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

[PageNowFoundFileUnderSpartacus]

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?

I had to take clarithromycin two years ago and as well as the usual side effects already mentioned they made me (temporarily) deaf!

I had a couple of really nasty ear infections lastvyear (to the point of being in agony, I can hardly describe the pain). Was given antibiotics. Developed horrendous thrush each time, so not only did I want to gauge my ear out but I wanted to do the same down there...I was actually off work for three days in such pain.

Eating bananas helps prevent some antibiotic-induced diarrhoea I find. Good luck!

You have my sympathies OP. I cant take clarithrymycin - it made me ridiculously ill when I had it and I ended up in hospital on a drip and nebs! it did SFA to clearing my bloody chest infection!

Is it worth ringing the GPs up to see if you can switch abs? DD can't take Erythromycin and her consultant once changed hers to Azithromycin or something like that.

Hope you're feeling better soon.

I found that seeded bread lightly toasted with shit tons of real butter was the only thing I could eat without disgust during my Clarithromycin treatment.

We have a new deli around the corner with the best egg custard tarts. We are keeping them in business as we OD on them very few days.

I've come back to say... I miscounted. I only had ONE left to take this morning, which I have done, so now I am FINISHED, YESSSSS!

Op you have my sympathies I hated taking that damn stuff because of the side effects who wants liquid shits and an horrible taste in your mouth like your constantly sucking on a spoon I miss those days when I use to get banana flavoured antibiotics oh to be a kid again just for them.

I'm usually fine until a week after then I get massive blood filled blisters all over my undercarriage. Bastard things.

sparklesunshine201 could that be why I now have IBS because of the amount of antibiotics I had to take for most of my life.

Sympathy to all of you who have suffered in the same way.

Bundesliga even a lovely deli delight couldn't tempt me to try again just yet. There's a reason raw turnip tart has never caught on.

StarryIllusion...oh great, something else to look forward to!

Bee I am both and . But I promised, so... Here, have some non-metallic tasting

It will be your turn soon for the dance of joy.

Well you all need to sympathise with me. I've been on a high dose of azithromyacin and cefelaxin for over three years. 1g of Azi and 3G of cef a day. Still no bloody better!

The side effects get better but I have plenty of days with stomach cramps.

Oof Possum, that's rough. Can you take anything to protect your stomach? Omeprazole or similar?

Not sure, never looked into it.

I wish it would put me off food a bit!

Christ alive I've picked up an infection in my internal c section wound, and the doc gave me flucloxillin to add to the erythromycin. She offered sympathy for my bowels at the end of the appointment and she was neither joking nor misinformed. 3 tablets down, 17 to go... :(

I recently finished a course of 500mg Metronidazole and 500mg Cefalexin, one of each three times a day for ten days (and three days of them by IV prior to that).

The Cefalexin tablets stank of cat piss and made my pee smell like eggs while the Metronidazole killed both my appetite and my sense of taste. I gained half a stone while pregnant and lost it all plus an extra five pounds. I quickly learned to take the tablets with food because if I took them on an empty stomach I'd spend the next few hours on the loo regretting my very existence.

Ouch, I feel for you. Ouch indeed. (Congratulations on your new arrival though.)

I'm over the halfway point. Six days down, four to go. I can do this!

yellowfrog I tried your banana tip and I actually love you! Not only have I been free from the...errr...unfortunate digestive upset for nearly 24 hours but bananas actually taste bearable, just more bananary. That's breakfast, lunch and tea (ssh, I'm northern) for the next four days sorted.

Now, does anyone know the symptoms of potassium poisoning...?

PageNowFoundFileUnderSpartacus - yay, I'm so glad the bananas worked!

This is really interesting, my DS (10) has a genetic disease & is on antibiotics permanently but also has top up antibiotics regularly - prob every couple of months. He has clarithromycin quite often & I've never really considered they might make him feel rough - he just troops on bless him!

I had to go on a course of Fluxocillin twice last year due to skin infections- now that's a evil tasting tablet. I ended up being naughty and having a small sweet or chocolate afterwards to take the horrible taste away. It made my wee ponk for ages!!

DoggyMadMum you can tell your son he's much braver than a fully-grown woman who has done nothing but whinge about them!

Thanks Spartacus, sometimes I think I underestimate him & it's only when things like this crop up that I think there's probably all sorts going on with him that I'm not aware of! Hope you're feeling better soon, I had super strong antibiotics for an infected tooth post root canal & they reduced me to tears so I totally feel for you.