“Amoxicillin doses”
Hello just quick question I been on amoxicillin 500 mg every 8 hrs for tooth infection I have 3 pills left. I know it’s recommended to finish the whole bottle but can I stop with just 3 pills remaining? Being that I’ve taken a 27 pills already and feeling better?
Thanks
Thanks
Male | 32 years old
9 Answers
Dentist
You should always finish the antibiotics because the last bacteria to be killed are the ones that are the strongest or most resistant. Therefore, you want to make sure that you killed the infection completely.
Sincerely,
Dr. Druckman
Sincerely,
Dr. Druckman
No finish the course always
I suggest you follow your doctor’s instructions. Follow through with whatever treatment has been recommended to eliminate the problem. I assume your were given the antibiotics to get rid of the acute infection, but if you do not get the treatment prescribed to eliminate the source of the infection, It will return.
It would be wise to finish the last three.
The problem with stopping an antibiotic early is that the bacteria causing the infection can build resistance so that the next time you need to take the antibiotic for a similar issue, it may not be as effective. I would recommend finishing the last 3.
Yes you can stop taking the amoxacillin.
The primary reason that dentists (and medical professionals) recommend an extended dosage of antibiotic medication is so that all the microorganisms circulating through your body are killed. Different antibiotic regimens will kill different groups of disease-causing microorganisms at different rates. The bacteria that cause tooth infections are primarily a type that the Penicillin Family (including Amoxicillin) do particularly well against. BUT: if you only take a partial dosage (say, 3 or 4 days' worth) then you've left the strongest bacteria still alive to reproduce and cause an even GREATER infection. These stronger "bugs" will then need an even GREATER strength of antibiotic.
So to directly answer your question - taking less than the recommended dosage may cause your infection to return worse than the original infection. That being said, there are extenuating circumstances whereby a healthcare provider may prescribe a different length of antibiotic treatment. For example, I routinely don't prescribe 500mg Amoxil to female patients because women frequently react adversely to that strength of that particular medicine (read: UTI problems). If a woman requires that specific medication at that specific dosage I frequently lower the dosage from 30 caps (10 days) to 24 caps (8 days). To close: if you want to change your dosing instructions talk to your doctor or health care provider to obtain permission.
So to directly answer your question - taking less than the recommended dosage may cause your infection to return worse than the original infection. That being said, there are extenuating circumstances whereby a healthcare provider may prescribe a different length of antibiotic treatment. For example, I routinely don't prescribe 500mg Amoxil to female patients because women frequently react adversely to that strength of that particular medicine (read: UTI problems). If a woman requires that specific medication at that specific dosage I frequently lower the dosage from 30 caps (10 days) to 24 caps (8 days). To close: if you want to change your dosing instructions talk to your doctor or health care provider to obtain permission.
Most doctors would tell you to take entire rx. But given you got 30 pills and have only 3 to go, I likely makes no difference. If you only got 15 and had 3 left I would tell you to take them.
You should always finish all you prescribed antibiotics even if you feel better.
