Painkillers have stopped working

[ConDemNation]

I've had a bad tooth for a few days, went to dentist last night who gave me some antibiotics...I've been up all night alternating paracetamol and ibuprofen, got a bit of kip in between but this morning I took another lot of ibu at about 5.40 and it is still hurting.

It normally takes about an hour to kick in.

I'm going to ringmy normal dentist and hope he can fit me in today and take the thing out - but will this make it better? I've started the antibiotics but they are already upsetting my stomach and I'd rather not continue if I can get away with it (only taken one dose so far)

Anyideas welcome - sorry for rambling post, am in a muddle this morning.

You really need to take the antibiotics. I know this is not what you want to hear (read), but the painkillers are only dealing with the symptons, the antibiotics will get rid of the cause - an infection. Even if the tooth is taken out you would need to take the antibiotics to clear the infection.
I suggest taking antibiotics, even if the give you an upset tum. You could phone dentist and see if an alternative antibiotic would be ok, if others dont upset you normally.

It is generally alright to start off an antibiotic course with a double dose, then complete the course as prescibed. This gives it all a kick start and things should improve quicker. You must finish the course though.

Thankyou...the thing I am confused about is this page:

here

Can anyone help me understand it? It says about a sixth of the way down the page, 'only prescribe an antibiotic is there is systemic illness, or diffuse spread, lymphadenopathy etc etc

I don't think I come under those conditions. but then why did the dentist give me erythromycin, if it isn't recommended? I wondered if they usually just hand out a/bs from the emergency clinic because they can't actually do anything else?

If you are in a lot of pain with tooth ache like that you have an infection. It is in an enclosed space and although it may subside without antibiotics you need to realy knock it on the head totally. Do you have a temperature? That is the systemically unwell bit.

Do you know you can take 800mg of Ibuprofen 3 times a day, rather than the smaller dose more often? As long as you don't go over 800 at a time or 2400 in the day, you might give the pain a bump if you take a big dose.

But do keep taking the antibiotics. The infection may have travelled into your jaw and taking the tooth out won't help that.

Hi Weegiemum how are you? Haven't "seen" you for a while.

Thankyou, sorry to be a pest.

no, no temp and the pain isn't too bad atm, it's there but it's manageable...I'm still alternating the drugs.

Yes you're right that it could have spread a bit, I don't want that - but there is no swelling, I don't feel unwell, just that it hurts a lot.

I rang the dentists this morning and got a v stroppy secretary, who wouldn't listen when I said I'm worried about the antibiotics...she eventually gave me an appointment tomorrow pm, whichw as great, but I had to go in anyway and ask the dentist about the a/bs, because I've been told by my GO never to take any again unless it is absolutely crucial and finding that NHS page this morning made me question whether this was.
He was lovely, and he said it's OK, I can take them or not - it doesn't matter, and he will take it out tomorrow. The secretary kept repeating that he couldn't extract the tooth without my taking them, first.
So it was a relief to know i didn't have to...he knows about the problems I had before, which isn't something you want to declare in front of a crowded waiting room!

Anyway, so, hopefully it should come out tomorrow - and then if he recommends I take the rest of the antibiotics, I will. I hope he will be able to tell whether it's necessary once he's taken it out.

Thanks again for all your help.

and that is a good idea about the ibuprofen, I didn't know that - it's an anti inflammatory isn't it? So having a big dose might knock it out a bit.

i will try it if things get worse. Thanks again.

I found that one antibiotic I was given for a tooth infection made me be sick a lot, so was given a different one. Hope you manage to get the pain sorted out soon - toothache is one of the worst pains there is.

Thanks, Noah that sounds like maybe metronidazole - it can often have that effect I think! I can't haveit for the same reason.
Have now swapped the paracetamol for paracetamol plus dihydrocodeine, which I took an hour ago and pain still almost unbearable.

I am about to take second one...this is awful, have also resorted to taking the antibiotics as prescribed because I am desperate! Even though they should take 48 hours to do anything, it has to be worth a try.

If anyone can think of anything else I would be grateful to hear it before I go and jump out the window.

I could use some hand holding right now...took more of the codeine stuff and it made me sick. So I have paracetamol on its own and it is looking like a very long night

Only 18 hours and 34 minutes to go!

Oh dear ConDemNation, hope the paracetamol has helped a bit. WOuld a drink help you to relax and help you get some sleep? I have heard that putting whisky directly on the tooth and gum and holding it there works, but not tried it myself.

Thankyou, you are very sweet,

it is just awful. Went back to emergency dentist but all they could do was inject a local anaesthetic, which took the edge off it for about an hour.
Woke up again and it's agony. I have just been given some Naproxen by the lovely OOH Dr, but find it needs taking after food and I can't eat anything. He said he had something he could inject, so hoping he will call back and come and do that instead. I feel very guilty at demanding this stuff, but having had a pain relief free labour this is at least comparable. I just can't stand this pain.

Is anyone still up and about? Am counting the minutes. 13 hrs to go!

OK. You must take the antibiotics, as this will deal with any infection. If your stomach is feeling bad, then you need to get some probiotics asap tomorrow. Do you have a good healthfood store locally? Try and get some acidophilus (it should be kept in the fridge, as is it live bacteria).

Re pain itself, you could try a mouthwash of soluble aspirin, which should help - and you can mix paracetamol and ibuprofen - make sure you're taking the maximum doses; you can also take them at the same time rather than alternating them.

I'm sorry if you haven't got any of this to hand, as you are obviously in lots of pain.

I would willingly go through child birth again rather than endure the toothache I had after root canal work, so I completely understand where you're coming from.

Oh no CDN how are you this morning? Has it been a sleepless night? Hope you get it sorted today and it will start to feel better.

I am another who has gone through labour 4 times. First time with analgesia, three other times with nothing, not a whiff, and would much prefer labour any day to having toothache.

Nearly there now. At least you can count minutes, not hours now.

Hello, you lovely lot
Thankyou so much for being there...and for the advice.
The doctor called back and said take the naproxen anyway, so I did, and do you know what it is a miracle drug. He saved me last night - if someone had handed me a cyanide pill I'd have been tempted.

It worked so well that I am up and about and had some sleep...incredible, I was sobbing and sobbing with the pain before I took it.

Not sure whether to tak another dose before I have the tooth out, or not - got to ring and find out. Mm is here and taking ds1 to school for me.

next time (God forbid) I might bypass the dentist and ask for some more of this from the GP!

Thankyou...it is lovely to have had so much support.

sorry, Mum! not Mm.

Bless her -she came over at 3am when I still thought I was dying