– Why can’t you take all of the pills in an antibiotic prescription in one day, rather than 2 or 3 per day

Question

I’m assuming it has to do with making sure you get any straggler bacteria, but wouldn’t taking all the pills at once shock and awe the little buggers and force them to surrender?

In: Biology

Answer 1

Most antibiotics don’t kill bacteria, they prevent them from multiplying. This gives your body a chance to kill them off without them constantly growing back.

You need to maintain a certain amount of the antibiotic in your bloodstream to prevent them from multiplying. Your body is constantly eliminating the antibiotic through the liver and kidneys.

So you need a consistent dose over time to maintain enough in the blood.