Many times, when visiting urgent care, you may be prescribed an antibiotic. While this may be very effective in your treatment, taking antibiotics incorrectly could render them useless. With this in mind, let’s review some helpful tips to get the most out of your prescription.
- Complete the full course of treatment – This is probably the biggest mistake made when taking antibiotics. You start feeling better and discontinue use. The length of time that you are on the medication is based on research and best practices for knocking out not only your symptoms, but the underlying problem.
- Listen to your Doctor – Hand in hand with the above, it is important to listen to what your provider has to say about the medication. They are familiar with the risks and side effects and if you have any questions don’t hesitate to ask them.
- Read the Label – Each medication has specific instructions. The pill bottle will have directions for how to take the medication, when to take the medication and activities to avoid while on the antibiotic.
With the correct precautions, taking antibiotics can help you recover quicker and remain healthy throughout the year. As always, when you have questions regarding an antibiotic, ask your health care professional. At Emergency One, we don’t believe that antibiotics are the answer to everything, but when they are prescribed it’s important to follow the guidelines above.
