How long do antibiotics take to work?

[Habbibu]

I have a chest infection. Feel quite crap. Started amoxycillin yesterday and have one more dose due today. Never usually need ABs so I don't know how long it'll be before I start to feel an effect. Anyone help?

I usually find they start to kick in after about 3 days. Are you on them for a week? Make sure you finish the whole course.

Will do - never knew why before, but did an OU course which had this great model showing how resistant bacteria came back with a vengeance. Thanks, anyway. Hope tomorrow brings improvement - DH has to be out in the afternoon, so I will have to be up.

Hope you feel better soon :)

Thank you - me too!

About 2 days I think. I had a CI recently and the GP told me to make sure I also kept myself dosed up with painkillers so take them regularly, will keep your temp. down and make you feel less grotty so you can get through the day. Hope you feel better soon.

Thanks, yes will take painkillers still. Well, am on day 3, and think temp spikes have stopped, so I guess that's a sign that things are moving in the right direction.

I'm on amoxycillin too. This is the morning of day 3. I can finally fee that they are beginning to work. (Thank goodness, I was worried about resistance!)

Hmm - what are your signs of improvement?

Habbibu - you say you have one more dose due today, and you only started your course yesterday. How long is it?

Usually it takes between 2-3 days for the abs to kick in and to start feeling better. The course should be for minimum a week.

Started thread yesterday, QS, so am on morning of day 3 - have taken 1 pill today so far, 2 more to go. Yes, 7 day course.

Dear lord, I'm making a meal out of this. Tell me to bugger off and be stoic about my really quite minor infection.

You will survive.

It is possible that the AB's you have won't work for your specific infection, - so when you've finished do go back for another kind if you're not feeling better.

Chest infections are horrid so you're entitled to a moan

Think they might be working - no temp spikes today, so feel a lot less ill, though still wheezy and very sympathetic to those with chronic lung conditions.

How are you feeling today Habbibu?

Depends I think on what it is - tooth abcess, tonsilitis I've found have been 3 days. Abcess - well never did and sinus infection have been after 1st day.

Chest infections can be stubborn little buggers si I would finish the course then go back for a check up even if you feel fine - may need another dose to completely clear it.

Do hope you feel better soon.

Much better, many thanks - v kind of you to check up, izzy. 3 days seems to have been right - went for a walk today, and feel no sense of exertion, whereas last week even walking round the house left me drained.

Will bear that in mind, mumbar - mum has a bad chest, so I may well go back, esp if cough hasn't cleared, just to nake sure chest is clear.