Missed a dose of antibiotics - what now?

Specialties Pediatric

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Hi,

I've just got a quick question. My daughter is 20 months old and on antibiotics three times a day, but this morning I completely forgot to give it to her. I've been in a zombie like state all day after only getting 3hrs sleep.

She had first dose at 11am, second dose at 4pm, now it's 5:30 and shes about to have dinner (usually I'd give her a dose with dinner) so should I give the third one now? She will have to go to bed in an hour so I could give it just before bed, or should I just skip it altogether????

I'm just not sure whether its ok to basically give her 2 within a couple of hrs???

Thanks in advance for any help!

I wouldn't skip the third dose. I would give it to her at bedtime. Generally if you can give them 6-8 hrs apart that would be ideal-wake up time, lunch and dinner/bedtime. Hope she feels better soon!

Try and stretch her bedtime a little longer and then give the medication

just before you put her down for the night. Ideally her medication (an antibiotic) should be given around the clock, which means every eight hours if it is three times per day, and every six hours if it is four times per day.

Now you get some rest tonight.................... :balloons:

Thanks for your help, but I really can't keep her up much longer. I've had enough trouble keeping her amused long enough to have dinner.

She slept one hour today, and about 5hrs in the last 24hrs. It's driving me absolutely crazy but I guess it's just a matter of waiting it out.

Maybe I'd be better off skipping the dose for now because I dare say she'll be up again several times tonight so I could give it then??? But then, the dr said to give it with food and I'm not keen on giving her food in the middle of the night...could turn into a BAD habit.

Thanks for your help, but I really can't keep her up much longer. I've had enough trouble keeping her amused long enough to have dinner.

She slept one hour today, and about 5hrs in the last 24hrs. It's driving me absolutely crazy but I guess it's just a matter of waiting it out.

Maybe I'd be better off skipping the dose for now because I dare say she'll be up again several times tonight so I could give it then??? But then, the dr said to give it with food and I'm not keen on giving her food in the middle of the night...could turn into a BAD habit.

If you think she will be up again shortly, you'll be okay giving it to her then. I would give it with food though. By giving her some food with her medication in the middle of the night this one time probably won't turn into a bad habit. Some medications can cause nausea or upset stomach if given by themselves and having a little food in their tummy helps to prevent this. Also, some medications absorbtion is altered depending on if there is food in the stomach or not. I would follow your physicians recommendations. You could give her a cracker with water/juice/milk whatever she'll take.

Thanks for your help - I ended up giving it to her when she woke up during the night with some milk and toast.

I'm really starting to wonder what is wrong with her though. :o Today she has been miserable all day, screaming for hrs at a time. My dad came and got her a couple of hrs ago to give me a break, and said she has been so distracted at their place that she hasn't cried at all. Maybe its teeth - I cant WAIT for it to pass whatever it is. :uhoh3:

Poor thing! It may be teeth. Is she munching on her hand or drooling a lot? Have you tried ibuprofen to see if that will help her feel any better? I hope you can get some rest, that was great of your dad to come and get her. Sounds like a great grandpa!

i hope your baby will get better soon.

my baby girl 19 months old, she had through infection about 2 months ago. because of high fever which keep up to five days we could not go along with her either, no sleep most of the time, whole days of cry, no eating, just made me ungry because i felt so helpless. i know how hard it is for you now but be patience. it will go especially that she is taking antibiotic, just do not skip doses. give as given order tid even if you need to wake her up for that. if md prescribe give it with food, do it because there can be some side effects that is why it need to be administrated this way. i got through that couple times with my baby (she was lots of time sick at her first year), but i know she need what her doc said and she would be better after all.

keep up your faith.

god bless you and your family

She sure is a cutie. Hope she's better soon.

Well, we got through about 6 wks staying healthy and now she has another ear infection.

Just wanted to get some opinions again.... the Dr has put her on antibiotics again and said to come back in 6 days because he thinks we'll have to do more than one course of antibiotics to get rid of the infection. I've never heard of doing this?

I'm just concerned about how many times she's been on antibiotics this year. Poor kid wont get a chance to build up immunity to anything.

Specializes in Pediatric.

Try asking your physician to send you to an Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist. It sounds like to me that she is needing to be followed up by one if she is having that much problems. She may need to have tubes placed in her ears.

Good luck with your little one! I remember quite well how that feels. I had 3 children who went through the same thing. They all ended up with tubes in there ears. She may also have allergies and may need to be on some kind on allergy medication. Do you have a cat or dog in the house or does anyone smoke in or around her? If so, you need to remove that from her.

Well, we got through about 6 wks staying healthy and now she has another ear infection.

Just wanted to get some opinions again.... the Dr has put her on antibiotics again and said to come back in 6 days because he thinks we'll have to do more than one course of antibiotics to get rid of the infection. I've never heard of doing this?

I'm just concerned about how many times she's been on antibiotics this year. Poor kid wont get a chance to build up immunity to anything.

call the pharmacist who filled your prescription. they love q's, have excellent resources, and can find out if 2 doses taken within hours of one another would be counterproductive.

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