Allergic to Penicillin and Eurythromycin now makes me ill

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Help please!

I have had a horrible earache for 4 weeks. I was given 5 days of Clarythromicin last week which didn't fix it and gave me a mildly upset stomach. GP today prescribed Eurythromycin and after 2 doses I'm experiencing severe D&V.

I am too scared to take the next dose but desperately want the bloody earache to be fixed!

Has anyone experienced similar with Penicillin alternatives and does anyone know of a 3rd antibiotic option that may save me?

I can’t tolerate some antibiotics and I dread it if I have to take them. Can they prescribe anti biotic ear drops instead? Have you tried eating live yoghurt that sometimes helps with the stomach symptoms. I had to take Imodium to get me through a day at work when I was on metranidazole (new job with one loo for everyone in a small shop) hope you feel better soon, it’s miserable.

Thank you. I think I'm going to stop taking them and go back to GP on Monday. Luckily I'm not back at work until Tuesday but I really don't fancy spending the whole weekend in the bathroom Thank you for the yogurt tip, hadn't thought about that!

I'm allergic to penicillin and get very bad and end up dehydrated from being sick with erthmricyine. I spoke to the dr who gave me another one can't remember the nAme now but they also prescribed me a medicine to protect my stomach to take before the antibiotics. So talk.to your dr may be able to help you. It's so hard on your body hope you feel better soon

There are loads and loads of antibiotics. You need to go back of the doctors and explain. They might have to take specialist microbiologist advice but they'll find you one :)

You also won't be getting any of the antibiotic as you're vomiting it up so go sooner rather than later

Co amoxiclav is an alternative. My mum is allergic to penicillin and erythromycin and she tolerates co amoxiclav. It's a strong antibiotic so tends to work quickly too

Co-amoxiclav is penicillin. If your mum tolerates co-amoxiclav she is not penicillin allergic.

OP what is the nature of your penicillin allergy? Over 90% of people who think they are penicillin allergic aren't, for example the previous posters mum. This does have real life implications by limiting your choice of antibiotics so it is worth knowing what your allergy is.

There are lots of others- I am allergic to penicillin and ones that usually work well for me are Cefalexin and Ciprofloxacin (although Doctors are loathe to prescribe cipro as it’s very powerful and has a lot of side effects although ironically it’s the one that gives me the least!) Don’t keep taking something that is making you unwell without checking with a Doctor first.

Also meant to add Cefalexin is a distant relative of penicillin apparently but lots of people who have a penicillin allergy can tolerate it.

Are you taking the tablets with food OP? Makes a world of difference for me (also allergic to penicillin).

Thank you everyone. I am encouraged to hear there are some alternatives. I've called 111 and am awaiting a call back.

Penicillin makes me very unwell, chest pains, breathing problems and hives head to toe. Curiously, I'm sure I had it as a kid without problems but was then given it whilst in hospital several years ago and it was a whole different story!

I did take them with food but I think my stomach already being aggrevated with the Clarythromicin just made everything worse?

@actionstationsplease @AnnaMagnani sorry I meant co-trimoxazole is safe. I just checked with her and I got mixed up as my dd was prescribed co amoxiclav when penicillin didn't clear her pneumonia! Knew it had "ox" in it! She said there are lots of others trimethoprim, doxycycline and metracondizaole are a couple of others.

Erythromycin is one that seems to make lots of people really sick and upset tummy!

I've just been prescribed Cefalxin! Bit worried about taking it though in case of side effects as I'm working tomorrow

I'm allergic to penicillin, also cephalexin, both bring me out in hives. I'd been prescribed erythomicin a couple of times with no problem, then on a later date it gave me hives too. I then had a reaction to a 4th antibiotic - face and mouth swelling. There are other options, if you talk to your GP they should be able to help.

I now would avoid taking any antibiotics unless it was a dire necessity, as I'm concerned about the build up of reactions. This may unnecessary, but I'd like there to be some effective ones left in case I ever did get really ill one day.

NB stomach reaction might be an intolerance to one of the ingredients, rather than an allergy, e.g. one of the other ingredients might disagree with you. I had an antidepressant give me a bad stomach when it was a different brand to usual.

That's interesting, thank you. Penicillin also gives me horrendous hives. Really hope these don't do the same! Think I could live with a mild dose if I avoided more D&V though.

I have an ENT referral as the earache has been going on so long and nobody can actually see anything in there! Could be another few weeks before I get an appointment though.

I hate the fact I'm so reliant on painkillers to get me through the day at the moment, so will give these a go.

Wish me luck!