Not to take antibiotics?

[Popsicle82646]

I started with a headache and congestion on Monday, aches and feeling unwell followed by a cough.
Last night I had the most awful coughing fit where I couldn't catch my breath, and was gasping in between coughing towards the end. Was fine after that.
It happened again just now.
I spoke to a GP today who said to air on the side of caution and take Clarithromycin as it could be Whooping cough, but could also be a virus so there for antibiotics won't help.

The thing is I'm taking Famotidine for 2 weeks whilst awaiting to do a stool sample for H Pylori.

The two things that I'm unsure about taking the Antibiotics are:

There's a severe but rare interaction between Famotidine and Clarithromycin which can cause cardiac irregularities...

If I take the Clarithromycin to treat the 'potential whooping cough' it is going to mask the H Pylori stool test I am due to do in a week as the treatment for that is the same antibiotic!

WWYD?

I'm healthy and otherwise fit with no breathing issues asthma etc, but not loving the fact it's such an intense bout of cough when it happens.

Anyone had whooping cough and not taken antibiotics? Any advice or help greatly appreciated ☺️ Thank you

I think you need to speak to your GP again.

Simply follow the advice of your GP. I'm assuming they know you are on Famotidine.

I would seek medical advice and not ask a forum.

Give your GP all the info. And act accordingly.

If the treatment for the H pylori is the same antibiotic is your problem not solved either way….?

If you are unsure about the interaction between the antibiotics then talk to the dr again, but I'm wondering what you wanted the dr to do as you rang the surgery with cough cold symptoms and clearly felt it warranted their advice.

Ask your GP specifically about the warning regarding the two drugs.

Don't assume they've checked that aspect out in advising on the new prescription.

I had similar issue a few years ago. I didn't get anywhere with my GP, so pointed out to the warning on the patient information leaflet to the consultant who'd prescribed the new medication, who said "Oh, I never knew that".
Eventually I had a full medication review, and they decided I should have been taken off the other tablets about eight months earlier.

Isn't this the kind of question to ask your GP, not strangers on a forum?

Nobody here knows your medical history and whether taking antibiotics is worth the risk of the interaction between the two medications.

I thought this too actually!

But regardless, OP needs to speak to a medical professional about this, not Mumsnet.

Talk to the Dr who prescribed the medication

Can you put the stool sample test off?

But also why isnt the dr potentially treating it anyway?

Ask a pharmacist

the side effect you mentioned is relatively rare! however, the clarithromycin would help fight the h pylori. take the clarithromycin. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9855082/

Ask your GP or pharmacist.

I wouldn’t just assume you have whooping cough because you’ve had a cough for 48 hours. The whooping cough ‘cough’ is very specific. Is there a reason why the GP specifically thought you have whooping cough? It’s a reportable disease. Have they reported it? Or did they just throw the term around and give you some antibiotics to get rid of you? I personally wouldn’t take antibiotics for what is more than likely a virus, unless it’s been confirmed and reported.

As for drug-drug interactions, I would speak to a pharmacist, not your GP. My GP has to google these things. 😂 Pharmacists are the experts here.

Please use the proper forum and not AIBU for traffic. You should be in the Casualty thread in Telly Addicts.

It is yes but different strength and another antibiotic added in addition for a longer course 😣

?

Have you tried getting through to a GP lately? 😂🙈 Let alone twice in one day 🤦🏻‍♀️🫠

You need to speak to your GP again really. We've had whooping cough this year and my understanding is that it cuts down how long you are contagious for so you can get out and about again after 48hours of antibiotics and not be contagious. They also reduce the risk of serious complications from whooping cough. So the questions would be, will it affect your h.pylori testing, do you need to take any precautions to isolate if you have it and don't take antibiotics and is the risk of drug interaction greater than the risk of complications from the whooping cough. Ultimately it's up to you whether you take antibiotics or not but it doesn't sound like you have all the information you need and you aren't going to get it from mumsnet!

Talk to a Pharmacist

Well, seeing as you managed to get a prescription for a bad cough, I'm sure you can ring them again about this without too much hassle.