Antibiotic Cheat Sheet

Most of the antibiotics you check and counsel on come from the same short list. This cheat sheet puts all twelve on one A4 page so the dose, the key adverse effects and the counselling point are there before the bag is sealed.

Covered: amoxicillin, phenoxymethylpenicillin, co-amoxiclav, flucloxacillin, clarithromycin, doxycycline, nitrofurantoin, trimethoprim, metronidazole, cefalexin, pivmecillinam and ciprofloxacin.

For each one:

• Dose – usual adult dose and course length

• Used for – the common indications

• ADR mnemonic – a 3–5 letter hook you'll actually remember (RAD, DLC, TQH, OPT, NDLP, TAQ-C…)

• Say this – the single counselling or interaction point that matters most

Plus three quick boxes: what to check before any antibiotic leaves the counter, the safety-net advice every patient should get, and the MHRA fluoroquinolone restriction.

Who it's for: community and GP pharmacists, independent prescribers, pharmacy technicians and ACTs, foundation trainees, and anyone revising for the registration assessment or IP course.