Antibiotics:
No Appointment Necessary
Aired on Lifetime Television
Sunday, July 1 and August 19, 2007
Show 414
Dr. Lisa Thornton:
Antibiotics are powerful, effective medicines. But in order for them to work, they have to be taken correctly.
John Jenkins, RPh:
A lot of my patients ask if they need to take the full course of their antibiotic regimen, even though they're feeling better.
Dr. Lisa Thornton:
I get that question a lot too. Just because you're feeling better, doesn't necessarily mean the antibiotics are no longer needed. You have to keep taking them to make sure they have effectively killed the bacteria that caused the infection.
John Jenkins, RPh:
Exactly. You might start feeling better as the bacteria are eliminated, but if you stop the medication early, some bacteria may survive and could come back even stronger.
Dr. Lisa Thornton:
That's right. The bacteria that survive could then become resistant to the antibiotic, worsen the infection you already have, and make it harder to treat.
John Jenkins, RPh:
Right. By taking the full course of the antibiotic prescribed by your physician, the medication will work to kill off all the bacteria present.