How long do antibiotics take to work?

Answer 1

When you are taking antibiotics, it does take several days for the medicine to kill enough of the bacteria inside your body so that you actually feel the difference. I always tell my patients that if you don't notice a real improvement on Day 4, it's time to call the doctor back. Usually, by the fourth day, enough of the bacteria are dead for you to feel almost back to yourself. If you still feel lousy, the doctor probably needs to switch antibiotics to try and find another one which will kill them off.

Answer 2

Typically you are no longer contagious between 24 and 36 hours after beginning your antibiotic. This can certainly be skewed if you ingest it incorrectly or with an excess of alcohol or other diuretic substances. Antibiotics should always be ingested along with yogurt containing acidophyllous to initiate the replacement of "good bacteria" that are inadvertentlly being flushed from your system along with your infection.

Answer 3

Generally, a person begins to feel better between 5 to 7 days after beginning an antibiotic. However, an antibiotic is prescribed for 10 FULL DAYS and the person should continue taking the medication until ALL of the prescribed amount is used (unless your doctor directs you to stop that medicine).

The reason you should take the full prescription is that "feeling better" does NOT mean all of the bacteria have been killed off. If you stop the antibiotic early, the bacteria can easily recolonize. But the bacteria now have an advantage and CAN mutate to more effectively fight off that antibiotic's effects. If that happens, a stronger antibiotic is then needed. Over the years, a person can actually "teach" bacteria to mutate by giving less than effective doses/durations of antibiotic therapy, so people end up with "super bugs" that usual antibiotics cannot fight.

Answer 4

Antibiotics start working right away. It's going to take time before you start to feel better. Give it 3 days to a week. If no improvement, return to your doctor.

Answer 5

All depends on the antibiotic, but if it is an antibiotic for a bacterial infection generally it takes 24-48 hrs.

Answer 6

You will begin to feel better in a matter of a couple of days on a course of antibiotics. It is important to take all of the antibiotics to cure infection.

Answer 7

Depends what the illness is but they get into the system faster

Answer 8

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