Better to start antibiotics straight away or wait for test results ?

[Leonasher33]

So I suspect that the person I had slept with 2 days ago had an sti. I already have the antibiotics, should I wait until I'm diagnosed with a test or is it okay to take meds straight away? I just want to know if I take the antibiotics early will they go to waste?

[selonuk]

You really should wait for the test results because different STI's require different antibiotics, you may also require follow up tests to determine the strain of the STI which will indicate if you require extra treatment. As a side note it is generally best to got to your sexual health clinic rather than your GP.

I once got tested for an STI and as I was already seeing my GP the following day asked them for antibiotics which were prescribed two days later the clinic telephoned me to ask why I had not made a return appointment for treatment told them my GP had issued me with antibiotics and they told me it was insufficient and that I needed to go to them for the correct medication. It is also worth noting that in the UK if your GP prescribes you with antibiotics then you are liable for a prescription charge (unless exempt like me), while those dispensed by Sexual Health Clinics do not have a prescription charge as it is treatment.

One important thing, antibiotics are the most common drugs to react with other medications so it is vitally important that if you are on any other medications or have any allergies that you inform the clinic so they can check their reaction database and if required issue different medication.