A 25-year-old member asked:
How long antibiotic should be taken?
1 doctor answer • 13 doctors weighed in

Dr. Ken Starnesanswered
--- 10 years experience
Listen to your Dr.: Antibiotics should always be taken for as long as your doctor tells you to. In most cases, you will take all that you received when you filled the prescription. If you stop early you risk developing resistant bacteria that can be very hard to treat.
Also, never take antibiotics or any other meds that were prescribed to someone else.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago


Dr. William Walsh commented
Addiction Medicine 18 years experience
The length varies by the type of infection (tissue infected and bacteria infecting it) and patient factors (immune compromised, age, etc). Working with your physician is essential on this issue.
Feb 7, 2012
Similar questions
NY
A female asked:
How long should antibiotics for staph be taken for?
2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in

Dr. Michael Einanswered
Infectious Disease 49 years experience
7-10 days: For an abscess of the face drainage is needed. For a soft tissue infection or cellulitis 7-10 days is usually enough. For a staph. Aureus bloodstream infection 4 weeks of IV antibiotics are usually required.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated May 27, 2018
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