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Suggest Treatment For Sinus Infection

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Posted on Tue, 12 May 2015
Question: I went to see my doctor on thursday. He said I had sinusitis and maybe mild bronchitis. Well, I realized today, Saturday, that I messed up the dosage on my antibiotic. I was supposed to take it twice a day instead of once, which is what I've been doing. So technically I really only totally messed up the dosage for one day, Friday. I'm feeling worse now than I did fhe first day, so that's what prompted me to check to see if I was taking the medication correctly. Sure enough, I wasnt. I woke up this morning and my cough was productive, whereas it hasnt been. I am totally congested and both of my eyes are swollen. My left one seems to be more swollen han the right, and both look kind of red/purpleish on both lids. The left eye will not stop watering. Plus I have an awful headache.

My question is, should I just increase the dosage on my current antibiotic to what it should have been, or go to urgent care and see what they say? I'm on ciprofloxacin 500mg, twice a day. (Or so I now know it's twice a day!) I hope I didn't totally mess myself up by doing the antibiotics incorrectly for the first two days.

I have attached a photo showing both eyes.
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Answered by Dr. Ronald Schubert (12 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Restart your antibiotic at twice a day

Detailed Answer:
Thank you for contacting HCM with your health care concerns

You have what sounds like a sinus infection. You have been prescribed cipro but instead of taking it the prescribed twice daily your only did it once daily. now your symptoms are worse and this is because of inadequate dosing and the natural progression of the disease. I would recommend restarting your medication twice daily. I would also recommend getting additional nasal decongestants like pseudoephedrine. The decongestant will help open your sinus passages and also allow for better drug levels of the antibiotics to fight the infection.

Even if you had taken the Cipro as directed at the start your infection would have probably worsened for 1-2 days because the antibiotic needs to build up blood levels to fully work. So don't worry you will get better soon

In summary
1. Restart your Cipro at the appropriate doses
2. Add a decongestant to help reduce congestion and speed healing

I hope I answered your question. Please contact me again if you have any additional questions or comments.
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Ronald Schubert

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :1984

Answered : 2407 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Sinus Infection

Brief Answer: Restart your antibiotic at twice a day Detailed Answer: Thank you for contacting HCM with your health care concerns You have what sounds like a sinus infection. You have been prescribed cipro but instead of taking it the prescribed twice daily your only did it once daily. now your symptoms are worse and this is because of inadequate dosing and the natural progression of the disease. I would recommend restarting your medication twice daily. I would also recommend getting additional nasal decongestants like pseudoephedrine. The decongestant will help open your sinus passages and also allow for better drug levels of the antibiotics to fight the infection. Even if you had taken the Cipro as directed at the start your infection would have probably worsened for 1-2 days because the antibiotic needs to build up blood levels to fully work. So don't worry you will get better soon In summary 1. Restart your Cipro at the appropriate doses 2. Add a decongestant to help reduce congestion and speed healing I hope I answered your question. Please contact me again if you have any additional questions or comments.