

The choice of antibacterial agents is the prerogative of the doctor. Self-medication with such serious drugs can cause great damage.

Antibiotics have a decent list:

in the first and second trimester of pregnancy, it is allowed to drink antibiotics as a last resort, otherwise the child is threatened with intrauterine developmental disorders;
it is forbidden to prescribe antibiotics to infants during the breastfeeding period due to possible health problems;
while taking the tablets, an exacerbation of the pre-ulcerative state, irritation of the mucous membrane is possible;
sometimes, with individual intolerance to a component of the drug, the activity of the liver is disrupted, pathologies of the kidneys and gallbladder occur;
a frequent companion of antibiotics is a manifestation of an allergic reaction, which is characterized by itching, rash, less often swelling.

Ideally, the doctor is obliged to test the patient for sensitivity to an antibiotic, and then choose the most suitable one for this pathogen from the list of drugs. But it takes a rather long period (from 2 to 7 days), so doctors, when prescribing antibiotics, rely on their medical experience and patient interviews.

The patient must provide information about which antibacterial agents he took, for how long, in which.

It is worth remembering that the price is not a fundamental indicator of the effectiveness of the drug.

An expensive price is not proof of greater efficiency than a cheaper counterpart. The price of drugs is determined by the country of origin and the date when the drug first appeared on the pharmacy counter. Any expensive antibiotic has no less effective inexpensive ones.

What to take with antibiotics?

In parallel with antibiotic therapy, the doctor must explain to the patient what to take with antibiotics. Most often, together with them, they drink drugs that restore the intestinal microflora.

You can not drink them at the same time, the interval between tablets should be at least two hours.
The use of probiotics is not always justified; in most diseases, the immune system is able to independently recreate the beneficial microflora.

The expediency of taking biological preparations can be considered in the case of:

a long course of antibiotic therapy (up to two weeks);
taking several types of antibiotic at the same time;
replacement of the antibiotic due to the ineffectiveness of the starting one;
irrational self-medication with antibiotics without medical supervision.

All concomitant antibiotic therapy drugs should be taken only after consulting a doctor.

Nutrition during antibiotic treatment

The main task of the products used in the treatment of antibiotics is to boost the immune system in a natural way. First of all, it is worth noting that it is impossible to drink medicine with tea - they contain substances that reduce the effectiveness of active ingredients.

Fermented milk products, milk and juices are not suitable for this purpose, except for exceptions to the rules, they are usually prescribed in the instructions for use. All these drinks are allowed to drink an hour after taking the pill.

For the period of treatment, alcoholic beverages, including beer and low-alcohol cocktails, are completely excluded from the diet. At the time of the course of antibiotics, the liver works at an accelerated pace, so you should not overload it.

smoked sausage, salo, balyk
mayonnaise, ketchup, adjika, mustard, horseradish
fried eggs, meatballs, fish
chips, cakes, white bread
marinades and preservation with vinegar

It is desirable that the food was light, daily should be rich in vitamins. It is better to refuse fatty meat (pork or lamb), preferring stewed chicken or turkey, rabbit meat.

Baked or steamed fish is welcome, you should forget about fried dishes for a while.

wholemeal bread, black bread
apples, bananas, tangerines, pineapple,
scrambled eggs
raisins and dried apricots
beets, carrots, pumpkin, all types of cabbage: broccoli, Beijing cabbage
berries: raspberries, blueberries, cranberries, cranberries.

Some antibiotics are destroyed under the influence of an acidic environment, so in some cases the use of fermented milk products is limited.

Antibiotics are a powerful weapon against infections that have already saved millions of lives. But an irresponsible attitude and failure to comply with strict rules for the use of these drugs is fraught with serious health complications for a person.

Modern medicine cannot be imagined without antibiotics. Thanks to these drugs, it became possible to defeat diseases that are now considered ordinary diseases, and a hundred years ago would have been fatal for humans. Every doctor prescribing an antimicrobial agent for an adult or child must prescribe a probiotic, recommending that it be taken with antibiotics from the first day of therapy.

Why is this being done and does it make sense to spend money on buying expensive drugs to maintain or restore intestinal microflora?

The effect of antibiotics on the human body

To begin with, it is worthwhile to find out why treating a person with antibiotics can lead to impaired bowel function. According to experts, in the body of an adult there are about 2-2.5 kg of beneficial microorganisms, which amounts to hundreds of trillions of bacteria. They are our constant companions, help digest food, create a favorable acid-base environment, improve the absorption of vitamins and nutrients, protect against harmful microbes and infectious diseases.

The bacteria necessary for the normal functioning of the body while taking antibiotics suffer no less than those that are harmful to human health. Powerful antibacterial drugs have a detrimental effect on both "bad" and "good" microorganisms. As a result, the intestinal microflora (microbiocenosis) suffers and antibiotic-associated diarrhea develops.

The adverse effect of antibiotics on the intestines is not manifested in everyone. It depends on what antibiotics the doctor prescribed, as well as on the patient's health status, his immunity and the duration of antibiotic therapy. According to medical estimates, at least a third of people taking quinolones, cephalosporins, lincomycins and aminopenicillins experience problems with the gastrointestinal tract. And this happens regardless of whether the patient has a sore throat, pneumonia or intestinal inflammation - antibiotics harm the beneficial microflora and provoke the appearance of dysbacteriosis.

How to protect the digestive organs from the harmful effects of antimicrobials? Intestinal upset, which is accompanied by abdominal pain and diarrhea, can be prevented by taking a medicine that supports the intestinal microflora while taking antibiotics.

Varieties of drugs for intestinal microflora

What to take along with antibiotics to protect yourself from their negative impact on the intestinal microflora? Doctors prescribe probiotics and prebiotics for this.

Probiotics are medicines containing strains of live bacteria. Once inside the intestines, beneficial microorganisms colonize the mucous membranes and, under favorable conditions, begin to actively multiply. And other drugs help them in this - prebiotics. Prebiotic supplements contain components that create a breeding ground for beneficial bacteria and accelerate colony growth.

Currently available probiotics containing various strains of bacteria. These can be either single-component preparations, in which only one specific type of microorganisms is present, or multi-component preparations containing two or more bacterial strains at the same time.

The most common probiotics for the gut include:

aerococci;
bifidobacteria;
yeast-like fungi;
lacto- and colibacilli;
enterococci.

In addition, the composition of the tablet or capsule may include together and prebiotic supplements that help beneficial bacteria "take root" in a new place.

Important! Combined probiotic agents are preferable for restoring the intestinal microflora after antibiotics. However, only a doctor is able to accurately determine which specific probiotic to prescribe in each case.

Benefits of Probiotics

Probiotic preparations have a beneficial effect not only on the digestive organs - the whole body begins to function more smoothly:

the harmful effect of antibiotics on the walls of the stomach is reduced;
enzymes, hormones and vitamins necessary for the normal functioning of the human body are produced;
minimizes the negative effects of toxins;
water-salt metabolism in the intestine is restored;
the body's defenses are stimulated, its resistance to diseases increases;
the level of acidity of the stomach and the entire digestive system is normalized, in which pathogenic bacteria die faster, and beneficial bacteria multiply better;
intestinal microbiocenosis is restored;
the process of digestion is stimulated;
improves intestinal peristalsis.

All this clearly proves that it is simply necessary to drink probiotics to prevent antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Otherwise, the patient is threatened with diarrhea or constipation, bloating, nausea and pain in the abdomen.

Important! Microbiocenosis can recover on its own after the abolition of antibiotic therapy. However, this process is not fast and depends on the human immunity. Therefore, do not neglect the advice of doctors and save on your health. It is better to drink a course of probiotics so that after the main infectious disease, dysbacteriosis is not treated.

List of probiotics

Drugs represent a fairly large group of drugs. Below is a list of the most effective, according to doctors and patients, probiotics:

Linex.

Perhaps the most popular medicine from the category of multicomponent probiotics. It is heard by almost everyone thanks to mass television advertising. Linex capsules contain bifidobacteria, lactobacilli and strains of enterococci. It is prescribed for both adults and children, as the remedy is safe and has no contraindications. Do not prescribe Linex only in the treatment of patients suffering from lactose intolerance.

Acipol.

Assign to eliminate the manifestations of dysbacteriosis and disorders of the digestive process of various etiologies, including when taking antibiotics to restore the intestinal microflora. The drug is available in the form of capsules that are resistant to the effects of stomach acid. The composition of the capsules includes acidophilic lactobacilli and strains of kefir fungus, which acts as a prebiotic. When settling in the intestines, beneficial bacteria eliminate the symptoms of dysbacteriosis, indigestion, intestinal infections and food allergies.

Khilak and Khilak-forte.

The drug is prescribed to restore microbiocenosis when antibiotics are prescribed for the treatment of intestines or other infectious diseases. The medicine is available in the form of drops and eliminates various disorders of the digestive tract (diarrhea, constipation, flatulence, nausea, and others). The probiotic can be pre-diluted with tea, orange juice, or water, but should not be combined with milk or dairy products.

Enterol.

As an active ingredient, it contains lyophilized cells that inhibit pathogenic microorganisms and eliminate the symptoms of diarrhea. The medicine can be taken even by the smallest patients from the moment of birth.

Probiotics are available in different dosage forms. It can be capsules, tablets, powders, drops or syrups. The doctor selects the optimal form of the drug for taking the drug individually, taking into account the condition and age of the patient. In addition, each popular drug has a lot of analogues. For example, instead of Linex, the doctor may prescribe:

Bifidumbacterin;
Lactobacterin;
Lactomun;
Biolact;
Biosporin;
Bificol;
Lactiale;
Normobact.

Acipol also has a number of analogues:

Latium;
Primadophilus;
Acidolact;
Narine;
Subalin forte;
Acylact;
Good luck.

The choice of such a seemingly harmless drug as a probiotic must be agreed with the doctor. Only a specialist will tell you the most optimal variant of the drug needed when taking this or that antibiotic.

Gut Inflammation and Probiotics

Antimicrobial drugs are also prescribed for various diseases of the digestive tract. Antibiotics are indispensable for intestinal inflammation caused by the growth of pathogenic microflora. The symptoms and treatment of the disease are similar to antibiotic-associated diarrhea.

Treatment of diverticulosis of the large intestine in adults also involves the appointment of broad-spectrum antibiotics. Often, with intestinal diverticulosis in the initial stages, the patient does not hurt anything, and diverticula (saccular protrusions in the wall of the colon) can be detected quite by accident. By itself, the diagnosis is not dangerous to the health of the patient. However, over time, the disease leads to the development of inflammatory processes characteristic of this pathology.

In both cases, complex therapy includes the appointment of probiotics to normalize and support the intestinal microflora. But what is the best drug to drink, the doctor should determine, since self-medication is fraught with adverse consequences.

Rules for taking probiotic preparations

The effectiveness of taking probiotics directly depends on the quality of the drug, compliance with the rules for its storage and administration. Therefore, each person should know what to do and how to take “live” medicines correctly so that the benefits from them are tangible.

The rules for taking probiotics are simple, they are easy to follow even for the most undisciplined patient:

You need to take exactly the drug prescribed by the doctor. Only a doctor is able to correctly assess the clinical picture and the patient's state of health and prescribe the "right" medicine, taking into account the characteristics of its effect on the body.
Take the probiotic exactly as directed. At the same time, it is important to follow the recommendations regarding the dosage and time of administration (before, after or during meals).
Do not drink probiotics with hot water. The maximum allowable temperature of the drink is 45°C - at a higher temperature, beneficial microorganisms will die.
Do not stop taking probiotics with the end of the course of antimicrobial therapy. Doctors recommend continuing to drink medication for some time after taking antibiotics. This is necessary in order to fully restore the functioning of the stomach and intestines. The period of time during which it is necessary to take "live" drugs is determined by the attending physician.
Give up alcohol and smoking. During treatment, one has to think about health, and not about the dubious pleasure of drinking alcohol and cigarettes.

Important! For any disease, you should not take antibiotics and probiotics at the same time of day. These drugs should be drunk with a minimum difference of 2 hours. Otherwise, strains of beneficial bacteria will die under the influence of antimicrobial drugs.

Diet correction

Restoration of microbiocenosis is impossible without changing the diet and following a special diet. Of course, it is better to discuss this issue with your doctor. The following are general recommendations:

Exclude spicy, fatty, fried and smoked foods from the daily menu.
Steam, bake in the oven or stew.
Avoid high carb foods.
Drink about 2 liters of pure water daily.
Eat foods containing carbohydrates in the morning.
Increase the amount of plant fiber and protein foods.
Eat more often and in small portions.
Balance the diet, taking into account the number of calories that is necessary for a particular individual.

You can improve the intestinal microflora with the help of certain products. It is especially useful when patients take fermented milk products:

yogurt on natural sourdough;
acidophilic kefir;
cottage cheese;
cheese;
buttermilk.

In addition to the listed products, fruits and dried fruits, legumes, cereal cereals, green tea and light broths are useful. But baking, sweets, kissels, black tea, sweet soda, fresh cabbage, mushrooms, meat and meat products are best excluded from your menu.

Treatment with folk remedies involves the inclusion in the diet of fresh fruit and vegetable juices, which have a good effect on microbiocenosis. Decoctions and infusions of medicinal herbs are also useful. Depending on the state of the stomach and intestines, they drink chicory, sage, oak bark, yarrow, flax seed, St. John's wort, chamomile, calendula, nettle.

Conclusion

It is not difficult to maintain the intestinal microflora when taking antibiotics. It is enough to start drinking probiotic preparations from the first day of antimicrobial therapy. At the same time, you need to balance the diet, monitor personal hygiene and give up bad habits. An active lifestyle, sports, daily walks in the fresh air and psychological balance are also useful.

Rule #1:

Any antibiotics should be taken only as directed by a doctor. The main rule is to use antibiotics only in cases where it is impossible to do without them. Indications for the use of antibiotics - the appearance of signs of an acute bacterial infection that the body cannot cope with on its own: - persistent and prolonged fever - purulent discharge - changes in the composition of the blood - an increase in leukocytes (leukocytosis), a shift in the leukocyte formula to the left (an increase in stab and segmented leukocytes), increased ESR After a period of improvement, the patient's condition worsened again. It is known that antibiotics are powerless against viruses. Therefore, with influenza, SARS, some acute intestinal infections, their use is meaningless and not safe.

Rule #2:

Record all information about taking antibiotics. When, what, what course, under what diseases. This is especially true when taking medications for children. When using antibiotics, it is important to pay attention to any side effects or allergies and write them down. The doctor will not be able to adequately select an antibiotic for you if he does not have information: what, in what doses you or your child took antibiotics before.

Rule #3:

Never ask your doctor for antibiotics. Your doctor may also prescribe antimicrobial agents for you without special indications, if you insist. The use of antibiotics significantly speeds up recovery, but this is not always justified. Moreover, do not ask the pharmacy for “something” stronger. Stronger does not mean more efficient. Sometimes a pharmacy may offer to replace one drug with a similar one, in this case it is better to agree on such a replacement with the doctor or check with the pharmacist the composition and active substance so as not to violate the dosage prescribed by the doctor.

Rule #4:

Take a culture test to select the "best" antibiotic. For some diseases, it is ideal when it is possible to take tests for bacterial culture with the determination of sensitivity to antibiotics. When there are laboratory data, the selection of an antibiotic is simplified and in this case the treatment is obtained with sniper accuracy. The disadvantage of this analysis is that it takes 2 to 7 days to wait for the result.

Rule #5:

Strictly observe the time and frequency of admission. Always maintain equal intervals between antibiotic doses. This is necessary to maintain a constant concentration of the drug in the blood. Many mistakenly perceive information about the multiplicity of reception! If it is recommended to take 3 times a day, this does not mean that the intake should be for breakfast, lunch and dinner. This means that the reception is carried out after 8 hours. If 2 times a day, then exactly after 12 hours.

Rule #6:

How many days to take antibiotics? Usually 5-7 days is enough. Sometimes the period of taking an antibiotic is 10-14 days. Powerful long-acting antibiotics such as Azithromycin (Sumamed, Azitrox, Zi-factor, Azitsid, Hemomycin, Ecomed) are taken once a day for 3 days or 5 days. In severe cases, the doctor may prescribe such a regimen for 3 days to drink, 3 days off - and so 3 doses. The duration of antibiotics is determined by the doctor.

Rule #7:

Continuity of treatment. If a course of antibiotics is started, in no case should you stop treatment as soon as you feel better. It is worth continuing treatment 2-3 days after improvement, recovery, as recommended by the doctor. You should also monitor the effect of the antibiotic. If no improvement is observed within two days, then the pathogen is resistant to this antibiotic and should be replaced!!!

Rule #8:

Never try to adjust the antibiotic dosage. The use of drugs in small doses is very dangerous, as it increases the likelihood of resistant bacteria. Increasing the dose is also not safe, as it leads to overdose and side effects.

Rule #9:

What to drink and when to drink an antibiotic? Carefully follow the instructions for the correct use of a particular drug, since different antibiotics have a different dependence on food intake: some should be taken with meals, others should be drunk one hour before meals or 1-2 hours after meals. It is recommended to drink any medicines only with water, clean, non-carbonated. It is not recommended to drink antibiotics with milk and fermented milk products, as well as tea, coffee and juices (but there are exceptions).

Rule #10:

Take probiotics. During treatment, it is worth taking drugs that restore the natural intestinal microflora (Linex, RioFlora-Immuno, Bifiform, Acipol, Narine, Gastrofarm, Primadophilus, Rela Life, Normoflorin, etc., the entire list of probiotic preparations). Since antibacterial agents destroy beneficial bacteria in the body, you should take probiotics and consume fermented milk products (separate from taking antibiotics). It is better to take these drugs in between taking antimicrobial agents.

Rule #11:

Follow a special diet while taking antibiotics. It is worth giving up fatty foods, fried, smoked meats and canned foods, excluding alcohol and sour fruits. Taking antibiotics depresses the liver, therefore, food should not overload the liver too much. Include more vegetables, sweet fruits, white bread in your diet.

Antibiotics are drugs that are used to treat or prevent infections. They prevent the growth of bacteria (single-celled organisms) or destroy them. Common bacterial infections include traveler's diarrhea (often caused by coli), staphylococcal infections (their causative agent is Staphylococcus aureus), acute pharyngitis (pathogens - a group of streptococcal bacteria). Topical antibiotics can be bought at pharmacies without a prescription, but antibiotics that are taken by mouth can only be dispensed by prescription. If you want to get rid of the infection and avoid possible side effects, follow your doctor's recommendations regarding the dosage and method of application.

Steps

Planning to take antibiotic tablets

Only take antibiotics prescribed by your doctor. The doctor selects the drug and dosage based on the patient's state of health, their weight and the type of microorganisms that caused the infection. This minimizes the risk of side effects. Do not take antibiotics that are not indicated for your illness and that you have not been prescribed.

Tell your doctor what other drugs or vitamins you are taking. Other medicines (both over-the-counter and prescription-only) and alcohol can interact with antibiotics. This also applies to nutritional supplements, herbal remedies, and even multivitamins. The effectiveness of an antibiotic may be reduced if the doctor does not have the opportunity to take into account all additional drugs.

Read the instructions for use that will be included in the package with the antibiotic. It contains important information about how the drug works, as well as side effects and possible interactions with other drugs. All antibiotics have instructions.

If you have any questions about what you read in the instructions, please contact your doctor. He will answer all your questions. It is better to ask clarifying questions if you are not sure about something.

Read the recipe. It will tell you what dosage (amount of active ingredient) you need to take and how often (how many times a day).

Schedule your antibiotics around meal times. The instructions for use will indicate how to take the tablets - before meals or after.

If you have difficulty taking the drug, tell your doctor. Don't stop taking it just because you can't swallow a large pill or you don't like the taste of it. An antibiotic is an important part of your treatment.
- The doctor may prescribe an antibiotic in a different form or replace it.
Don't skip medications. Take a tablet as soon as you remember you missed a dose. If there is little time left until the next appointment, wait. Then continue taking the antibiotic as usual.

Do not take more than you have been prescribed. This will increase the risk of side effects. If you accidentally take more than you need, contact your doctor as you may need medical attention.

Possible side effects

Tell your doctor if you develop new symptoms while taking an antibiotic. The most common side effects are: indigestion, vomiting, diarrhea, vaginal infections. Read the instructions for use to know what side effects are possible with this medication. Tell your doctor about the severity of your symptoms. Perhaps the doctor will decide to change the drug.

If you develop sensitivity to light, make an appointment with your doctor. If the antibiotic you are taking makes you sensitive to sunlight, spend less time outside or use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 to reduce the risk of sunburn. Some antibiotics, especially those from the citracycline group, can cause phototoxicity, i.e. intolerance to sunlight. See your doctor if you develop any of the following symptoms while taking an antibiotic:

Unusually severe sunburn
Itching or other discomfort on the skin
Blistering of the skin after a short exposure to the sun
Change in skin color
Skin flaking

See your doctor as soon as possible if you develop signs of an allergy. Pay attention to symptoms such as itching, rash, redness, or shortness of breath. Call 911 if you think you're having an anaphylactic reaction, the most serious allergic reaction, as it can be life-threatening. Symptoms of an anaphylactic reaction include:

If symptoms persist or get worse, contact your doctor. Sometimes antibiotics are not suitable for fighting certain types of microorganisms.

Antibiotic ointment

If the wound is small, clean it before applying the ointment. If you have a small cut, burn, or other injury to your skin, clean it before applying the ointment. Antibiotic ointment should be applied to clean, dry skin.

Apply an antibiotic cream or ointment to the wound. Antibiotic ointments do not speed up the healing of minor wounds, despite a common misconception. They help prevent infection by creating a barrier between the wound and the environment, making it harder for germs to enter the wound.

Apply antibiotic ointment to a small burn. First-degree burns can be treated with antibiotic ointments. The ointment will moisturize the burned skin and create a barrier, preventing the development of infections.