Could the Dr have messed up my prescription? I am SO sick, please help!

[Rolypops]

I have been in hospital off and on all week and have had a really horrendous experience and been diagnosed with a bad infection of my bronchioles in my lungs. I was sent home this morning after being given another anti biotic plus amoxycillin. So I have been told to take 500mg of amoxycillin three times a day plus 200 mg of doxycycline with both the doxy pills to be taken at once in the morning (despite the box saying to take two a day spaced out). That seems like a lot?

I have always tolerated anti biotics fine but after the doxy one I have become so unwell, being sick, cramps, cannot keep anything down. The being sick hurts so badly with the lung infection I have and I feel like I'm suffocating. I'm supposed to take more amoxycillin tonight but I cannot stop being sick.

Is it possible the Dr has made a mistake with the dosages? Their plans and diagnosis changed every time I spoke to them and my discharge felt very rushed and I almost walked out with my cannula still in. They've left no follow up number for the ward and my GP is closed.

I just don't know what to do. I was in A&E for 12 hours on Wednesday I can't go back in especially when I can't stay off the toilet and OOH and A&E have been merged at my local hospital. I'm honestly sicker now than I was before I got treated.

Advice please!

Call your pharmacy and ask

Phone your local pharmacy and ask to speak to the pharmacist? It’s probably quicker than phoning the hospital pharmacy or the ward you were on.

That is a great idea don't know why I didn't think of it!

Doxycycline is horrible. Antibiotics in general upset your stomach and guts so definitely speak to a pharmacist and/or Dr as it's at unbearable levels

Doxycycline makes me vomit. Even if you tolerated well before you can have an adverse reaction now.

Get the doxycyclime changed for a different antibiotic and make sure it is put on your record that you don't tolerate doxycycline.

The pharmacist says the drugs in on arent recommended for what I've been diagnosed with and I'm on double what's normal even if it was. Ffs.

Doxycycline always has this effect on me. If the leaflet says you can, I'd advise taking on a full stomach as this usually helps and I tend to take them just before I go to sleep to try to sleep through the nausea. Get well soon!

Doxy is horrible! I’ve just been in hospital with pneumonia and was discharged with this.
DO NOT take on an empty stomach as you will definitely vomit.
I found it hard to eat as had zero appetite, but would have a small bowl of porridge and half a banana, then take antibiotics an hour later. Make sure to drink a full glass of water or even two glasses when you take them.
Hope this helps and you feel better soon.

are you overweight?
some medicines are given by weight.

doxy is a difficult one with lots of side effects, but it usually does work well on infections.

I am overweight but wasn't weighed at hospital

I’m a prescriber. That is a normal dose for Doxycycline, often used to cover a lung infection if you have an underlying lung condition (or risk factors for one) eg Copd/smoking history, etc.

some people just get side effects from some medications unfortunately. See if the side effects settle or if you can’t cope with them then phone 111 for advice.

The typical dose for doxy is 200mg as a loading dose for one day then 100mg a day for the rest of the course - I’d double check the instructions on the box

Don't lie down after taking the Doxycycline, it specifically says in the instructions to stay upright for minimum 30 minutes after taking, which I finally read after vomiting 3 nights in a row after taking it before bed...
Gaviscon will help with the vomiting if reflux relating to the Doxycycline, or something like Nexium from shops is good for reflux.
Hope you feel better but if you keep vomiting and can't keep the antibiotics down then you should go back to the hospital.

Thanks but I have no underlying lung condition and the box says two a day. I will try taking one in the morning but stay sitting up this time.

Doxycyline is a nasty but effective antibiotic. I nearly always get gastritis when taking it - you have to take it with a lot of water and sit upright for a good hour at least.

Depends on the severity and particular bug required for your infection. Dosages can change from standard doses we give in community.
if you are feeling worse or struggling to tolerate antibiotics you need a gp review.

What exactly does it say on the label?

Is it possible you are allergic to something in them? Having a bad reaction to the drug rather than the dose?

I remember years ago my aunt had an operation and sent home with antibiotics, she was violently ill on them and I had to go her doctors and pick up a different type.

hope you get sorted!

Doxycycline is notorious for utterly hideous side effects. But when it works, it works really well! It's not the doctor, it's that particular antibiotic.

The Dr told me two in the morning for five days but the label says something different and I didn't notice until I was already home. The label still says 2 a day but to space them out. I've tried calling the ward but no answer, so no real idea what to do over the weekend. I can't be this sick but I don't want the infection to gain ground.

I'm on doxycycline for pneumonia right now and it's only one a day.

I took a course of Doxycycline recently for pneumonia and came out in a really horrible rash all over my chest and neck.Its taken about 3 weeks for it to reduce much and I'm not sure if it was triggered by exposure to sunlight as that's listed as a possible side effect.

If you've already had a few days of taking Doxycycline 200mg once daily and it's making you feel sick then try taking the Doxycycline as 100mg twice a day, take with a glass of water and stay sat/ stood upright to help it get down into your stomach. How many days do you have left?

It's uncommon to use this combination, most of the guidelines for respiratory infections use either one or the other and there is always the possibility that the hospital meant to switch from one to another but forgot to stop one. Do you have a copy of your discharge letter? Can you call the ward and check if they can advise you what was intended?

Keep an eye on it, OP.
I can't take a particular family of antibiotics as they cause me to lose my gut lining.

You usually take 200mg once daily on Day 1 of Doxycycline and then 100mg once daily for the next 6-7 days.
Probably best to take at night because of nausea but as others have said, stay upright for 30mins after taking. Avoid sunlight too.