Can I take her off these horrible antibiotics?

[noworries63]

Hi there,
My 15 yo DD has been ill for around a week now with fever/headaches/chills/aches/sore throat/cold. On Thursday I took her to the docs and she diagnosed her with mild conjunctivitis which we are treating with drops and have no problem with BUT she also said her tonsils had 'come up' (not enlarged, inflamed etc) so she prescribed her antibiotics - the notorious Erythromycin. I was a bit apprehensive to start with since the doctor said her tonsils weren't even that bad and from what I've researched, they aren't really given as first line treatments. She's not allergic to penicillin either which is when I think it's usually given.

Since starting the course she has completely lost her appetite, only really having a biscuit before each dose to try and ease the strong nausea the tablets have been giving her. They've also given her ear ache, headache and made her slightly dizzy. She hasn't thrown up because of them yet but she has come close to it. She's been in bed since Wednesday and just wants to enjoy her half term!

I was thinking of taking her off the tablets then ringing the GP tomorrow and looking for an alternative even though her symptoms have simmered down to a slight cold and cough. Should i just keep her on ibuprofen, cough sweets and such or go back to the docs? She's been begging to come off them too, it's just I know you're supposed to finish a course of medication!
Have you had any similar experiences?

Sorry if the posts a bit lengthy but I want to make sure I'm doing the right thing!:)

Go back to gp but I'd say the ear ache etc could be symptomatic of the underlying infection rather than ab's.

Thanks guys, going to book a doctors appointment first thing tomorrow! In the mean time, think I might keep her on the ab's for one more dose but then keep her off them until I see what the GP has to say.

@NotYetEverything; I'm shocked too! The tonsil pain was so bad she didn't even complain about it - the reason she was kept off school and the reason why we went to the docs was because she was extremely dizzy and had an incredibly bad headache and a slight fever!

Thanks @LIZS, the ear ache has gone now but yes, she does get it a lot, will ask about it tomorrow!

Hi just wanted to say my dd can't take those antibiotics either gave her the same symptoms she was given them for urine infection. Now on her notes it's written she can't have them . Fine on all others. Hope you get on ok at docs and dd feels better soon .

Hi oh right i see! after doing some research it seems a lot of people can't take these! she feels so much better now, just has a minor cough which is clearing up nicely and as she is due to go to the docs about another matter next week we'll be waiting until then to just double check she doesn't need to take anything else :)

Doctors like prescribing erythromycin because it is EFFECTIVE AND CHEAP. However, its newer sister drug CLARITHROMYCIN is generally as effective if not more effective and much more user friendly (only needs to be given twice a day rather than four times a day) AND MUCH BETTER TOLERATED BUT MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE. I suggest that in future you say that she does not tolerate erythromycin well as she throws it all up so pretty pointless taking it, and can you therefore please get clarithromycin. You may want to really push for it but in the end you will probably get it.