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Original poster

What does "take 4 tablets twice a day" mean?

28 replies

BeBopALuIa · 04/08/2023 16:13

I'm on 250mg antibiotics (phenoxymethylpenicillin). I'm reading it as take 8 tablets a day but surely that can't be right?

OP posts:
SquigglyOne · 04/08/2023 16:14

Sounds right to me

Original poster
BeBopALuIa · 04/08/2023 16:14

So take 4 now and 4 later? I've only just picked them up

OP posts:
Hedjwitch · 04/08/2023 16:15

It means take 4 tablets at two points in the day. So yes,8 tablets.

calmcoco · 04/08/2023 16:16

I would read it as 4 in the morning and 4 in the evening.

Double check with the pharmacist if not sure!!

Astromelia · 04/08/2023 16:16

4 tablets with breakfast and 4 tablets in the evening. Or any times, but ideally spaced 12 hours apart.

Original poster
BeBopALuIa · 04/08/2023 16:17

Thanks all! Thought 8 tablets a day sounded a bit strange but I guess it's just a low dose.

OP posts:
Bookchildtable · 04/08/2023 16:18

Can you confirm with the pharmacy? Adult dose is usually 2 tablets at a time (so 4 doses, 2 tablets each time). It could potentially be a twice a day medication but they've had to give a different amount eg a 100 tablet rather than 200 and therefore need more.

Ilikewinter · 04/08/2023 16:23

Honestly I would question that with the pharmacy...or they should have included a patient information leaflet in the box. The usual dose for penicillin is 2 tablets 4 times a day. Disclaimer....I used to work in a pharmacy but havent a while now...but I never dispensed 4 tablets to be taken at a time!!

calmcoco · 04/08/2023 16:25

How many days are you supposed to take it for, and how many tablets have you got in total?

TruthThatsHardAsSteel · 04/08/2023 16:28

Bookchildtable · 04/08/2023 16:18

Can you confirm with the pharmacy? Adult dose is usually 2 tablets at a time (so 4 doses, 2 tablets each time). It could potentially be a twice a day medication but they've had to give a different amount eg a 100 tablet rather than 200 and therefore need more.

Same here. Usually 2x4 times a day. I'd definitely ring the pharmacy to check. 4 tablets at a time just doesn't feel right at all

Dinopawus · 04/08/2023 16:29

Actually, I might just check with your prescriber or pharmacist. It would be more normal to take them every 6 hours, so 4 times a day.
I'm sure you have read it correctly OP, but is is supposed to be 2 tablets 4 times a day?

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/10628/smpc#gref

Phenoxymethylpenicillin 250mg Film-coated Tablets - Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) - (emc)

Phenoxymethylpenicillin 250mg Film-coated Tablets - Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) by Brown & Burk UK Ltd

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/10628/smpc#gref

Original poster
BeBopALuIa · 04/08/2023 16:30

I've got 80 tablets and meant to be taking them for 10 days so makes sense mathematically I guess

OP posts:
Grinchymother · 04/08/2023 16:38

Call the pharmacy. Sounds like someone has had a brain fart and meant two tablets four times a day.

tt9 · 04/08/2023 17:04

it depends on what is being treated. maximum adult dose is 1 gram every 12 hours which is what you are on.

number of tablets is a red herring as they are 250mg tablets. probably they ran out of the 500 mg tablets.

I personally prefer prescribing 500mg 4 times a day to improve blood concentration of antibiotic. but they might have had their reasons. did you check the original prescription? not the label from the pharmacist - but original slip from the docs?

either way, worth confirming with pharmacist. but when asking, I would focus on the dose rather than no of tablets.

shivawn · 04/08/2023 17:08

Twice a day spaced as evenly as possible so maybe 8am and 8pm or 10am and 10pm, whatever works with your schedule. Taking 4 tablets at a time isn't ideal but probably they just don't have the higher dose tablets in stock.

MumblesParty · 04/08/2023 17:35

I’m a GP.
the usual dose for phenoxymethylpenicillin is 500mg 4 times daily. The tablets come in 250mg strength, so the dose is 2 tablets 4 times a day. A total of 8 tablets.

Daisymay2 · 04/08/2023 17:36

There aren't any 500mg phenoxymethypenicllin tablets. Don't think there ever have been in the UK.
Its a long, long time since I did my MSc in Biopharmacy which included a lot of pharmacokinetics, however the basics haven't changed much. 4 tablets (1g) twice a day does not give consistant blood levels, and for a fair amount of the day patients will have sub therapeutic blood levels as its rapidly metabolised which won't help with the infection and possibly lead to increased drug reistance. 2 four times daily , as near to every six hours as possible without getting up in the middle of the night gives the best theraputic effect.
I would be doing something like 6am, 12noon ( or an hour before lunch) 6pm and 11pm if I needed to take it.
Oh and ignore the person who told you to take it with meals. Phenoxymethylpenicillin needs to be taken on an empty stomach- ie 30-60minutes before meals.

pilates · 04/08/2023 17:38

Isn’t it normal to take two tablets a time and not exceed 8 in 24 hours

calmcoco · 04/08/2023 17:42

MumblesParty · 04/08/2023 17:35

I’m a GP.
the usual dose for phenoxymethylpenicillin is 500mg 4 times daily. The tablets come in 250mg strength, so the dose is 2 tablets 4 times a day. A total of 8 tablets.

This would be 'two tablets, four times a day' so they've just inverted it?

RafaistheKingofClay · 04/08/2023 17:44

pilates · 04/08/2023 17:38

Isn’t it normal to take two tablets a time and not exceed 8 in 24 hours

That is more normal, but 1g twice a day is listed as a possible dosage for acute sore throat.

AgnesX · 04/08/2023 17:45

Is it for a root abscess? Then that's right. Two every 6 hours.

RagzRebooted · 04/08/2023 17:45

As PPs, I'd have said it's 2 tablets 4 times a day as that's usual for those (and most penicillin). Personally I'd assume they cocked up and do that, but you should probably clarify!

sueelleker · 04/08/2023 17:49

pilates · 04/08/2023 17:38

Isn’t it normal to take two tablets a time and not exceed 8 in 24 hours

The "no more than 8 in 24 hours" is usually for paracetamol; where the maximum safe dose is 4g in 24 hours.

Merapi · 04/08/2023 17:56

BeBopALuIa · 04/08/2023 16:30

I've got 80 tablets and meant to be taking them for 10 days so makes sense mathematically I guess

I think you just answered your own question there!

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