To not take prescribed antibiotics (metronidazole)?

[AngeloMysterioso]

Went to the GP on Friday as my post-partum bleeding, which had pretty much stopped, came back with a vengeance. GP took a swab and this morning I got a message saying the swab has shown some anaerobic bacteria, and I’ve been prescribed metronidazole.

I made the mistake of googling it, and I must say the widely reported side effects are not something I’m desperate to experience- particularly in the week before Christmas, when I have a 4 year old, a 2 year old and a newborn to look after and do much I need to do. Especially when, at the moment at least, I feel absolutely fine.

WIBU to not take it- or at least to wait until after Christmas, when I won’t be as busy?

It’s better than the alternatives if you don’t take it surely . I’ve taken Metronidazole a few times with no side effects , not everybody has them .

The side effects of infections - sepsis / death - are a lot worse.

I'm also on this currently for a tooth infection,
To say I wasn't best pleased to be prescribed this, is an understatement due to Googling the side effects/reviews as it sounds utterly, utterly horrendous.
I'm pleased to say I'm 3.5 days and I haven't suffered one ill side effect.
For context I am on 400mg 3x daily.

I think you should take it, you don't want infection to get more serious.
Do not drink alcohol with it. Not even a drop.

Mmmm. I ended up in hospital on an antibiotic drip which I reckon would muck up your Christmas plans a bit more.

I get every side effect in the book with most drugs, but even I was fine with metronidazole. You really don’t want a post partum infection that could end up with you seeking urgent medical care or even in hospital over Christmas. I’d take them. If you get unbearable side effects you can always stop them (and go back to the doctor to ask about alternatives).

I’m on metronidazole at the moment. It beats suffering with infection.

Ive got a bit of nausea and a horrid metallic taste in my mouth but apart from that it’s okay.

After Christmas you may be less busy but a lot more unwell if you don’t take medication the GP believes you need now. You may feel ok but you don’t know how you’ll feel in a few days if you have an infection that will get worse. The main thing with metronidazole is under no circumstances drink alcohol on it.

100% this.

I didn’t have any side effects either. I didn’t know there were any when I took them!

I didn’t get any side effects from it but don’t have any alcohol or you will feel it.

I’ve just come off these post-partum. I found that as long as I wasn’t taking them on an empty stomach I was ok, but did experience some nausea, dhiarrhea and loss of appetite.

better than sepsis though!

It is horrible stuff, but post partum bacterial infection can be fatal.

Sepsis - or even “just” bacteraemia - from delaying taking the antibiotics would be much worse than possibly getting side-effects from taking them. The far heftier IV abx you’d need as a hospital in-patient would cramp your Christmas style far more.

Tbh no one here will tell you not to take prescribed medication and if they did the post would get deleted I expect

I have taken it several times over the years and never noticed any side effects. But yes do not drink alcohol until at least 48 hours after you finish the course (I am sure with a newborn it's the last thing you fancy)

As others say possible side effects are better than other possible outcomes - like worsening infection / sepsis.

Take the antibiotics. I've had metronidazole before and you have to be extremely careful not to have even a drop of alcohol with it. I accidentally had some white wine sauce when I was taking it and was very sick the next day. No side effects other than that though.

Because she's been given professional medical advice, which is to take medication for an infection which could be fatal.

You'd rather carry on with anaerobic bacteria, because of something you read by Googling? With 3 kids including a newborn? Have you Googled anaerobic sepsis? Give your head a MASSIVE wobble. Please. Not all side effects happen to all people who take medicines. Your doctor prescribed them because you need them. But you think you know better?

Get some probiotics to be taken when you finish the course of antibiotics. I've also taken metronidazole with no ill effects, so not everyone gets them.

No, don't bother. You clearly think google knows best
But of course, you will be expecting your local hospital to try and save your life when you have a rip-roaring infection, taking up a bed ear-marked for someone's operation.
But god forbid you might not be able to have a drink over christmas in case your antibiotics make you ill.
Why do people think they know best. This attitude doesn't help the NHS

Surely, even side effects are preferable to potential hospitalisation or death? Common sense says they would put an even bigger spanner in your Xmas plans than potential side effects 🤯.

I get no side effects from metronidazole.

Take the damn pills or risk ending up in hospital over Christmas - it's not going to improve on it's own.

Just don't drink alcohol while you're taking it, that's a big no no due to making you nauseous.

Oh I agree completely @VickyEadieofThigh

I must admit I'm having a hard time understanding why you've concluded it's preferable to let an anaerobic bacterial infection run rampant through your reproductive organs than risk a few side effects from a regulated medicine prescribed by a medical professional!