Taking your prescribed dose regularly keeps the concentration of medication in the bloodstream at constant levels.
Missing doses can make antibiotics less effective and prolong the course of treatment.
Stopping your treatment regimen early may prevent the infection from going away completely.
Getty Images /Dacharlie
Some bacteria may also survive and develop resistance to the antibiotic.
Antibiotic resistance happens when bacteria adapt to withstand one or more antibiotics due to DNA recombination.
Those antibiotic-resistant bacteria will be harder to treat in the future and may cause long-lasting infections.
It may require extended hospital stays, follow-up doctor visits, and costly alternative treatments.
However, do not take more than one dose at a time to make up for the missed dose.
Never take a double dose.
Doubling up on the dose or taking more than prescribed can result in increased side effects.
When prescribed, it is essential to take them regularly and as long as prescribed.
Missing doses can lower the effectiveness of the treatment and even lead to antibiotic resistance.
If you miss an antibiotic dose, take it as soon as you remember.
But if it’s nearly time for the next dose, skip the missed dose.
Take the following doses at regular intervals.
Do not double up on a dose to make up for the missed dose.
This can increase the risk of side effects.
Talk with your healthcare provider if you miss several doses.
MedlinePlus.Antibiotic resistance
Grill MF, Maganti RK.Neurotoxic effects associated with antibiotic use: management considerations.Br J Clin Pharmacol.
2018;66(6):1732-1740. doi:10.4103/0028-3886.246258
