Do I REALLY have to finish the course of antibiotics?

[LaurieFairyonthetreeeatscake]

I have 4 more days left, my infection has cleared up (maybe my immune system has kicked in too) - I haven't had antib's for at least 5 years.

They have given me thrush (which the doc told me they would) so I have fluconazole and anti-itch cream on standby for when I stop taking them.

I'm going away for my bonkathon wedding anniversary on Saturday and I really want th thrush to be cleared by then

Tell me what the consequences are of not finishing them......

I would finish them.

I had/have problems from not doing so imho.

The consequence is that you won't be resistant to that particular infection and so might get it again. Your call .

Yes, you do, I'm afraid. Not just for yourself but for the population in general. Bacteria mutate and grow resistant to ABx precisely because so many people don't finish their course of ABx. Your bacteria grow a resistance and you pass those bacteria to someone else, who then can't be treated with those ABx because of the mutation.

Dammit, don't throw the 'population' stuff at me

It's a localised infection (a tiny wound) so I know it won't come back as its healed now.

at having to think of others instead of shag.

So what are the chances of my thrush going before Saturday (if I finish the course Thursday afternoon)?

Yes otherwise you will have partially killed the bacteria and it will come back resistant to the tablets and more difficult to treat.It isn't your immune system thats kicked in its the pills!They only take a couple of days to start working.eat probiotics with them and have a tea tree bath.I am in the same situation atm nightmare!

yes absolutely -- otherwise infection could come back. ALWAYS finish a course of antibiotics.

Who knows? Eat loads of probiotic or prebiotic or whatever it is yoghurt and don't have any sugar and you may be ok...

YYY, please finish the course of ABs. You knew that before you posted, really, didn't you?

Wot Flamingo said, basically.

yes you do. The antibiotics are only efficient if the full course is taken and even though you have got thrush, that will soon clear up with treatment whereas not finishing the antiB's could well lead to you needing more of them before long - and more thrush!

Yes finish the course. And take some condoms