To think antibiotic side effects are the work of the devil?

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This isn't really an AIBU, I'm just feeling sorry for myself and whinging. And yes, I know I'm lucky to live in the developed world with safe drugs and the NHS etc.

I'm halfway through a 10 day course of clarithromycin for an infected ingrown toenail (allergic to penicillin so can't take that). The side effects are a hundred times worse than the pain from the big toe! Constant nausea, constant headache, constant horrible sour metallic taste in my mouth, constant indigestion that nothing touches. The actual vomiting and the liquid shits have at least stopped since I started talking the tablets with milk rather than water, so there's that. But the worst thing is...I've even gone off chocolate. What's that about??

AIBU to be counting down the next five days on a near-minute by minute basis until I finish this damned course?

Ah see Bundesliga that's here we differ. I see that as a sign that we're not meant to run.

I've never even heard of that one Chaz but even the name sounds evil. I am wondering why I didn't just go for DIY amputation with the carving knife.

sonly that sounds...errr...lovely. I'm imagining it glowing as though faintly radioactive.

Ugh Tali thought sounds utterly grim, you poor thing.

I have to take 3 doses of my meds every day of my life, same side effects nausea, heartburn, metallic taste in mouth & going off some foods. Just putting it out there so you know at least there's an end to your misery haha! Still for me at least it's better than the alternative of not taking them

tali
7 months of vulval eczema! That's awful! Poor you!

*that

Yes, I know in the scheme of things I'm lucky JonSnow. I'd really struggle with the metallic taste long term so I don't envy you at all. Have you found anything that helps lessen it all?

I have to agree with you OP. Like you I am grateful that I live in the developed world with access to potentially life-saving drugus,but I must admit that I do my best to avoid having to take antibiotics. Amoxycillin gives me dreadful diarrhoea,erythromycin gives me bad stomach pains and vomiting,and clarythromycin left a permanent greasy,metallic taste in my mouth within half an hour of taking one. It would be just about gone when it was time to take the next one and off we would go again. It made everything I ate taste weird. And if the antibiotic isn't causing sickness,diarrhoea etc it gives me awful thrush! The last time I took antibiotics was back in 2007 when I had a severe chest infection. It cleared up in 3 weeks,but I do wonder if it would have cleared up in that time anyway,without the antibiotics?

7 months of not being able to pee without crying in pain. I could have a kissed the specialist that finally cured it.

Why did I click on this thread when I'm eating? I'm a nurse too

Heartburn medication from my dr, which helps a bit with the nausea too, I've come to accept that fizzy drinks will never taste the same again though haha.

I'm with you though I'm such a wimp I hate any kind of sickness or discomfort so you moan away, I certainly do on a daily basis haha

Be glad you're not taking a fluoroquinolone antibiotic instead. "Side-effects" can include permanent nerve damage and rupture tendons....for real!

It might not have done Janey so you did the right thing, I think.

I think we should fund a research grant so that chemists can develop antibiotics that taste like fresh strawberries and the only side effects are glossy hair and a faint scent of new-mown grass.

Last time I remember being on a non-penicillin AB I had the same nausea and off stomach. I was unemployed at the time so I actually just took the AB (with food) at the key time and swiftly lay down to go to sleep so that I wouldn't be awake for the nausea. I think I slept about 20 hours a day for three days. I am also now allergic to penicillin so I'm dreading the next time I need ABs.

sonlypuppyfat - (not envy but YUK!)

I've already got permanent nerve damage in my foot from sciatica HereWeGo* so I'll definitely try to avoid that one - I'd quite like to keep my remaining nerves.

I wonder at what point research chemists decide that the side effects outweigh the benefits? Bearing in mind we're muttering about the ones that did make it to development, can you imagine what some of the Ines that didn't must have done?

*Couldn't have been the same foot as the toenail, of course. That would have been positively convenient. Did you know it's impossible to limp with both feet at the same time?

Proper probiotics from health food store. Cost me a ridiculous amount of money but the normal ones hadn't stopped the horrendous stomach cramps and constant trips to the toilet after having to have high dose anti b for chronic uti

Oh op I feel your pain. Coamoxiclav plus metronidazole were worse than the c section infection. I couldn't stand the taste. I used to have them before a meal (despite instructions to the contrary) just to try and get rid of the taste.

Toenails are seriously rubbish. Mine aren't ingrowing, but sort of... outgrowing. My left big toenail grows outwards at the corner, and spears socks mercilessly. I know you're not supposed to, but I do have to file that fucker slightly rounded, or accept that all my socks are a one-time only wear.

I can't take erithromycin. Those little red tablets must be made of adamantium or similar. My stomach can't dissolve them and I throw them right back up after a few hours, even if I've eaten. Bleurgh.

Although, even erithro-vom tastes better than clarithromycin.

Er...flaking vulval eczema?

Yes Sukey, flaking!

On another note....What are toenails for? I get finger nails, but why toenails. They are bastards, my little toenails like to poke its poor neighbours.

I've never taken that one thankfully. I had to stop a course of erythromycin after a couple of days as the stomach pains were unbearable. I would also refuse to take metronidazole again as it affected my eyesight - I've told my dentist I'm allergic to it but the doctor wouldn't believe that it could affect me like that.

I hate antibiotics and will always wait until the last minute before going to the doctor!

Excellent. Now thrush has joined the party FML.

I discovered this evening that an egg custard tart eaten with the metallic taste in my mouth leaves an aftertaste that is exactly the same as raw turnip. Just what one is looking for in a pudding.

The clarithromycin i had last year were definitely vanilla flavoured, thankful reading this my only issue with them was the massive hard to swallow size.
I'm a regular on trimethoprim as get recurrent uti, only thing affects me is the awful bloody taste as i never swallow fast enough.
Flucloxicilin i get a second bladder though.

I took ABS, something -mycin 😃 for a throat infection. First dose, threw right up - hadn't eaten for a couple of days as my throat was too sore. O gods. The radioactive yellow vomit and the bitter taste...which lasted after rinsing and cleaning my teeth numerous times. Ew.

Antibiotics do tend to give you the runs, that's why if you take them too often you can get IBS or colitis.