Metronidazole prescribed for diarrhoea

[Giraffe2206]

My 21 year old DD has been suffering with diarrhoea for 7 days. Last night her diarrhoea was bloody, we phoned 111 and then attended the out of hours gp service. She has been prescribed metronidazole as the gp thinks it is a gut infection that has irritated her colon causing it to bleed. However he said the very likely side effect of taking this will be diarrhoea and stomach cramps - which she has had for a week now. She is meant to be going to Australia next Saturday for a year travelling - I don't know if that's going to be possible given this infection/anti-biotics. Anybody got any history or advice on taking this for suspected stomach infection please? Thank you.

I’ve had Metronidazole intravenously several times for diverticulitis (which is very unlikely in a 21 yr old). My side effects were headache, nausea, vomiting, horrid taste in mouth, aversion to food - but some of those overlap with the fact I was ill anyway.

Presumably your DD has been warned not to take ANY alcohol whatsover while she is on this medication and for a few days afterwards until it is out of her system - this is very important.

Aside from the medicine, I’d have thought the bigger l concern for your DD is the prospect of travelling far from home, including a very long flight, with an undiagnosed illness? Has she been asked for stool samples to aid diagnosis?

Thank LarkDescending. My daughter was warned not to drink any alcohol. She gave a stool sample to the GP on Wednesday but the results are not yet known.