Antibiotics & Upset Tummy

[Eve]

Is this common? I can't remember every having a problem with them before and have been on plenty.

Had some flucloxicillin recently which made me feel quite sick but I figured it was being on methotrexate at the time affecting it somehow.

I was put on it again a couple of weeks ago for an infected ingrowing toenail and then got a horrible chest infection and was put on co-amoxiclav and prednislone last week (last dose of both today) along with inhalers. I've had a really upset stomach too - I thought it was the flucloxicillin but it's persisting still.

I'm on colesevelam for bile acid malabsorption (else I get chronic diarrhoea), 2 tablets 3 x a day, with each meal usually but that has had no effect either lately.

Is it likely to just be the antibiotics and could this have any effect on them and the steroids working? I do feel a little better than I did though still nowhere near better.

[jno]

some upset some people's tummies, some don't; why not ask the doctor if there's an alternative? There very often is.

[pixie373]

Yes, it certainly can have that effect. If you've just finished the course, give it a day or two and see if it eases off.

[Eve]

Thanks both. I'm just hoping that the infection itself has gone and it's just recovery stage now and my tummy will settle.

[anneasquith]

poor thing, you must feel miserable, hope you feel better tomorrow,

[Eve]

Thanks Ann, it's not been a pleasant few weeks, feeling quite battered.

Hopefully on the up but it's been frustrating as I thought I'd be a lot better than I am by now.

[Eve]

Anne, sorry! Trying to type between sips of milky sweet weak tea - not been sleeping well so trying the hot milk before bed but can't drink milk on its own :)

[anneasquith]

would you maybe see gp , are you able to eat/drink ?

[pixie373]

Milk can "feed" diarrhoea. I would try to avoid it for a day or so, too.

[Eve]

I spoke to my GP earlier, she's extended my sick note to give me more time to get better (ran out today) and let my immune system recover. Sounds like there are still lots of work germs about, what got me in the first place.

Am going to see how I go for a few days and if no improvement go back and see if anything else might help.

I have more of an appetite now but sticking to easily digestible stuff, had a lot of soft mashed potato and soup lately!

[Maydup]

Take live yoghurt (about half a pot) with each tablet and you'll balance the bacteria and settle your tummy upset. It doesn't need to be plain yoghurt, as long as its live probiotic yoghurt with not too much sugar.

[Eve]

Ah, good idea! Oh and toast I've been having too.

[anneasquith]

a wee tipple tonight to help you sleep?. id say see gp if no better in 48hours, take care

[Eve]

I will, thank you. No tipple in (save a couple of random bottles of champagne which have been there ages!). I may have some cooking whiskey somewhere but have some Night Nurse which will go better with my other meds and misbehaving liver results due to arthritis meds :)

Right, I'm going to go curl myself up and see if I can get a better sleep. Night all and thank you x

[boxtops]

Quite common - I can't take erythromycin, it goes straight through me.

[anneasquith]

hope you slept better last night and feel better today eve.

[Eve]

Thanks Anne. Took me a while to settle but had a much better night's sleep which is great. Tummy still unsettled but hoping now I've finished the antibiotics (last night) that will help and it's more getting my chest clear and getting myself back on track.

[anneasquith]

good news, enjoy your day,

[Hypognosis]

Maydup is right. Antibiotics blitz everything, including all the beneficial bacteria which live in your gut. It would not surprise me that diarrhoea is a consequence of that because, simply through sheer number, they usually out-compete the kinds of harmful bacteria which give you the trots.

I don't think it is a good idea to take pro-biotic yoghurt with the antibiotic tablet as, in effect, you are using up a chunk of the antibiotic dose to kill off the live bacteria in the yoghurt, leaving a weaker dose to treat the infection elsewhere in your body. (Ask your doctor about that one!)

When you've completed the course of tablets -then- (following day) eat the probiotic yoghurt for a few days to get your gut back to normal.

With regard to the tipple (I liked the phrase 'cooking whiskey', totally new concept to me, lol) the reason that the tablets say 'avoid alcohol' is not because the combination can make you ill, it's because alcohol damages the antibiotic, makes it ineffective and prolongs your illness. (Subtext: you need further doses of pills, costing the NHS more money!)

As jno and boxie have pointed out, all varieties of tablet will cause a bad reaction in a small number of the people who try them. Make sure that this gets recorded in your medical notes.

[Old_Geezer]

Antibiotics can certainly upset your digestive system, presumably because it is killing off all the wanted pugs along with the rest. You could try taking a probiotic at the same time to try to replace the good guys.

Some antibiotics can do much worse. Last time I got some from the hospital it messed me up inside so much I was passing blood and had to stop taking it. Lord only knows what it was doing to the surface of my intestines.

[Old_Geezer]

Ah I see you have finished the course anyway.