AKICOLJ

[gayalondiel_bak]

On antibiotics how critical is it to take them every six hours, as opposed to roughly four times a day? (Nitrofurantoin 50mg)

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Comments

[wellinghall.livejournal.com]

AFAIK it's not essential, but the more regularly you take them, the better. (I think they have a fairly short half-life, so a few hours after taking them, their level in your body is decreasing, which allows the bugs to start getting on top of them. Taking them every six hours allows them to stay topped up, and on top of the bugs. Um, as you have probably guessed, I Am Not A Doctor).

[gayalondiel.livejournal.com]

Thanks Hon!

[emperor]

The patient information leaflet should probably have something to say on the matter.

[gayalondiel.livejournal.com]

Well, thank you Mr smartarse. :p the leaflet says regular intervals, I was hoping for a suitably authoritative pinch of salt to take that advice with.

Navyboy is going to be UK based for a while. You guys should come for dinner!

[emperor]

If it says "four times a day at regular intervals" rather than "every six hours", I think you have a bit of latitude (for example one just before bed, and one when rising.

We should, yes, before we move somewhere further away!

[gayalondiel.livejournal.com]

Indeed, I feared you'd vanish before I got him back. Lob me some dates by email? Mostly he's restricted to weekends but he might be able to get home from work in a pinch during the week.

[martinius.livejournal.com]

Take them with food, and drink sour things, since both those things makes the antibiotics stay longer in the body (the sour stuff by making the urine more sour and thus increasing absorption, making the drugs act twice). As far as I can tell from the Swedish guidelines taking them every six hours isn't essential at all, but taking one dose just before going to bed and one as soon as you get up seems like a good plan. If you're not a late night eater it's time to become one :p

(also, get better!)

[gayalondiel.livejournal.com]

Ah. I'm likely to struggle with the eating bit there. Thank you dear!

[antesqueluz.livejournal.com]

4 times a day is fine - roughly meal times and before bed. No need to wake up in the night to take it, for instance. Stay hydrated! :-) (and I am a doctor ;-)

[girlingoldboots.livejournal.com]

From my experience it's not OMG life or death so you have some leeway in either direction. Take them regularly at rougly the same time (if you can't do exact) and you should be good.

[irisbleufic.livejournal.com]

Depends on what you're taking them for, I think?