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Original poster

Doxycycline and others, worried about complications

18 replies

emilylouisex1 · 14/04/2024 20:12

So I have just been put on doxycycline - still taking, 3 days left...and nitrofurantoin (which I finished last night) and I'm due to take azithromycin once I finish doxycycline for 2 days as a double dose therapy for an infection I have.
My concern at the moment is my stomach is in absolute BITS I feel so incredibly nauseous and my stomach is burning with acid reflux. Is this a normal side effect? I feel so so terrible and I'm worrying that I'm going to harm my body in some way due to having to take the three anti biotics.
My concern is ibs or c diff, currently have no bowel issues but my stomach hurts so so bad.
I am due to completely finish by Friday, it seems so far as I'm so unwell. I am just concerned if this is normal to feel so so bad like this and if I should worry about the consequences

OP posts:
Original poster
emilylouisex1 · 14/04/2024 20:18

.

OP posts:
Nat6999 · 14/04/2024 20:22

Doxycyline made me very sick when I had it for pneumonia last year. You need to take it in the middle of a meal, or it burns like hell.

Tristar15 · 14/04/2024 20:25

Take it with a large glass of water and food and stay up right for at least 30 mins afterwards. Do not lie down. It tells you this on the instruction leaflet.
I didn’t read the leaflet once and couldn’t believe the effect it had on me. Stay upright!

Original poster
emilylouisex1 · 14/04/2024 20:28

Nat6999 · 14/04/2024 20:22

Doxycyline made me very sick when I had it for pneumonia last year. You need to take it in the middle of a meal, or it burns like hell.

Ah! That must be my mistake...I've been taking it just after my food

OP posts:
Original poster
emilylouisex1 · 14/04/2024 20:29

Tristar15 · 14/04/2024 20:25

Take it with a large glass of water and food and stay up right for at least 30 mins afterwards. Do not lie down. It tells you this on the instruction leaflet.
I didn’t read the leaflet once and couldn’t believe the effect it had on me. Stay upright!

Oh gosh. I didn't do that, I took it and went straight to sleep last night. Is it supposed to hurt this bad? My stomach up under my ribs really is burning and painful

OP posts:
RedRosie · 14/04/2024 20:35

You poor thing. Sounds miserable.

Can't advise re the other drugs, but (as PPs have said) with the Doxycycline definitely take this standing up, with a big glass of water, and stay upright/walk about for thirty minutes. I had to take this for three months for a dental infection, and following those instructions didn't have any issues.

I hope you feel better very soon.

Lalalalalabambaa · 14/04/2024 20:40

I recently finished a course of doxycycline and had the same nausea and terrible reflux. Once I started taking it with a pint of water and with a big meal, it was much more bearable. As other have said, stay upright and active.

Tristar15 · 14/04/2024 20:56

emilylouisex1 · 14/04/2024 20:29

Oh gosh. I didn't do that, I took it and went straight to sleep last night. Is it supposed to hurt this bad? My stomach up under my ribs really is burning and painful

Show quote history

Yeah, definitely don’t lie down it is very painful and the burning is awful. Don’t take it before bed. You can sit up on the sofa etc just don’t lie down for at least 30 mins. I’d make it an hour. It will take a while for the burning feeling to stop. It’s awful. I actually went to the pharmacist as I couldn’t believe how much it hurt and got told that, yeah it’s that bad and not to take it and then lie down!

user1471453601 · 14/04/2024 20:57

Doxycycline is the devil's antibiotic, but it works. I have copd and asthma so if I get a cold, I usually also get a chest infection.

Doxy is the one antibiotic that works now for me. I've learned always to take it after food, with plenty of water, and first thing in the morning.

Pigeonqueen · 14/04/2024 21:01

emilylouisex1 · 14/04/2024 20:29

Oh gosh. I didn't do that, I took it and went straight to sleep last night. Is it supposed to hurt this bad? My stomach up under my ribs really is burning and painful

Show quote history

This will be why you’re suffering. You’re not meant to lie down after taking it.

Original poster
emilylouisex1 · 14/04/2024 21:54

RedRosie · 14/04/2024 20:35

You poor thing. Sounds miserable.

Can't advise re the other drugs, but (as PPs have said) with the Doxycycline definitely take this standing up, with a big glass of water, and stay upright/walk about for thirty minutes. I had to take this for three months for a dental infection, and following those instructions didn't have any issues.

I hope you feel better very soon.

Thank you. So is c diff a rare outcome with anti biotics? That's my worry, because I've had three in such a short time (haven't started the third one yet)

OP posts:
Original poster
emilylouisex1 · 14/04/2024 21:56

user1471453601 · 14/04/2024 20:57

Doxycycline is the devil's antibiotic, but it works. I have copd and asthma so if I get a cold, I usually also get a chest infection.

Doxy is the one antibiotic that works now for me. I've learned always to take it after food, with plenty of water, and first thing in the morning.

It is truly awful. I can't believe how bad it hurts

OP posts:
Original poster
emilylouisex1 · 14/04/2024 21:57

@Tristar15 thank you, I also was tempted to phone 111 as I'm in a lot of pain, my mum is telling me to stop as I'm a bit of a hypochondriac when it comes to pain and feeling sick, but I know the infection won't go if I don't take them so I must 🥲 gosh I've never felt so awful on anti biotics before

OP posts:
Original poster
emilylouisex1 · 15/04/2024 18:16

Has anyone had diarrhoea on doxycycline? My stomach is in bits and I can't see that it's a side effect, worried about c diff now, having health anxiety is no joke

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DiscerningDiana · 15/04/2024 18:20

C diff very unlikely with those antibiotics OP, it’s more commonly seen with high IV doses (e.g. in hospital) of more broad spectrum antibiotics. As others have said, Doxycycline can be difficult to tolerate and that’s probably why you feel so bad

angelopal · 15/04/2024 18:27

On my second round of it. Have had sickness and loose stools both times. It's brutal. Do you have anti sickness tablets. They have helped me a bit.

Hope you feel better soon. I still have another 7 days to go.

Original poster
emilylouisex1 · 15/04/2024 18:30

DiscerningDiana · 15/04/2024 18:20

C diff very unlikely with those antibiotics OP, it’s more commonly seen with high IV doses (e.g. in hospital) of more broad spectrum antibiotics. As others have said, Doxycycline can be difficult to tolerate and that’s probably why you feel so bad

Thank you for confirming that. It's giving me anxiety, I have a few days left of these. Trying to stick it out best I can. Gosh, I never hope I have these ones again. They are truly brutal

OP posts:
Original poster
emilylouisex1 · 15/04/2024 18:31

angelopal · 15/04/2024 18:27

On my second round of it. Have had sickness and loose stools both times. It's brutal. Do you have anti sickness tablets. They have helped me a bit.

Hope you feel better soon. I still have another 7 days to go.

Thank you, I do have Cyclizine, can I take that with doxycycline? Started omeprazole today aswell as my stomach hurts so bad.

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