Erythromycin & indigestion medicines...

[-mermaid-]

Okay, I've been a little bit silly. Am currently on erythromycin (only been taking them for a day and a half- 4x250mg tablets a day) and it clearly states on the box not to take them at the same time of day as any indigestion medicines.

I was at work yesterday evening and took an erythromycin at about 7pm. I got in from work a couple of hours later, ate a sandwich and then watched a film before I went to bed... got really bad heartburn after eating so took one ranitidine tablet (75mg) at about midnight as I thought this would be a sufficient amount of time for it to not be 'the same time of day' as the erythromycin. Felt fine when I went to bed but have woke up at 4:30am with my stomach tensing/spasming every few minutes and feeling sick.

Yes, I realise I should probably just have steered clear of any indigestion type medicines full stop, but foolishly I thought 5 hours would be enough of a gap for them not to interfere!

Been drinking lots of water which seems to be slowly calming it, as I don't have any milk in the house which I thought might be more helpful?

Any idea how long it will take for my poor stomach to calm down? =[

[argorstran]

I remember taking erythromycin for a few days before a tooth extraction . It has a strong laxative effect - you will find yourself going to the toilet 3 - 4 times a day . On the positive side it is flushing all the "poisons" out of your body .

[jno]

five hours sounds plenty to me; it sounds as though you personally just need more, though. I once took erithromycin an hour after food, instead of with food, and my brain went into meltdown; I couldn't think properly for a couple of hours. So I haven't used it since.

Sorry, that doesn't really answer your question.

[headwreck]

Some ginger is good to settle the tummy,

[argorstran]

I would avoid taking anything else - just let the erythromycin do its job . Maybe you can ring your GP and ask to be sure ?

[-mermaid-]

Hmmm, it's slowly getting there... not tensing very often now, I just feel very delicate (and have only had about two hours sleep!)

Haven't felt any laxative effects but they just seem like horrible tablets!

I'm not even entirely sure why I'm on them.. went to a walk in health centre on Saturday as I was feeling awful (see my underarm lumps post a few pages ago) and was told (as Sqad said!) that whatever is making me ill is more than likely viral, but the Doctor gave me the erythromycin tablets 'just in case'!

[-mermaid-]

Also, shall I wait until this afternoon/evening and just take 1/2 today maybe, and then continue with them as normal tomorrow?
I really don't feel like my stomach would appreciate me taking any form of tablet for a while!

[jno]

if it was a "just in case" remedy, I'd cut back or stop, and go see him again. As I said, a five-hour gap should be plenty and it sounds as if the tablets don't entirely agree with you; but there should be alternatives he could offer.

[Sqad]

It would seem that the cure is worse than the problem.

Stop the antibiotics and take your indigestion medicine.

[-mermaid-]

Definitely! I think I'll live without them...

I rarely get indigestion so is it possible that the antibiotics had irritated my stomach to the point where it took eating to disturb it?

Anyway, I'm feeling better now, just delicate as though I've been really sick or something so I'm sure it'll settle by tomorrow.

Thanks for your answers everyone =]

[SMP]

One of my daughters within an hour of taking erythromycin would be violently sick and get severe stomach ache. Our GP said it's not a pleasant antibiotic to take.