How can I forgive myself for inconsistent dosing of Augmentin (amoxicillin/clavulanate) for my sinus infection?

Self-Forgiveness for Inconsistent Antibiotic Dosing

You should not feel guilty about inconsistent dosing of your antibiotic - this is a common occurrence, and what matters most now is getting back on track with proper treatment to resolve your infection.

Understanding Why Self-Forgiveness is Important

Medication adherence challenges are extremely common, particularly with antibiotics:

• Guidelines recognize that patients often have difficulty maintaining perfect adherence to antibiotic regimens 1
• The FDA labeling for amoxicillin-clavulanate specifically addresses the common issue of patients feeling better early in treatment but needing to complete the full course 2
• Inconsistent dosing happens for many legitimate reasons, including:
  • Waiting for culture results (as you mentioned with the PA's advice)
  • Experiencing side effects (like your diarrhea and abdominal cramping)
  • Confusion about proper dosing schedules

Moving Forward Constructively

Here's how to address the situation:

1. Resume proper dosing immediately:

   • Take amoxicillin-clavulanate exactly as prescribed
   • Complete the full course of therapy (typically 10-14 days) 1, 3
   • Continue treatment until you've been symptom-free for 7 days 3

2. Manage side effects proactively:

   • Take with food to reduce gastrointestinal upset 2
   • Stay well-hydrated 1
   • Consider probiotics (though not within 2 hours of antibiotic doses)
   • Contact your doctor if diarrhea becomes severe or lasts more than 2-3 days 2

3. Monitor for improvement:

   • Expect improvement within 3-5 days of consistent treatment 1
   • If symptoms aren't improving after 3-5 days of proper dosing, contact your doctor 1

Why Completing Treatment Matters

• Skipping doses or not completing the full course may:
  • Decrease effectiveness of immediate treatment
  • Increase likelihood of bacteria developing resistance 2
  • Lead to treatment failure or recurrence of infection 3

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Don't stop treatment when symptoms improve - this is a common mistake
• Don't save leftover antibiotics for future use
• Don't double-dose to "make up" for missed doses
• Don't continue to dwell on past inconsistent dosing - focus on proper treatment now

Comfort Measures While Recovering

• Adequate rest and hydration
• Warm facial packs
• Steamy showers
• Sleeping with head elevated 1

Remember that self-forgiveness is an important part of your recovery process. Medical professionals understand that perfect adherence is challenging, and what matters most is getting back on track with proper treatment to resolve your infection completely.