Stopping antibiotic early

[olivesyou]

LittleOlive had a back to back ear infection, and when that happens the doctor usually changes up the antibiotic he prescribes.  The first was the normal pink ammoxicilan (sorry on spelling),  the 2nd was something else, its white and he takes less of it (4ml vs. 5ml)  The white stuff is so hard on his digestion.  He has been having very loose BMs multiple times a day, which leads to bad diaper rash, which leads to miserable everyone.  

Has anyone ever just stopped the antibiotic earlier then the 10 days suggested?  We just did.  He was prescribed twice a day for 10 days.  We gave him 1 dose on the 8th day, 1 dose on the 9th day, and nothing today.  He already seems to be improving his diaper output.  I just hope his ear infection doesn't come back now and make me regret this decision. Does anyone have any experiences they want to share?  Good or (hopefully not) bad?

[jeaniebueller]

I rarely have my kids finish the entire course of antibiotics (typically as luck has it, we forget the last day or two), so I would say you are fine.

[eponinepontmercy]

www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/consumer-health/in-depth/antibiotics/art-20045720?pg=2

Nope. This is how superbugs develop. Finish the meds.

[nomad]

Mar 16, 2015 12:19:34 GMT -5 eponinepontmercy said:

www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/consumer-health/in-depth/antibiotics/art-20045720?pg=2

Nope. This is how superbugs develop. Finish the meds.

Ditto this. I'd talk to the dr about the diapers and unless he says to stop KOKO, you need to complete the antibiotic. 

[kdubs923]

Always use all of the antibiotics unless otherwise directed by the pedi. Just because he seems better doesn't mean he's 100% better.

DS has been on all of the EI antibiotics, multiple times. We use a probiotic to help balance out the stomach issues.

[Deleted]

I would talk to the doctor about that issue before stopping them in the future.

[holly116]

Mar 16, 2015 12:24:23 GMT -5 kdubs923 said:

Always use all of the antibiotics unless otherwise directed by the pedi. Just because he seems better doesn't mean he's 100% better.

DS has been on all of the EI antibiotics, multiple times. We use a probiotic to help balance out the stomach issues.

This exactly. Add a probiotic.

[lulu21]

Add a probiotic. We use floristor? kids. I'd rather deal with soothing a bum than repeat ear infections.

[lg28]

Mar 16, 2015 12:17:46 GMT -5 jeaniebueller said:

I rarely have my kids finish the entire course of antibiotics (typically as luck has it, we forget the last day or two), so I would say you are fine.

This is a terrible thing to do.

1) superbugs
2) the drugs you do this with may not be effective at all the next time you use them.

[djc315]

We have the same issue with abx messing with his stomach. We do a probiotic (Culturelle) and it takes care of the issue.

[motzie]

Ditto always, always give/take the full course of meds.

[jeaniebueller]

Mar 16, 2015 13:02:05 GMT -5 lg28 said:

Mar 16, 2015 12:17:46 GMT -5 jeaniebueller said:

I rarely have my kids finish the entire course of antibiotics (typically as luck has it, we forget the last day or two), so I would say you are fine.

This is a terrible thing to do.

1) superbugs
2) the drugs you do this with may not be effective at all the next time you use them.

I am aware of this, but sometimes it happens, especially on a ten day course.

[Ashley&Scott]

Mar 16, 2015 12:19:34 GMT -5 eponinepontmercy said:

www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/consumer-health/in-depth/antibiotics/art-20045720?pg=2

Nope. This is how superbugs develop. Finish the meds.

I agree 100%.

[mandapanda18]

Mar 16, 2015 12:19:34 GMT -5 eponinepontmercy said:

www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/consumer-health/in-depth/antibiotics/art-20045720?pg=2

Nope. This is how superbugs develop. Finish the meds.

this

[mandapanda18]

oh... and give him some probiotics to try and help his gut!

[undecidedowl]

Please do not stop antibiotics without speaking with the doctor. The duration (in your case 10 days) is not a suggestion, it is a prescription. Misuse of antibiotics leads to antibiotic resistant bugs which is much, much worse.

You have my total sympathy with the GI issues though. We had that issue many times with DS1's ear infections. We used probiotics and a great diaper cream. Definitely talk to the doctor as some antibiotics are easier on the GI system than others.

[olivesyou]

Thanks for the replies. Holy Shit, I screwed up. Today is day 10, so I will give him one more dose when I get home from work. So really, he did all 10 days, just the last 3 would be 1 dose instead of 2. That's a little better, right?

I will definitely make note of this particular antibiotic and how it caused issues and asked to not be prescribed it again. The pink stuff is usually fine, its this white stuff that does a number on him.

And yes, I agree about the probiotics, we also use them. This time around I didn't think to use them until like 5 days in, when he already was starting with the digestion issues. I'll be more on top of it next time.

[Deleted]

The reason the "pink stuff" didn't work is because the infection is already resistant to it. I think you've already got the message, but seriously, this isn't something to be screwed with.

My grandma had stories of pre-antibiotic deaths that scared the bejesus out of me. Mosquito bite someone scratched. A baby bit his grandma. Then people died. Scary shit.

[sjh722]

Mar 16, 2015 14:02:45 GMT -5 @tokenhoser said:

The reason the "pink stuff" didn't work is because the infection is already resistant to it. I think you've already got the message, but seriously, this isn't something to be screwed with.

My grandma had stories of pre-antibiotic deaths that scared the bejesus out of me. Mosquito bite someone scratched. A baby bit his grandma. Then people died. Scary shit.

Seriously. This belongs in the flameful thread, FFS. On a board that is so rabidly pro-vaccine (which I get, I too, love vaccines!), superbugs and not finishing antibiotics are a very, very similar and real concern.

For the PP who said it's so hard to remember...I literally make a chart and stick it on the fridge. We might miss one dose, but then I at least know to make it up the same day, or tack a dose on to the end of the course. 

[lulu21]

Mar 16, 2015 14:15:06 GMT -5 sjh722 said:

Mar 16, 2015 14:02:45 GMT -5 @tokenhoser said:

The reason the "pink stuff" didn't work is because the infection is already resistant to it. I think you've already got the message, but seriously, this isn't something to be screwed with.

My grandma had stories of pre-antibiotic deaths that scared the bejesus out of me. Mosquito bite someone scratched. A baby bit his grandma. Then people died. Scary shit.

Seriously. This belongs in the flameful thread, FFS. On a board that is so rabidly pro-vaccine (which I get, I too, love vaccines!), superbugs and not finishing antibiotics are a very, very similar and real concern.

For the PP who said it's so hard to remember...I literally make a chart and stick it on the fridge. We might miss one dose, but then I at least know to make it up the same day, or tack a dose on to the end of the course. 

Yes! This! I number my calendar. Like right now I know that J's last does is Sunday 3/22. It's not that hard.

[catbus]

Ditto others: it's very important to finish the course. The literature I get from the doctor and at the pharmacy always reiterates this very clearly, and they say if there's any concern regarding a reaction to the meds, to call and talk to your doctor. I was just put on amoxicillin last Friday for my combo ear/sinus infection. This post was a good reminder to me to take my mid-day capsule!

[lilac05]

olivesyou, kudos for owning up to your mistake. We all make them. It's OK. Now you know better and will do better the next time. Call the pedi office and ask if you should skip the last 3 doses or if you should continue giving the antibiotic until you've given 20 doses.

[anna7602]

I always start DD on a probiotic the same day she starts an antibiotic and have her keep taking the probiotic for a few weeks after to deal with any lingering GI issues. Floristor is the brand we use, a powder that dissolves in liquid. She says it tastes better than the chewable probiotic pills.

[spwspw]

Mar 16, 2015 16:43:12 GMT -5 lilac05 said:

olivesyou, kudos for owning up to your mistake. We all make them. It's OK. Now you know better and will do better the next time. Call the pedi office and ask if you should skip the last 3 doses or if you should continue giving the antibiotic until you've given 20 doses.

This.  I'm thinking that they will have you finish the 20 doses.  

Is your LO on Cefdinir now?  It does seem a little harsher on the stomach.

[smm5623]

Add a probiotic (biogaia is great - it's over the counter but sometimes the pharmacist has to order it for you) and finish the antibiotic. There's a reason it is given for 10 days and not 8. Drs go to school for 8+ years to learn this. No one is going to give a longer course than necessary

[curbsideprophet]

Mar 16, 2015 13:12:34 GMT -5 jeaniebueller said:

Mar 16, 2015 13:02:05 GMT -5 lg28 said:

This is a terrible thing to do.

1) superbugs
2) the drugs you do this with may not be effective at all the next time you use them.

I am aware of this, but sometimes it happens, especially on a ten day course.

This is just shitty. You are aware of the severity of the issue but just don't care? Or do you think it does not apply to you? Based on your first response it does not seem like "sometimes it just happens".

[curbsideprophet]

Mar 16, 2015 17:59:20 GMT -5 spwspw said:

Mar 16, 2015 16:43:12 GMT -5 lilac05 said:

olivesyou, kudos for owning up to your mistake. We all make them. It's OK. Now you know better and will do better the next time. Call the pedi office and ask if you should skip the last 3 doses or if you should continue giving the antibiotic until you've given 20 doses.

This.  I'm thinking that they will have you finish the 20 doses.  

Is your LO on Cefdinir now?  It does seem a little harsher on the stomach.

I would also call and see if they want you to finish it.

[rugbywife]

I would call the doctor's office to see if you should finish.

The timing of the meds is actually significant, the purpose is to maintain a constant enough supply in the system so that the infection is consistently being attacked. So taking one pill every 24 hours vs one every 12 does make a difference physiologically. As a result, there may be a point to finishing all 20 pills but there might not be.

The reason most antibiotics are on a 10 day cycle is because of the habit of secondary infections developing between day 7 and 10 of an infection, I believe. And so when people stop seeing symptoms after 3-5 days, they think they are fine to stop meds after 7 days. But nope.

[spanikopita]

Nope, never, from a scientific standpoint it is a really bad idea.

[Deleted]

On a 10 day course, stopping on day 9 is probably fine. For this infection, for the severity etx.
In general, never miss a dose, complete all antibiotics - but this case - it's fine.