Patient Education / For nurses / Patient handout
Patient handout · Drug Classes & MechanismsTaking Antibiotics: Your Daily Guide
Antibiotics kill bacteria, the germs that cause some infections. Taking them the right way helps you get well and keeps antibiotics working in the future.
Take every dose
- Take each dose at the same times every day, spaced evenly.
- Take all of it, even when you feel better, unless your provider tells you to stop.
- Missed a dose? Ask your pharmacist. Never take 2 doses at once.
Follow the label
- Take it with or without food, as the label says.
- Some antibiotics, such as doxycycline and ciprofloxacin, do not mix with milk, antacids (Tums, Maalox), iron, or calcium. Take them 2 hours before or 6 hours after these.
- Some antibiotics make birth control pills work less well. Ask your pharmacist if you need a backup method, such as condoms.
Use antibiotics only when needed
- Antibiotics do not treat colds or flu.
- Never save, share, or take leftover antibiotics.
Know common side effects
- Upset stomach or loose stools
- Vaginal itching or thick white discharge (yeast infection)
- Sunburn more easily with some antibiotics. Use sunscreen.
Watch for C. diff
- C. diff is a serious bowel infection that sometimes follows antibiotics, even weeks later.
- Do not take diarrhea medicine, such as loperamide (Imodium), unless your provider says so.
Call your provider today if you have
- 3 or more watery stools in a day, belly cramps, or fever
- A new rash or itching: call before your next dose
- Tendon or heel pain
- No improvement in 2 to 3 days, or you feel worse
Call 911 or your local emergency number if you have
- Hives with trouble breathing
- Swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat
- A rash with blisters, peeling skin, or mouth sores, with fever
- Fainting
This handout supports, not replaces, advice from your own nurse or doctor.
For nurses and nursing students: the teaching guide behind this handout →