What Happens If You Forget an Antibiotic Dose

When taken correctly, antibiotics are very effective at killing bacteria or preventing their growth. However, if you miss a dose, they may not be as effective in clearing your infection.

Antibiotics must remain at a constant level in your bloodstream to effectively kill bacteria. If you miss a dose, the level may drop too low, making the medicine less effective.

You may notice that symptoms don’t go away as quickly or come back. This does not always happen after a missed dose, but repeated forgetting increases the risk.

If antibiotic levels drop too low, bacteria can survive and adapt. Regularly missing doses increases the risk of resistance, which can make future infections more difficult to treat.

Usually, if you remember after a few hours, take the missed dose immediately.
If it’s close to your next scheduled dose, skip the missed one – just do it. not double dose. (Always follow your doctor or pharmacist’s instructions.)

Doubling this amount may increase the risk of side effects, including:

• Rash
• Dizziness
• Gastrointestinal (GI) side effects, such as nausea and diarrhea
• Secondary infections, including yeast infections and C.diff infections
• Allergic reactions

Instructions may differ depending on the condition being treated, the specific antibiotic taken, how long a dose was missed, or how many doses were missed. For example:

• Missing a single dose: If you miss a single dose of your antibiotic, you can usually take the missed dose as soon as you remember.
• I forget a dose, but it’s almost time for the next one: In this scenario, you should skip the missed dose and take the next dose at the usual time.
• Missing multiple doses: If you have missed several doses of your antibiotic, do not take a double dose to make up for a missed dose. Talk with your healthcare professional. They can determine the best course of action to continue treatment.

Again, if you are not sure what to do after missing a dose, talk to your healthcare professional. They will take into account the severity of your infection and when the missed dose occurred to advise you on how to continue your treatment.

In some cases, such as those where you missed several doses or your infection symptoms return, your doctor may recommend switching to a different antibiotic.

It can be difficult to remember to take your medications, especially if they need to be taken several times a day. Here are some strategies that can help you avoid missing doses of your antibiotics:

• Set medication reminders or alarms on your phone or other device.
• Follow a routine where you take your medications at the same time every day.
• Use a pill dispenser to prepare each dose.
• Place your medicine in a visible place, such as near your toothbrush.
• Combine your medication with another daily activity, such as eating a meal or brushing your teeth.