To think I don’t really need these max strength antibiotics are

[Trevors]

Today I was prescribed antibiotics by GP for an infected ear piercing. I asked if there was any alternative to oral antibiotics (maybe antibiotic cream or similar) and dr said no.
When dispensing Pharmacist explained that it was a very high dose and so they would almost definitely have side effects- nausea, upset tummy, diarrhoea etc.
I checked the dosage and it’s normally between 250mg and 500mg four times a day. I’m on maximum 500mg. I’ve taken one dose so far and already have heartburn.
I’m not unwell with the infection, my ear lobe is badly swollen but no other symptoms. I know it needs sorting else it could make me very poorly but it seems like using a sledgehammer to crack an egg to put me on this level of meds. Wouldn’t a lower dose work? dh says I should just take them despite side effects (and I am also concerned about longer term harm to micro biome)

I'm guessing doctor has prescribed the strength he has because he thinks there's a high risk of developing sepsis.

I work in a neurological field. You can develop a Brian abscess from an infection in the ear. I think the GP's training trump your opinion personally. Unfortunately antibiotics can have side effects, but if you need hem, you need them

Moral of the story is don't get dirt in a piercing.

You should get some over counter pro biotic. Boots sell the high dose

If it's Fluclox I'm amazed the pharmacist said that.

Sorry for what happened to your child. But honestly it has nothing to do with what is happening to you. You seem to have decided all Dr's are not to be trusted because of this.

It's all well and good saying the antibiotic isn't needed until you get sepsis. So I'd deal with the symptoms and speak to the GP about the dose if you're that worried.

OP take the antibiotics, you can die from infections like that.
I have had cellulitis and it was awful. I might have lost a limb or died of sepsis if I didn’t take antibiotics, and it progressed rapidly. You don’t want to be messing around with an untreated infection on your head.
The GP obviously knows what they’re doing and thinks your infection requires this treatment.

Goes to GP for treatment but turns to internet strangers when you don't like said treatment. Neither you nor strangers on the internet are more informed than a doctor who has examined the infection.

You could always not take the antibiotics and see what happens but tbh I'd rather take the heartburn and the runs over complications from an infected ear piercing.

I know someone who had their ear amputated because of an infected piercing... I would crack on with the antibiotics

Re. Stomach imbalance afterwards, you can buy acidophilus capsules from a health food store or Amazon. They do help your gut to get back to a good balance. Probiotic drinks and yogurts just don’t contain enough to make a swift difference.

Getting antibiotics out of my dr is almost impossible. They only prescribe what is absolutely needed. You can buy probiotic tablets from H&b

Seriously take the antibiotics. They're strong but will act quickly over the 7 day period and should completely kill the infection.

What you don't want to happen is the infection to spread. I say this as someone who wandered out to hang out washing in my bare feet and cut my foot on something. The infection spread up my leg, by the time I noticed how bad it was and got a GP appointment I couldn't keep water down. Consequently I couldn't keep the antibiotics down. Then I was admitted to the urology ward and given IV antibiotics, over the course of a few days I was progressively moved along the ward to the dialysis unit.
You do not want to go there.

PS agree with other posters, take a probiotic alongside your antibiotics

I did probiotic capsules after 2 weeks of 2 kinds of high dose antibiotics for horrendous infection post partum. Friend I spoke to about it said to take probiotics after rather than during so antibiotics didn’t just wipe them out, though dunno how accurate her advice was. Infection got better and I didn’t notice any lasting gut health issues either though.

If the orals weren’t sufficient the dose of fluclox in hospital, as an adult, would be up to 2g 6 hourly. 500mg is a very long way away from “Max strength”.

Dose ranges are provided for a host of reasons - to allow for severity of illness, patient's weight, renal or hepatic function, the purpose of the drug (for example one antibiotic is given at a higher dose as an antibiotic and a lower dose as an anti-inflammatory adjunct in respiratory illness).

Now that the pharmacist has said that to you I expect you will be convinced you've had a secondary effect. It's up to you whether you continue with the prescribed treatment or decide to abandon it.

I feel for GPs and ED as they often see undifferentiated problems and so are often thought to have 'got the diagnosis wrong' when in fact they've done appropriate tests and treatments to manage and/or rule out serious and common problems. We then sweep in as a specialty and look as though we would have known it all along - that's not the case.A change in treatment or being able to narrow down a diagnosis after a period of time has elapsed is not evidence that the first doctor made a mistake. It's the reality of clinical medicine which is considerably more complex than most imagine.

But course I’m going to question it because there are ads on tv telling us not to take anti biotics. I never understand why they are advertising to patients

Firstly, ads on TV are telling you not to take antibiotics for colds or flu. That's because they are caused by viruses so antibiotics won't work. They are not telling you not to take them for bacterial infections, which you have. Secondly, are you in the UK? Because it is illegal to advertise antibiotics to patients in the UK (and most of Europe) for the reasons you outline.

Take them or don’t take them. Your choice, your body. You’ve had medical advice and then advice from a loads of randoms off the internet. Whatever you choose it won’t affect anyone on MN so do what you like.

(Not very helpful but I am not sure OP is really looking for advice unless it agrees with her).

It's to prevent you from
Getting sepsis which can very easily kill you.
Doctors don't like to give out antibiotics now, so they wouldn't be given for the fun of it.

If you don't want to take them don't, but it'll be your own fault if it makes you severely sick.

@KrisAkabusi

But course I’m going to question it because there are ads on tv telling us not to take anti biotics. I never understand why they are advertising to patients

Firstly, ads on TV are telling you not to take antibiotics for colds or flu. That's because they are caused by viruses so antibiotics won't work. They are not telling you not to take them for bacterial infections, which you have. Secondly, are you in the UK? Because it is illegal to advertise antibiotics to patients in the UK (and most of Europe) for the reasons you outline.

Naw, @KrisAkabusi you beat me to it, I was looking forward to pointing that out 😂 excellent user name btw.

Skin infections can really spread quickly and you really don't want that your gp would have prescribed another dose if they thought it would work thr same, some antibiotics do make you feel rough but you really need to suck it up and push through the side effects .

it isn't a particularly high does for an adult. Just take an hour before food or two hours after as on an empty stomach is best. @NeverDropYourMoonCup has given good advice.
Depending on the length of the course you could consider taking probiotics if you are concerned about your gut flora.

If you are unsure about the medications you have been prescribed , ring back and ask to speak to another Dr. I get where you are coming from, my father was once prescribed medication for epilepsy when he had never had a seizure in his life and shouldn't have been taking it. Its always good to double check. Doctors are humans and can make mistakes.

I would definitely take them as like others have said the doctor wouldn't have prescribed them otherwise. I know that it can seem like overkill at times but it is to stop it from progressing and we can't see how bad it is at times and what the possible outcomes could be without.

I'm so sorry to hear about your little one. I understand how that can make someone feel uncomfortable and to need reassurance regarding other meds even for someone else.

I had high dose prescribed to me previously but it turned out it needed to be as the skin infection was quite bad and it spreads so fast if left. You have my sympathies regarding the side effects as so many are not pleasant especially stomach upset ones! Least this will stop it from getting worse. If you're still worried then you could always call and ask the doctor for some peace of mind.

OP Your DD’s experience sounds scary. Of course doctors can get it wrong and it’s not at all unreasonable to ask questions about a treatment you’ve been prescribed.

You are aware it’s almost certainly an infection in your ear, so you aren’t that concerned about antibiotics being prescribed, it’s just the dose that seems like it might be wrong. Don’t stop taking now that you’ve started without having that course of action approved my your Dr or pharmacist. You are, I’m sure, aware of the growing issues with antibiotic resistance and a couple of people on here have explained why an ear infection needs a big guns approach (something you can probably check on the NHS website or some other slightly more trustworthy source), so I hope you’ll feel a little reassured and able to seek qualified advice if you are still unsure about this course of medication.

Hope you’re better soon.