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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not take prescribed antibiotics (metronidazole)?

135 replies

AngeloMysterioso · 18/12/2023 11:06

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?

OP posts:
Octavia64 · 18/12/2023 11:19

You could try contacting the doctor - econsilt or phone call and asking for different antibiotics.

(I frequently have to do this as there's who categories I'm not supposed to have and they don't always check my notes before prescribing the obvious one)

ihaveayod · 18/12/2023 11:21

Another one recommending you take the medication. I've had Metronidazole a few times and the only problem I had with it was mild nausea which wasn't constant and a metallic taste which went a couple of days after finishing the course. I would rather have the side effects to clear up the infection than have to be admitted to hospital.

BrownTableMat · 18/12/2023 11:22

Octavia64 · 18/12/2023 11:19

You could try contacting the doctor - econsilt or phone call and asking for different antibiotics.

(I frequently have to do this as there's who categories I'm not supposed to have and they don't always check my notes before prescribing the obvious one)

But all antibiotics have side effects as indeed do all (effective) drugs. Presumably the doctor prescribed these for OP as these are the best indicated first line treatment for what she’s got. I think that rather than try and get another medical appointment at this ridiculously busy time of year, she’d be better giving these a try and stopping them in the very unlikely event she gets unbearable side effects.

RoomOfRequirement · 18/12/2023 11:24

Yeah I'm sure your newborn will be happy with a mum in the hospital or dead over Christmas instead.

Ffs.

ginandtonicwithlimes · 18/12/2023 11:25

Women died from infections after childbirth. Christmas isn't worth not taking them.

Octavia64 · 18/12/2023 11:26

If you do take it and get side effects, antihistamines are good for nausea, and windeze and buscopan help with the bowel symptoms.

Velvian · 18/12/2023 11:27

Take them, I've had them recently and they were fine. No alcohol at all, or yiu will vomit.

They were much better than erythromycin, which has left me (still) with stomach problems.

BeethovenNinth · 18/12/2023 11:28

I took it this year with no side effects

i have had a post partum infection - you don’t want that

PhulNana · 18/12/2023 11:29

HoppingPavlova · 18/12/2023 11:17

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 🤯.

They would cast a bit of a pall over future festive seasons, too, you'd think. For a lifetime. My mum died at Easter when I was a kid.

Ginmonkeyagain · 18/12/2023 11:29

I was prescribed a four day course of metronidazole to treat acute necrotising gingivitis (basically a really nasty deep gum infection) caused by crowded wisdom teeth at the back of my lower jaw.

It was pretty rough (nausea, stomach cramps, tiredness) but the alternative was running a very serious risk of blood poisoning so .....

JurassicFantastic · 18/12/2023 11:30

Absolutely fine not to take it as long you don't mind dying (sepsis) or spending Christmas in ICU. Crack on.

ManateeFair · 18/12/2023 11:30

First of all, congrats on your new baby!

I've never had any side effects with metronidazole at all, and most people who do get side effects will experience them only on the most minor level.

Before antibiotics and decent medical care, women who had had perfectly normal and trouble-free births would often be fine immediately post-partum and then fall ill and die a couple of weeks later from post-partum infections. If you don't take them, you risk becoming ill, and trust me, you don't want to spend Christmas in hospital with sepsis. You feel fine NOW because they've managed to spot the infection early on. The purpose of the antibiotics is to make sure you continue feeling fine. TAKE THE BLOODY PILLS!

Obviously check the leaflet or ask the pharmacist re. alcohol etc because you can't drink with some antibiotics and they can also affect birth control pills... but with two small kids and a newborn, I'm guessing neither partying nor shagging were ever going to be a big part of your festive agenda - you must be utterly exhausted, so I hope you get at least some chance to relax.

Ginmonkeyagain · 18/12/2023 11:32

Indeed - the things metronidazole is prescribed for can easily kill if left untreated. Before getting it for my gum infection I was very very sick - ended up in A&E drenched in sweat and running a temperature of 40 degrees.

RafaistheKingofClay · 18/12/2023 11:33

Which of the side effects is going to be more inconvenient than ending up in hospital (or worse) with sepsis?

gamerchick · 18/12/2023 11:36

Yeah sorry man you can't put off taking them. Get some thrush treatment in if you're prone and absolutely not a drop of alcohol.

The alternative isn't worth it

comfyoldcardi · 18/12/2023 11:36

Google puerperal sepsis.

housethatbuiltme · 18/12/2023 11:38

Metronidazole is one of the few ones you can NOT drink alcohol with but its a common medication (very common in dentistry).

Not the nicest as its strong, its honestly survivable you might just feel a bit nauseous etc... its unlikely you will be non functional.

If you are truly worried maybe ask if you can have Amoxicillin instead, they are usually interchangeable and Amoxicillin is the most common and easy antibiotic.

Ejismyf · 18/12/2023 11:39

I was on it in September after haemorraeging after treatment to my cervix. It gave me no side effects if I made sure I'd something in my stomach. You absolutely can't even have a mouthful of alcohol though i was warned and then had it reiterated by two family members who are a nurse and nurse practioner as it makes you so sick. The risk of getting an infection that makes you ill or sepsis is surely worse.

Catza · 18/12/2023 11:43

Only once in my life I elected not to take antibiotics. It was prescribed after the root canal. Some time later I had to have a jaw surgery and a set of expensive prothesis - all paid for out of pocket. But if you think google knows best, have at it.

MammaTo · 18/12/2023 11:46

I think the side effects from not taking them would be much worse wouldnt they?

greeneyessparksfly · 18/12/2023 11:48

I’ve taken it, didn’t have any side effects just make sure you stay away from all alcohol whilst on them and also for a few days after until it’s out of your system if you do decide to take them. They offer them for a reason you should take them!

Tinkerbyebye · 18/12/2023 11:48

Dont be ridiculous. Drs dont prescribe just for the sake of it. You have an infection and you are not going to take something prescribed, so it won’t get better and in fact could get worse?

and who is to say you will suffer from any side effects anyway

just take the tablets

amusedbush · 18/12/2023 11:50

Take the antibiotics. My mum was blue-lighted to hospital with sepsis a few years ago - she was hallucinating and taking jibberish. She is physically okay now but her mental health has never been the same.

For what it's worth, even the most routine antibiotics give me a terrible upset stomach and a dose of thrush for good measure. On the flipside, a few weeks ago I started a medication that commonly has pretty grim side effects and it hasn't affected me one iota.

You won't know until you take them, but the alternative is much worse.

Daisies12 · 18/12/2023 11:51

Don't Google, of course it'll say the worst and all sorts of false info. I've taken it before and been fine, just don't drink a single drop of alcohol. And I found I had to take probiotics after. but GP clearly thinks it's necessary.

Headshoulderscheeseontoast · 18/12/2023 11:52

The meds and any side effects will be done and dusted by Christmas day

Take them!!!