Can you stop antibiotics after 3 tablets?

[Pearmain]

If you think it turns out you’ve been misdiagnosed?

(Prescribed 500mg amoxicillin tablets after 2 days of 40 degrees temp. I’m starting to feel better and I really think it was just flu, I think the Dr wanted me to have them because I mentioned symptoms included a sore throat)

If you stop halfway through a course you encourage drug resistant bacteria. Best to finish it.

If the ABs were needed one often does feel better after 3/4 doses.

If you’re feeling better it’s likely that the antibiotics are working and were / are needed!

Oh no! Of course you must finish the course. If you don't you will contribute to AB resistance, which means AB won't be effective for anyone including yourself and your family in a few years.

I always stop early, but I've only had them about 4 times in my life. They make me quite sick so I take less and spread it out.
More recent research is on the fence about sticking when them even when better.

You can, but surely you can make the link between taking medication and starting to feel better?

Well if you stop them and you have got a bacterial infection, then you're likely to nose dive again, feel like shite, and need another dose of antibiotics, which then risk not being as effective.
You need to finish the course the risks as not finishing far out way the benefits of stoping early.

Thanks all. I guess I worry about how bad penicillin actually is for you if you don’t need it (destroying gut flora etc)

I've had at least 75 antibiotic courses in my life, definitely finish them
Take some probiotics too if you're concerned

Thanks @Pelo2022 - that’s reassuring. Are there any particular probiotics that you’d you recommend? Forgive my ignorance, can the bacteria in the probiotics survive the penicillin?

www.optibacprobiotics.com/uk/product/for-those-on-antibiotics-10-capsules

Second the optibac ones

@Risslan thank you! Ordering some now!