Just how rough will 5 days of penicillin make me feel?

[AmeliaEarhart]

And is there anything I can do to mitigate the side effects?

I know it’s better than having strep throat (which is why I need it), but I’ve only ever had antibiotics for UTIs so have never had such a long course or such a high dose (8 tablets a day). Am I bound to feel dreadful?

I've never felt rough off penicillin. In fact you should start to feel better as the antibiotics take effect.

What side effects? I've never had any. On the rare occasions I've been prescribed antibiotics I've taken them and eventually I've felt better.

The only problems I can ever recall hearing about were when my husband was prescribed erythromycin and turned out to be allergic to it. He got another one, job done.

Take it and find out.

Sorry OP but everyone is different and that's the only way to know! It would probably help to stay hydrated and well fed maybe?

I've only had thrush as a side effect of penicillin, so get some canestan in. It's not a 'thing' that you feel tough with antibiotics- they make you better usually!

*rough not tough🙄

I've never experienced any side effects from penicillin, and I seem to have side effects with most antibiotics.

You’ll likely feel hugely better on them! Antibiotics normally start reducing the symptoms associated with the bacterial infection really fast, often within hours of the first dose.

You shouldn't feel ill.

At worst, a bout of thrush.

Are you sure you don't have an allergy to it?

It varies, I'd be fine and hopefully getting better every day. DH would be very ill as he is allergic to penicillin.

You’ll feel better!

I often get a mildly upset stomach when I have antibiotics - I take a Yakult or similar a day alongside and it helps to mitigate. As PPs said I also sometimes suffer from thrush afterwards.

Okay, great, thanks! The GP mentioned an upset stomach as if it was inevitable. I’ll get some Yakult in just in case.

My throat is still very sore, but hopefully they’ll have kicked in by tomorrow morning.

Yeah I almost always get explosive diarrhoea on antibiotics but it's temporary and worth it if it clears the infection. I also have a very sensitive gut. You won't feel poorly as such it's just an inconvenience. Yakult and Imodium are your friends.

I’ve never had any side effects of antibiotics, but it’s worth getting some probiotic tablets for after the course to replenish (not during as they’ll cancel each other out, and I wouldn’t bother with Yakault as there’s no independent evidence the live cultures reach and populate the gut)

I suspect @AmeliaEarhart is on the antibiotic I had to take for infection in breast sepsis concerns,. They smelt and tasted grim 500g four times a day. My stomach took a battering. Got some gut balancing probiotics from Holland and Barrett and caneston from the chemist

Yes, I have to take 2 250 mg phenoxymethylpenicillin potassium tablets 4 times a day on an empty stomach. I can just about cope with diarrhoea (my guts are quite sensitive anyway) but I hope I don’t feel nauseous too.