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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:
Silvers11 · 18/12/2023 13:30

AngeloMysterioso · 18/12/2023 13:24

Why is everyone so convinced that my main concern was not drinking?! I didn’t even mention alcohol…

Because that is the main reason why people don't want to take it. The side effects from Metronidazole (other than if you try and drink with them) are very similar to other tablets like Co-Amoxiclav? I've had no side effects from metronidazole but 'upset' tummies from Co-amoxiclav for example!

Ginmonkeyagain · 18/12/2023 13:35

Indeed. Most antibiotics can cause stomach upsets etc.. it is Metranidazole that has the severe warnings about avoiding alcohol.

Original poster
AngeloMysterioso · 18/12/2023 13:36

Mrsjayy · 18/12/2023 13:28

I mean you could have just done that without getting riled at people on the Internet who didn't agree with you.

Show quote history

I got riled at people who insulted me. Disagreement I can handle 🙂

OP posts:
Bloops · 18/12/2023 13:41

I must admit the side effects do sound off putting but I have had this drug many times and it it is fine. Never ever drink alcohol with this drug. Be careful even with food, mouthwash etc as they can contain alcohol. Eat before taking, maybe get some probiotics and honestly don't worry. Taking new drugs really scares me but this one was a doddle. Feel better soon!

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 18/12/2023 13:42

Teder · 18/12/2023 12:46

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 !

Show quote history

I did the same with the dentist. You could only note allergies, not reactions so I had no choice. I had it intravenously for pancreatitis and because of the side effects there's no way I would take it again unless there really wasn't any other choice.

ThisIsntThe80sPat · 18/12/2023 13:43

Glad you have an alternative, op. It really is important to take them. You don't want it getting worse and ending up in hospital.
Feel better soon.

Quartz2208 · 18/12/2023 13:44

Tbf the mail two side effects that are different are alcohol and breast milk tasting potentially tasting bitter - which with a newborn could be an issue.

all the others are the same for all antibiotics (including anxiety). It does go to show though given she has a newborn maybe a different antibiotic should have been prescribed anyway

brunettemic · 18/12/2023 13:45

As long as if you need any further care as a result you pay to go private and don’t put added pressure on the nhs that you could have prevented.

caringcarer · 18/12/2023 13:48

idontlikealdi · 18/12/2023 11:08

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

This. Just take it now.

Maverickess · 18/12/2023 13:51

I do understand your hesitation, especially as I've actually had a bad experience of these making me very unwell, off sick from work unwell. And no I didn't drink on them. But I think you should take them, they're prescribed for a reason and the alternative could be much, much worse.

I have taken them before with mild side effects, so I'm not sure why I had a bad reaction last time but I did, however if prescribed them again I would try taking them, and if they made me very unwell again report the side effects to the GP and ask if there were an alternative I could take.

I think to dismiss them without trying, or to delay is not a reasonable solution really, considering the concequences you may face and the fact you might not get any side effects at all.

Penguinfeet24 · 18/12/2023 14:00

Taken it many times, never had a single side effect and to be honest even if I had, its better than allowing a bacterial infection to rage out of control because that is most definitely going to make you very poorly indeed and could cause sepsis.

Teder · 18/12/2023 14:31

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 18/12/2023 13:42

I did the same with the dentist. You could only note allergies, not reactions so I had no choice. I had it intravenously for pancreatitis and because of the side effects there's no way I would take it again unless there really wasn't any other choice.

Show quote history

Yes but if you have it as an allergy, they won’t give it to you.
If you’re seriously sick, don’t you want to be given an antibiotic that could save your life?!
If you’re lying in hospital, unable to say “oh I’m not allergic, it’s bad side effects” do you want them scrambling around trying to find a different antibiotic when this one could work and make you better?
can’t say I understand why anyone would do that.

You’re not on deaths door in the dentist chair, so tell them you cannot tolerate the side effects. You have words to use. In other situations you may not have words

Valeriekat · 18/12/2023 15:07

ThisIsntThe80sPat · 18/12/2023 13:43

Glad you have an alternative, op. It really is important to take them. You don't want it getting worse and ending up in hospital.
Feel better soon.

Not all antibiotics are as effective against certain infections.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 18/12/2023 16:28

Teder · 18/12/2023 14:31

Yes but if you have it as an allergy, they won’t give it to you.
If you’re seriously sick, don’t you want to be given an antibiotic that could save your life?!
If you’re lying in hospital, unable to say “oh I’m not allergic, it’s bad side effects” do you want them scrambling around trying to find a different antibiotic when this one could work and make you better?
can’t say I understand why anyone would do that.

You’re not on deaths door in the dentist chair, so tell them you cannot tolerate the side effects. You have words to use. In other situations you may not have words

Show quote history

I said it's on my dentist records, not my medical records. And that is because a previous dentist was an arsehole and decided it couldn't possibly have affected my eyesight and I was clearly lying. Why I would lie about antibiotics I have no idea and I have discussed it with my new, nice dentist and we have an agreement that I can have something else if necessary.

It really would have to be the difference between life and death for me to risk my eyesight again.

Coyoacan · 18/12/2023 16:35

Just don't combine it with alcohol in any way, shape or form. I've never had any side-effects

Gettingbysomehow · 18/12/2023 16:36

If you'd rather have sepsis be my guest.

Balloonhearts · 18/12/2023 16:38

Probably people are assuming you want to drink as you only really have side effects with Metronidazole if you've had alcohol with it. That's when it plays up. Otherwise you wouldn't know you were taking anything.

Lighrbulbmo · 18/12/2023 16:38

I’ve just finished a course of these and was fine, bit of nausea and fatigue but otherwise well and certainly better than the infection I had. Just take them and get on the right side of things before Christmas.

Balloonhearts · 18/12/2023 16:41

Silvers11 · 18/12/2023 13:30

Because that is the main reason why people don't want to take it. The side effects from Metronidazole (other than if you try and drink with them) are very similar to other tablets like Co-Amoxiclav? I've had no side effects from metronidazole but 'upset' tummies from Co-amoxiclav for example!

Show quote history

Same. Never any trouble with it but could've shat through the eye of a needle with co-amoxiclav.

TruJay · 18/12/2023 16:41

My brother takes them for a recurrent tooth abscess, I had no idea they had a bad reputation, he’s never complained about them before.

TinyRebel · 18/12/2023 16:52

Just don’t drink while you’re on it - or for 48 hours after finishing the course. If it’s for bacterial vaginosis it can probably wait a few days if absolutely necessary, otherwise I’d just get on and take them now. If you’re wanting an alternative, have you asked the GP if the bug that the swabs have grown is sensitive to any other antibiotic?

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 18/12/2023 16:52

Balloonhearts · 18/12/2023 16:38

Probably people are assuming you want to drink as you only really have side effects with Metronidazole if you've had alcohol with it. That's when it plays up. Otherwise you wouldn't know you were taking anything.

Everyone is different and get different side effects or none at all. I get terrible upset stomachs from amoxycillin but was ok-ish on co-amoxiclav. There's a note on my records to say I can't have erythromycin as it gives me stomach pains but I know a lot of people are fine on it.

I think it's luck of the draw with antibiotics. My biggest complaint is they always give me thrush! My old GP always gave me a 5 day low dose course of flucanazole to take alongside the antibiotics but my current one won't do that and I have to buy a single dose which doesn't work as well.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 18/12/2023 16:59

Being knowledgeable about antibiotics (and any medication) is fine.

Risking sepsis, an emergency hysterectomy and death due to puerperal fever (might have heard about that in school history lessons as the reason why the maternal death rate was so high before the discovery of antibiotics and aseptic medicine) because you don't rate the side effects list on the leaflet which always includes nausea, vomiting and possible death - on every medication - is not.

The alternative antibiotics may deal with the infection, but they may not, so be aware of any signs that you aren't improving rapidly. And finish the course, whatever else you do.

ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea · 18/12/2023 17:09

AngeloMysterioso · 18/12/2023 13:15

Ok so I contacted the GP and explained my concerns (but did say I was willing to try it if there isn’t a suitable alternative), and she’s prescribed co-amoxiclav instead which I’ve had before with no issues, so all’s well that ends well.

Everyone still bearing the OP - she has updated ⬆️

ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea · 18/12/2023 17:09

Typo - should read berating not bearing