Antibiotics for tonsillitis

[sweetpeagarden]

I have been having a very sore throat for about a week now. Couldn’t see a doctor over the weekend so was referred to local pharmacist. They saw I had white spots on tonsils and back of throat and could see inflammation.
I was prescribed 5 day course penicillin to take two tablets a day, four times daily and finish tomorrow night.
The pain has lessened slightly and generally my tonsils look less inflamed, but I still have white spots (I’m assuming the bacteria from tonsillitis) still on the back my tonsil one side, as well as near my uvula.
I’m a teacher, tricky to get on phone to the GPs if I need an appointment and to get one after school tomorrow…would you just leave it and finish the last antibiotics tomorrow? Or do I need to ask for a longer dose until the white goes and my throat is back to normal? Or would you go to the pharmacist again?

thanks!

The Pharmacist won’t give you any more so you will need to try and see your GP for a longer dose. I think 7 days is the norm for tonsillitis. At my GP I fill in a form and it asks you what you want to happen, say you’ve been given a 5 days is course and need a longer course, they may give a prescription without seeing you, but include photos if you can.

You often need ten days for tonsillitis

I’ve only ever been prescribed 10 days of phenoxymethylpenicillin for tonsillitis. You don’t want it half treated

I'd try gargling with salt water as much as possible tonight. Then take a view tomorrow.

I've had tonsillitis several times as have my kids and it's always been 10 days antibiotics. It's so long!

It doesn’t hurt as much to swallow now but I’ve just looked down my throat and it’s white white on one side. Still got a full day of tablets left, so I don’t know whether to ring GPs today to get it checked out or whether I’m causing a fuss and it will go.
I just don’t want it to come back worse!

The thing you have to watch for is the white spots turning to rods of bacteria. Sometimes you can get it to abate with salt water gargles. At other times, you need antibiotics. How are you today?