(no subject)

[mllelaurel]

Starting to suspect that the antibiotics I'm taking for my mild ear infection are what's making me nauseous, dizzy and exhausted.

People who know more about meds than I do - is this a possibility?

Comments

[heavenscalyx.livejournal.com]

Entirely possible.

Which antibiotic are you on? (Usually, they like to use the quinolones or sulfonamides for ear infections.)

[mllelaurel.livejournal.com]

The name of it is Ciprofloxacin HCL. 500 mg tablets.

[feste-sylvain.livejournal.com]

You should look at getting your intestinal flora restocked after you are finished with this round of antibiotics.

(There's no sense of replenishing them before the round is done, as the antibiotics will just kill them.)

[heavenscalyx.livejournal.com]

Ah. Cipro, yes. It's a fluoroquinolone, and GI irritation is particularly common for them. Dizziness is not surprising -- it and other central nervous system effects are in the Warnings/Precautions for the drug. Weakness/malaise/drowsiness are all in there as well.

Things to be careful of: can cause tendonitis and/or tendon ruptures (I acquired tendonitis in knees and thumbs that I still haven't thrown off because of a bout of a different fluoroquinolone 3 years ago), depression, and photosensitivity (so don't go sunbathing!).

[ayalanya.livejournal.com]

Eeps! That's a pretty harsh one. Yeah, it's probably that. Take some acidophilus or eat yogurt, starting now and continuing for a bit afterward. The stomach flora won't entirely come back until the pills are done, but it'll help somewhat.

[triedandwired.livejournal.com]

Upset stomach, diarrhea, and yeast infections are all common side effects of taking antibiotics. After you finish the course, they should abate. Just make sure to finish them all and if your symptoms get unbearable, see your doctor. Also, if they continue way past when your course is over, do the same.

[mllelaurel.livejournal.com]

Yikes! Talk about the cure being worse than the disease.

[mllelaurel.livejournal.com]

*nods* I've only got one more day's worth to go, thankfully.

[mllelaurel.livejournal.com]

Yep. I'll be done after tomorrow and yogurt's already been put on the shopping list.

[mllelaurel.livejournal.com]

I was supposed to see the doctor again tomorrow, but our car's out of commission, so that had to be rescheduled.

[triedandwired.livejournal.com]

:( I hope you feel better :(