To have never realised why people don't finish their antibiotics?

[WhoWants2Know]

Every time I hear antibiotics discussed, it's always with the warning that "You must keep taking them until they're finished, even if you start to feel better." Otherwise super germs, etc.

I always thought it was strange that they have to keep emphasising that point, and wondered why someone wouldn't just follow the doctor's instructions.

But then I never really needed antibiotics much... Until now. And they're actually bloody awful, aren't they?

Don't get me wrong, I'm happy about not being dead or in pain. But the cure involves feeling like I swallowed drain cleaner for a fortnight.

Err - can't say I have ever found that.

It is years since I went to the doctor for anything but I had a course of antibiotics prescribed for me by the dentist following a course of treatment in 2020 and I can't say as they were particularly unpleasant.

I am sure I have had some others over the course of the years (I am nearly 60) and drain cleaner never came to mind.

Have to say i have always followed the full course.

Metronidazole. Work of the devil

What AB are you taking? They're well tolerated by most patients.

I hate taking them. Always give me thrush.

Yes they are unpleasant (and quite often give you the shits in case you haven't had that pleasure yet).

People start feeling better and then think they don't need to finish the course... the bacteria then comes back with vigour.

They are horrid, make me feel really sick & grotty - hate taking them! Thankfully haven’t needed them for a few years & last time was 7 days for a UTI.

2 weeks is a long course. Hope you feel better soon.

They upset one's natural bio-flora so can have nasty side effects.

My husband has just started a 6 week course.....dreading the effects ....

I think the reason most people stop taking them is that they feel better so assume they no longer need them, not because they taste horrible.

crickey, anti bs, I have to take one called doxycycline (sp?) And it's is truly evil. I once made the mistake of taking one an empty stomach. I was so embarrassed when I rushed to the loo to throw up, and because I was abroad, with only a very rudimentary grasp of their language, I couldn't even explain to the staff why I had to make a run for it.

I had the misfortune to be prescribed Erythromycin some years ago. I was literally unable to keep it down so they switched me to a different antibiotic which I was able to complete a full course of.

Might be worth asking to switch rather than suffering needlessly

@Hadalifeonce

I think the reason most people stop taking them is that they feel better so assume they no longer need them, not because they taste horrible.

I doubt the OP was talking about taste. Some of them can induce rather spectacular vomiting and diarrhoea…

Thankfully I've only needed them once, admittedly they did clear my chest infection quickly, but bloody hell they made me feel like crap- so so so nauseous.

Probiotics. Really help with tolerating antibiotics.

Yup, maybe not quite drain cleaner, but yes every time I take them I feel fucking awful. Very sickly.

On a related note, when tablets say to take after food, they dont mean a slice of toast. They mean a proper meal.

I heard a dr once almost yelling at a frail old woman this fact.

Erythromycin made me absolutely ravenous, like I could literally eat a horse and my stomach would gurgle loudly but also nauseous at the thought of food at the same time.

Any I've been on and have always made me feel better.

My DC have had courses of antibiotics that have to be taken 4hrs after or 30 mins before food, 4 times a day, and not within the school day as the school can't administer them...

I think it would have been easier to capture a unicorn!

OP "But the cure involves feeling like I swallowed drain cleaner for a fortnight."

Is this for pneumonia perchance?

My now retired GP used to warn me if something was likely to be awful. With whatever I took for pneumonia, drain cleaner was my exact description.

Sorry OP. Wish you a speedy recovery.

I’m fine with most antibiotics, but macrobid is the stuff of the devil. It made me feel worse than the original illness.

The thrush! The nasty taste in your mouth! The diarrhoea !

People just think 'I feel better so the medicine worked so don't need anymore'

People tend not to really listen.

I've not had antibiotics since early 20s, I'm 40 now. I don't remember them having any taste or anything.

Ah the chest infection/nausea one I suspect is clarithromycin… nasty bastard that one. I’m allergic to penicillin and I get some really weird and wonderful ones. Not wonderful actually…

I've never had any issues with antibiotics - quite the reverse, and I've always been happy to take them. The reason people stop taking them is usually because they feel better so think they don't need them any more. However, if the bottle says "take with food" then it's a good idea to do so.

Currently on a course of Trimethoprim for a nasty UTI but not much better unfortunately:-(