* Do not stop taking your antibiotic without consulting with your doctor.
* Avoid taking any antacids with your antibiotics --- absorption is likely to be affected.
* Avoid taking any antibiotics with a multiple vitamin/mineral as absorption will likely be affected.
* Don't crush tablets or caplets or open capsules unless you've discussed that with your LLMD or pharmacist.
* Many antibiotics will make birth control pills less effective.
Doxycycline - Doxy is one of those antibiotics that probably will come with a "Take on an empty stomach" sticker on it, but this doesn't have to be the case. Many people tolerate it better with food and no, the efficacy of it is not majorly impacted by this. Remember not to lie down for at least an hour after taking doxy, as it can prompt a miserable reflux situation that can become recurring. Doxy can make you sunburn more easily so take precautions; wear a hat with a wide brim, enjoy outdoor activities in the early morning or evening when the sun is not too strong; sunscreen if you must but please make it organic (Beyond Coastal and Soleo Organics make decent products). Finally, do not take doxy with dairy products or your calcium supplement. Calcium, magnesium and iron bind with doxy and make it much less effective. Take the doxy two hours before or three hours after.
Penicillin-type antibiotics - there are many different PCN-type antibiotics, but generally PCN can be taken with or without food, but taking it with fruit juice or carbonated beverages should be avoided as they render it less effective.
Azithromycin - can be taken with or without food.
Metronidazole - whatever you do, do not drink alcohol while taking metro. You will seriously not feel at all well. And wait at least three days after finishing up with metro before having a drink. Unless you want an overgrowth of yeast, you won't want to consume sugar while on metro, so ditch the cookies, cakes, and sweets til you're done with it, or at least use sugar-free (but chemically laden, remember!) goodies til then.
Cefuroxime - can be taken with or without food.
Erythromycin - can be taken with or without food, but avoid grapefruits and grapefruit juice while on erythro.
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