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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have never realised why people don't finish their antibiotics?

219 replies

WhoWants2Know · 07/04/2022 20:22

Every time I hear antibiotics discussed, it's always with the warning that "You must keep taking them until they're finished, even if you start to feel better." Otherwise super germs, etc.

I always thought it was strange that they have to keep emphasising that point, and wondered why someone wouldn't just follow the doctor's instructions.

But then I never really needed antibiotics much... Until now. And they're actually bloody awful, aren't they?

Don't get me wrong, I'm happy about not being dead or in pain. But the cure involves feeling like I swallowed drain cleaner for a fortnight.

OP posts:
Throckmorton · 08/04/2022 19:14

I've generally found that bananas lessen the gastro symptoms of them

PaddleBoardingMomma · 08/04/2022 19:18

@monkeysox

Metronidazole. Work of the devil
Years ago I was given these by the gp for a really horrible sore throat and cough... took the first dose and went to bed. Felt utterly awful, heard husband come home so struggled out of bed and got to the landing, leant over the banister to call down to him and proceeded to projectile vomit down 3 storeys / staircases... right onto poor DH who was stood there looking up. Worst day of his life I'm sure 😂 not sure he's ever forgive me... but yes I'd agree, work of the devil and the worst medicine I've ever taken. Had to yellow card it in the end.
Isaidnomorecrisps · 08/04/2022 19:20

I’ve been on 4-6 antibiotics for an “embedded UTI” for 13 months now. Miss a dose and it’s back within an hour. Nasty nasty bugger of an infection. Calculated that’s 2,000 antibiotics.

It’s a hidden nightmare for thousands of women. Treatment is a mess in the U.K.

I take with optibac probiotics and a good diet and have been lucky, no side effects so far. (Cefalexin)

PeachyPeachTrees · 08/04/2022 19:25

I always have live yogurt everyday if I take antibiotics and then get no side effects. They are brilliant.

N1no · 08/04/2022 19:26

Just had an ear infection and gave in after it didn’t improve for 2 weeks.
The 2 weeks of AB that followed made me loose 3 pounds and my gut is still not right. Who would go to their GP to get them prescribed without really needing them!

Neverendingmindfuck · 08/04/2022 19:42

Im allergic to Penicillin and Trimethoprim makes me feel like I'm dying...
But most other antibiotics I've been prescribed definitely upset my stomach. Doesn't help I have IBS and it doesn't take much to tip me over the edge.

Original poster
WhoWants2Know · 08/04/2022 20:07

@Ionlydomassiveones

I haven’t finished doses before but it wasn’t because I was starting to feel better - that would be a reason to continue surely? The reason was because of the liquid diarrhoea that was so awful it was worse than the original illness.
That's essentially what I meant. I never quite realised how rough they can make you feel.
OP posts:
SquirrelG · 08/04/2022 21:01

Within 36 hours of starting antibiotics, the sides of my feet get itchy. The next day tiny spots, hundreds of them come up on palms of my hands and feet. The spots burst, skin breaks on my knuckles, takes a few months to heal, really sore and unsightly. So I really avoid them even when I get infections, which are frequent due to a health condition- and when I really need them, only take for 2 days. This happens with fluclox, doxycycline and one other I can't remember. Docs don't seem to know why or seem that interested. I'd love to get to bottom of it.

What do you mean, "docs don't seem to know why"???? That's an allergic reaction - I worked that out for myself when the same thing happened to me at age 18!!! I had glandular fever at the time, and that can happen with penicillin when you have gf and for a few months afterwards, so I don't know if I am really allergic or not, but my doctor always prescribes a different antibiotic, just in case.

Horst · 08/04/2022 21:11

I’ve got the problem of I’m not sure if I should stop or not.

Doctor prescribed a set amount but only one per day? Instructions on the inside state a normal dose is three times a day and the pharmacy prescribed as if for three times. Doctor said one a day.

Notanotherwindow · 08/04/2022 21:15

Metronidazole. Work of the devil

Everyone says that. I'm fine with Metronidazole but Doxycycline was a special brand of hell.

Maverickess · 08/04/2022 21:18

@bellaiceberg

nitrofurantoin. never, ever again.

they shoved me on these 7 years ago for a bladder infection that it turned out i didnt even have.
Let's just say i couldnt get to the loo in time...explosive is an understatement.

Amoxicillin was much kinder and i hardly noticed it.

That stuff is awful, I needed it after several sample screw ups with the GP and a UTI that progressed with the prescriber saying it was 'nasty' and got 7 days of nitro - I made it to 5 and just couldn't keep going. Worse than the UTI. It's the first time I've ever stopped taking an antibiotic and luckily it worked and I didn't have a problem.

Metronidazole I only had a problem with if I drank alcohol - I know they say don't drink on all antibiotics but really, on metronidazole don't, it's just not worth it - but then I was young and stupid.

Ffsmakeitstop · 08/04/2022 21:19

I had cellulitis, felt shocking and had antibiotics for two weeks. They didn't work so DH took me back to GPS (only time I've ever gone out in pjs he was mortified) anyway he gave me stronger ones 4000 mgs a day I ended up on boxing Day ringing 999 thinking I was having a heart attack, I wasn't they said it was a reaction. Now if I need abs I have to take lansaprozole with them because they have damaged something, don't know what exactly.
I dread getting an infection now.

WeirdlyKind · 08/04/2022 21:22

@WhoWants2Know that's the met. Vile stuff. I had an awful reaction to it - literally took the first few doses, and felt like I'd been hit by a truck. I was sitting on the floor for hours because I couldn't get up.

TheNameOfTheRoses · 08/04/2022 21:37

I love how one of the first answers is that ABs are well tolerated by most patients

Only to them have nearly 200 posts form people who are struggling with them with all sorts of side effects.

I suspect few people actually go back to their GP telling them they have those symptoms (it’s in the list if side effects so I have to just cope with them) and the GPs are blissfully unaware of how bad they can make people

(And yes and that’s despite the fact they ARE life saving!! I a out disputing that nor the fact that sometimes you do need to cope with the side effects regardless)

Alittlebitolderthanyou · 08/04/2022 22:04

I once went on a “hot date” to a posh venue with a potential love interest. I was quite skint at the time (not much changed in life !) but had bought a new white stretchy top to look smart (it was in the early 90’s). Let’s just say that the berry jus and strong antibiotics I was on (and probably half a bottle of wine as Dutch courage) didn’t agree with me - and I had to make a dash for the loo, past a very prim bathroom attendant. I had to turn my top on back to front (with cheap brand label sticking out under my chin) to hide the berry jus splattered on the front from quite a violent reaction. Didn’t get asked out by the date again - or take that brand of antibiotics either.

starfishmummy · 08/04/2022 22:46

I don't remember them having any taste or anything

It depends. Some tablets are the size of horse pills and leave a foul taste in your mouth no matter how much water you have to help them down. Others slide down no problem.

XenoBitch · 08/04/2022 22:49

I have been on various ABs over the years, and the only bad thing I remember about some was the taste. Why do some taste bad, and others not?
I do try and stick to the whole course though, even though the last lot I was on was prophylactic, so I didn't see any real benefit to taking them.

naffusername · 09/04/2022 01:05

@monkeysox

Metronidazole. Work of the devil
Singing to the choir.

I was on it for six weeks. Couldn't get the taste out of my mouth while I was on it. I just couldn't take the last two tablets. Gag reflex kicked in and I choked and coughed them back up.

Thank you Gentamycin for killing ALL my gut bacteria and setting me up for CDiff. It also fried the vein it was infused in.

Thatswhyimacat · 09/04/2022 01:09

@TheNameOfTheRoses

I love how one of the first answers is that ABs are well tolerated by most patients

Only to them have nearly 200 posts form people who are struggling with them with all sorts of side effects.

I suspect few people actually go back to their GP telling them they have those symptoms (it’s in the list if side effects so I have to just cope with them) and the GPs are blissfully unaware of how bad they can make people

(And yes and that’s despite the fact they ARE life saving!! I a out disputing that nor the fact that sometimes you do need to cope with the side effects regardless)

Thing with antibiotics is.

As drugs, they are well tolerated with no side effects. If you aren't allergic, they literally can't do anything to you. They don't target anything found in humans.

Problem is after that. Broad spectrum antibiotics kill off your gut, skin and vaginally microflora as well as whatever you're getting rid of, giving you itchy skin, bad bowels and utis. Not technically caused by the antibiotics themselves, but by the destruction of your normal microbial balance. A good doctor prescribing antibiotics should warn you about diarrhoea and thrush at the very least.

me109f · 09/04/2022 03:45

Antibiotics are developed to be taken as a complete course, and in a certain time period. If they are effective they should accomplish it in that prescribed course, provided it is completed as advised. It still needs to be finished, even if you feel better part way through, as it may not have cleared the infection which could survive and come back with more resilience.
I once took penicillin and it unusually made me feel very sick. When I mentioned it to the locum doctor who prescribed it she seemed to take offence and put me on the same course again and doubled up the dose! The effect on me was so serious that I was virtually in a state of collapse, couldn't eat and lost over 10 lbs in weight in a week. A nurse friend of mine later told me that that extended prescription was unprofessional and dangerous.

djini · 09/04/2022 04:49

@WhoWants2Know

Mine are metronidazole and cotrimoxazole. I don't know which one gives me the nausea and dizziness and burning metallic taste. 🤢
I also started a course of metronidazole and cotrimoxazole last weekend after a trip to urgent care. On Tuesday I tested positive for covid. On Thursday AF arrived.

Everything hurts/tastes weird/what is a symptom and what is a side effect?

It's been quite a week and not one I care to repeat.

IDontThinkImTheDrama · 09/04/2022 07:47

It's not antibiotics for me I seem to cope fine with those. But I was in hospital recently with a really bad infection and was given codeine for the first time in my life. Absolutely horrid stuff.

Sushi7 · 09/04/2022 07:54

Antibiotics make me so so nauseous and dizzy. They give me diarrhoea. sharp stomach pain and heart palpitations. I never finish the full course.

I’m jealous of the PP that haven’t had nasty side effects.

greenmoney · 09/04/2022 08:10

@downbythewoods

I'm currently on Metronidazole and amoxicillin for periodontal issues. Bricking it as my gums still hurt after a week of the stuff. Will they prescribe another course?! It's awful. I feel so down and exhausted 😩
I'm taking both of these for an infected root canal. Making me feel very weepy and emotional- is this a known side effect?
Mxflamingnoravera · 09/04/2022 08:27

Macrobid! Headaches, crushing headaches, lethargy, total and utter sick feeling, worse than the UTI they were prescribed for.