How To Take Antibiotics?

The doctor will adjust the prescribed active ingredient, the application, the dosage and the duration of intake to the present infection. Inform your doctor about any concomitant diseases, other medicines you are taking, and any allergies you may have, as these must be taken into account when choosing the antibiotic. Women must also be sure to tell their doctor if they are pregnant or breastfeeding before treatment.

Take the antibiotic in the prescribed dosage and at the prescribed intervals to ensure a sufficiently high and consistent level of active ingredient in the body. Also note whether the medication is to be administered before, with or after meals. It is best to drink tap water (approx. 250 ml). Milk or even mineral water can influence the effect of some over the counter antibiotics.

It is essential to take the antibiotic for as long as it has been prescribed for you. Depending on the disease, this may be necessary for several days, sometimes even for several weeks, in order to eliminate all pathogens. This is the only way to prevent the infection from flaring up again and to counteract the risk of the pathogen developing resistance.

Also, never use an antibiotic that has been prescribed for another person. Also, do not give your medicine to anyone - even if you think it is the same disease because of the similar signs of illness.

Antibiotics Interaction With Other Medications

Taking antibiotics like Azithromycin at the same time as other medicines can lead to undesirable interactions. Effects of the individual drugs can be enhanced, weakened or even completely cancelled out.

For example, taking some antibiotics may mean that the reliability of the contraceptive pill is no longer guaranteed. Gastrointestinal problems during antibiotic therapy may also limit the safety of the contraceptive or the effectiveness of other medicines.

Some antibiotics can increase the effect of blood-thinning medicines. Some medicines for too much stomach acid or for increased blood lipids may bind to other medicines and therefore decrease the effect of antibiotics.

Therefore, be sure to inform your doctor about the intake of all prescribed medications and medications purchased without a prescription, as well as dietary supplements or dietary foods. It is advisable to have a list of the preparations you regularly take with you when you visit your doctor and at the pharmacy.

You should be very cautious about consuming alcohol during antibiotic therapy. When taking antibiotics under the influence of alcohol, for example, you may experience headaches, cardiac arrhythmias as well as nausea, vomiting and a drop in blood pressure (antabuse effect). Certain antibiotics can form compounds with the calcium from dairy products (milk, quark, yogurt, cheese, etc.) that the body can no longer adequately utilize. This reduces the effectiveness of the drug. If it is nevertheless impossible to avoid dairy products during antibiotic therapy, there should be at least two hours between taking the drug and eating these foods.

Dietary supplements containing magnesium, calcium or iron can also impair the effect of certain antibiotics by causing the minerals to bind tightly to the antibiotic. Again, refrain from taking such supplements during antibiotic therapy, or at least allow a two-hour interval.

It should also be noted that some antibiotics can increase the effect of caffeine when consumed with coffee, cola and tea, and can promote palpitations, agitation, restlessness and insomnia.

Therefore, always read the package insert and ask your doctor or pharmacist which foods and stimulants you should avoid during therapy.