Panic attack about metronidazole

[hoohoa]

I'm terrified.
I have horrendous health anxiety and emetophobia.

I've been prescribed metronidazole for BV picked up by a swab (asymptomatic). I've read a few threads on here and the side effects sound unbearable. I am absolutely petrified to end up vomiting, having diarrhoea or even hallucinations/worsened panic attacks and paranoia as I'm reading!!!

Any reassuring experiences?
I've just spent the whole morning in tears so far.

I'd suggest getting back to the GP and asking for it in gel form instead

It's used especially for BV in pregnant women so they don't take the oral antibiotics

Ive has it for BV. Its a miracle. No side effects but definitely do not drink alcohol

Stay away from the booze and you'll be fine, honest

I get side effects with everything even bloody gaviscon!! With metronidazole I had something light to eat with the tablet to reduce sickness and it just made me sleep - I was ok on it.

Have one tablet and see how you feel. My Pharmacist friend said no alcohol for 72 hours ish after the last tablet!

which may or may not be linked to the tablet! they may have got these issues anyway - some people are on antibiotics long term you probably have yours for 5-7 days??

I don't drink at all so I'm not worried about that.

Just the horrendous stories about black and bloody piss, continuous vomiting, severe anxiety and paranoia, long-term neurological symptoms and allergic reactions!

Unfortunately they have to list everything anyone has reported- every drug has to have the allergic reaction advice on it, even paracetamol!

I have emetophobia and was given metronidazole plus another antibiotic for an infection following a miscarriage.
I didn't even have nausea, and that was with two different antibiotics.

However, I always ask for a just in case prescription of a few anti sickness tablets whenever I'm given antibiotics. I rarely need to take them.

Dentists prescribe this every day. We've never had a patient with any of these bizarre symptoms. The only problem has been with people who want to drink at a wedding for example. We had a bridegroom with a foul infection that stank and he had the choice of this antibiotic or drinking and stinking at his wedding! I've taken it many times and they don't taste great, but that's all. They do a specific job and if you need to take it, you must. Vast quantities are prescribed every day throughout the country without issue.

I was prescribed it many times for teeth and gynecological issues. I always have side effects of digestive nature: funny taste, burning sensation and nausea but I have them with any antibiotics. It’s not nice but it’s bearable. I usually drink camomile tea and stick to light diet.
I never had any hallucinations etc. and to be honest never heard of anyone who’d have such a severe problem with metronidazole. It’s very old and popular medication. Im prone to anxiety but even so I haven’t noticed anything.

I feel your pain. I actually got banned by a dentist because I panicked so much about taking it that he said he never wanted me as a patient again I am utterly terrified of vomiting. I read on my shampoo bottle whilst I was taking it that one of the ingredients was alcohol and I had a massive panic in case it leaked through my hair into my blood and made me ill.

I realise, and did at that time, that this was bonkers, but phobias aren't logical.

@garlictwist this sounds exactly like something I'd do. I know I need to take it but I honestly just think I'm going to be a wreck for the next 7 days.

I’ve taken it a few times. No side effects other than very slight nausea if taken on an empty stomach. You’ll be fine

I have a very delicate stomach and allergies, I was fine on them. Obviously everyone's different but honestly give them a go. Just make sure you have some food before taking them, they can make you nauseous on an empty stomach, and be careful with all alcohol even hand gel.
Remember if you have bad side effects then you can just stop taking them and the side effects will stop pretty quickly.

I haven't RTFT, but just to reassure OP. I have been prescribed metronidazole multiple times and have never had any side effects, so it's not an inevitably that you will e.g. feel sick. Hope it works well for you.

@yarnwitch no hand gel 🫡

I took them for three weeks, along with two other ABs when I had peritonitis. Went off my food but did not die.

Another one here with no side effects. I had to take it with another antibiotic as well and even then didn’t have any.

For health anxiety, please check out this resource: https://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/Resources/Looking-After-Yourself/Health-Anxiety

And step away from Dr Google! Seriously, the best thing you can do is stop googling. And don’t mix it with alcohol.

I've had it for BV in the past and I also have some health anxiety so I can sympathise, but it was totally fine. Try not to worry. Remember that everything had side effects in some rare cases - even things like paracetamol which is given to babies or kids in calpol! You will be absolutely fine!

I've had 2 courses of it recently for a badly infected tooth, and it was fine - I didn't get sick, I had no stomach aches, I didn't have any reaction at all so you could definitely be the same. There's more people who don't have any reaction to it than do get a reaction it seems.

I’ve had it and was basically fine. I’m very nausea prone and it did make me feel a bit sick. But no where near vomiting and I could still basically get on with my day just a bit grumpy and yuck feeling. I was very glad to finish it and would mention to a doctor if they wanted to prescribe it again, as I would only want to take it if really necessary. There was definitely no long term affects and I felt better as soon I finished the course.

What is BV? I had metronidazole for a bad tooth infection no side effects but cleared up the infection very quickly

@windysocks bacterial vaginosis.

Definitely reassuring to hear that people have had no side effects on them. I think I'll put it off for tonight and let myself just calm down and start tomorrow. I've been in for an urgent appointment today and been given Sertraline for anxiety too

Adding to the chorus, you'll be fine as long as you don't consume any alcohol

I’m surprised that anyone is getting tablets for BV. I had it once and I just got a metronidazole gel to use. Unfortunately it didn’t work at all and what sorted me out in the end was a combination of changing to a PH neutral soap (unscented Dove) and using some live culture greek yogurt vaginally. Often BV isn’t an infection in the traditional sense of the word, but rather an imbalance in the natural bacteria of the vagina.

If you find that it doesn’t help then definitely look into natural remedies (not sure if you have this or were just responding to another poster).