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?

Bloody hell calm down, and sod off with your assumptions! At no point did I say that I didn’t want to take them so I can drink- I’m breastfeeding so I’m not drinking anyway.

The side effects that most concern me are the anxiety- I’ve had past problems with anxiety and depression which tended to come back in the winter months; bowel problems- another delightful post partum issue I’m currently dealing with is a rectocele and haemorrhoids, which is hideous enough by itself without throwing diarrhoea into the mix.

The GP did also mention in the message that it can make my breast milk taste bitter- we’ve had quite a lot of bumps in the road with breastfeeding so far so I’m wary of doing anything that might set us back.

I might contact the GP and see if there is an alternative I could try instead.

I've taken it loads of times with no ill effects, didn't even occur to me to google it. You must not drink ANY alcohol on it. You'd be incredibly foolish to not take them, you could end up seriously ill over Christmas if you don't. If you're that worried, ask them for an alternative but don't just not take anything.

I had it for a tooth infection once , like you i was anxious about side effects but I had 24 hrs of nausea then nothing else it really wasn’t that bad x

Why did you go and see the GP if you didn’t want to take their advice?

Metronidazole is an excellent antibiotic to cover anaerobic infections and isn’t really interchangeable with anything else unless you absolutely have to ie serious allergy.

Please take it. You should be okay but you absolutely must avoid alcohol while taking it and for 48 hours after.

Get some probiotics to take with them, and don't drink alcohol. You'll be fine

Some US studies have shown that adverse reactions from alcohol consumed while taking metronidazole do not happen to everyone, but I personally would not want to risk it especially with 3 kids at Christmas.

I do get it OP, as I wasn’t best pleased to be prescribed antibiotics this week either. But we need to take care of our health and that means taking them! Just make sure you follow the instructions around avoiding alcohol (even small amounts, so check your Christmas cake, Christmas pudding, etc) and following when you should eat with them. If you do get side effects you can follow up with your GP or call nhs24 out of hours.
Hope you feel better soon

You don't want it to get worse. The Drs are on strike over the x mas period. Will be worse this time as a lot of the consultants who have been covering will be away on leave.

Try them out now before Christmas , I didn’t get on with them I had diarhea and nausea and vomiting so now I tell the docter I’m allergic and can’t take metronzidole and I ask for the alternative.

Hi OP. I've taken these in the past for a bad tooth infection. I've also had anxiety/depression issues in the past (still do to be fair!) and I had no bad effects from taking them in that way. To be fair, no side effects they might have given me could match how awful I felt with the tooth infection anyway!

I didn't even use mouthwash with alcohol in it after reading some horror stories online about drinking on them! Avoided booze for a good few days after too just in case. Funnily enough mine was over the Christmas period too which was a bit crap but worth it in the end.

I hope you feel better soon.

I've had it a number of times over the years. I'd rather have that than being ill. Only side effect I've had is the dark urine.

I have to have Metronidazole as I'm allergic to penicillin so it's my antibiotic of choice. I've had it probably 10 or 12 times and never a single side effect. Just don't drink on it as it reacts to alcohol.

Bit stupid to risk your health and future fertility for the sake of not drinking at Xmas. Even my alcoholic father isn't quite that bad! Infections are serious. Sepsis can kill you. Some infections can even be passed through breast milk to your baby though its rare but made more likely by not treating it.

Edit: if you're not worried about drinking then you have no reason that it would give you any side effects. And like I say, however rare an occurrence, I wouldn't risk my baby's health by breastfeeding them with an uncontrolled infection running rampant.

The alternative could be worse. It’s really not that bad, but definitely avoid the Christmas eggnog

The only side effect I got was I had a really sensitive sense of smell, things smelt really weird.
Also I know you probably won't but don't drink on them, my partner did once and was really poorly

Most people have no side effects, if you've had anything beyond the most straightforward of normal deliveries you've probably already had it on labour ward as its our default antibiotic for csections/vaginal tear repairs/forceps etc

The alternative of sepsis and potential death is far worse than any gi upset you get from metronidazole

Just don't drink any alcohol with it. My brother ignored me on that (Dr sister who knows nothing clearly) n he puked his guts up for least a day, they really don't go together

Have you googled anaerobic bacteria because they are pretty serious stuff and can lead to some pretty serious infections and sepsis which need fairly heavy duty antibiotics the main one being what you have

yiu must already be showing fairly troubling symptoms to be swabbed. Just take them.
if you don’t the potential to need it antibiotics is real

Your other option is that you don’t take the antibiotics, your infection gets worse, you develop sepsis and die….that would be a much worse Christmas I imagine 🙄

The chances of experiencing significant side effects are small. The information leaflet has to list all the possible side effects that anyone has ever had after taking it even if it’s 1 person out of 100 million people. Just avoid alcohol completely whilst talking metronidazole or you will vomit.

Worth talking to your doctor if you're concerned about on effect on feeding of course. I'm not great on antibiotics but found Metronidazole no worse than any other and it saw off a bad infection that nothing else had touched.

It sounds like you've had a rough time, hope things are better soon.

So far the only symptom I have is post partum bleeding, otherwise I’m right as rain - no signs of infection, not even a slightly raised temperature, and actually when a vomiting bug came home from nursery last week I was the only one not to get sick.

Just make sure you don't drink alcohol while taking it .

I've had it prescribed several times for dental issues - never had a problems - but the no alcohol is a must.

I was prescribed this a few months ago after root canal treatment. I also freaked myself out by looking on Google, but I had no side effects other than finding it harder to sleep.

Christ just take it. The bacteria are there. If they start to spread/reproduce right before Christmas you are not going to be able to get the medical attention you need.

If you think dying young to stay pretty is the better alternative, then carry on.
You're being beyond ridiculous.

your infection will probably start making you feel ill and considering you have just had a baby don't you want to get better ?

Unless you are actually allergic, this is extremely inadvisable and downright dangerous.
By all means, say you have terrible side effects but you don’t want it noted you have an allergy when you don’t !