I have just had to start using my rescue pack (steroids and doxycycline combo) for the first time since being prescribed one.
Today is day one and my tummy is really struggling following the doxycycline. I am sure it was prescribed as the best for the types of infection I suffer with and the combination has already started to help symptoms but I'm just wondering if I can request a change of antibiotic for the next time I need it?
I recently had a really nasty uti that left me bed ridden for almost 2 weeks and violently sick due to the amount and type of antibiotics I was taking, it has left me paranoid about ending up like that again. I am at home and just about able to eat at the moment which is promising but I still have some discomfort in my upper GI area. I am due back in work tomorrow and commute almost 2 hours, I'm worried il end up calling in sick if it gets worse or if the nausea becomes sickness (something I am VERY reluctant to do)..
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Amy2091
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Hi, no allergies to antibiotics known. I was prescribed coamoxiclav recently in addiction to Nitrofurantoin following the UTI and these were hell! I've never had any negative reactions to antibiotics previously - although general amoxicillin is what I've most commonly received. I just feel my stomach is becoming more sensitive over time. I have taken the combination with food and it is a little easier today I was just wondering if there was anything more gentle for future use.
It is relevant because if your infection is a viral one , which it most likely is , taking antibiotics will not treat it , therefor you are wasting your time taking them . This means you do not need a different type of antibiotic because you do not need them .
With all due respect I am well aware of when my body needs an antibiotic.
A sufferer of eosinophilic asthma for 28+ years and following a strict asthma plan that makes myself and others aware of when I need to start additional treatment. It is even more obvious after trying to ignore current infection for 6 days until it continued to worsen (increased and discoloured sputum and an increase in attacks.) Also, a sputum sample sent has confirmed an infection, therefore commencement of rescue pack has been advised.
I studied antibiotics and resistance for more than 2 years and there is no concern that the antibiotic I am taking is not working - it is. My concern is regarding upper GI issues that I get when taking certain ones when there is no allergy present and if anyone had any issues when requesting a change? This is only because I have been prescribed this by my respiratory specialist and not my GP, who is currently the only person I am able to discuss this with.
I get very nauseous (and vomit-y) when I take doxy, however I’m allergic to both amoxicillin and clarithromycin (awkward combination I know!). If it helps I make sure I get given anti-emetics whenever I need ABx which at least keeps me functioning outside of a bathroom/my bed 😅 (on top of usual anti reflux meds etc)
Reassuring to know I'm not the only fairy when it comes to these then lol! I have some cyclizine from when I was sick the previous time (never needed them in the past and this was just a one off prescription) I just don't think it's healthy to keep taking them when I could be given an alternative in future that I haven't had symptoms with. I can't take any indigestion type meds' with these for 2 hours either side so that's a bit crappy too as that might help initially 😑
Yeah. And the timing issues are always fun. Am meds, ABx 2 hrs later ish with the anti-emetic 30 mins prior to that! Luckily it’s rare that I need ABx (and oddly enough I can feel the difference between viral and bacterial with about 95% accuracy 🤷♀️😅😂) but if you get on with erythromycin that’s often given for chest infections... good luck and hope you feel better soon
Had some interesting experiences with Antibiotics failing to reduce lung sputum this year, but oral steroids alone (Prednisolone) did a great job of it.
Conclusion, in my case, is that - although infection was at first taken to be the culprit - treating whatever infection I might have been harbouring, with ABs made little - if any - difference.
It turned out that either the infection - or some other factor - was giving rise to more eosinophils production, and that the raised eosinophils (rather than the infection) was increasing mucus production.
You may know that Prednisolone actually culls / depletes a percentage of the eosinophil cells, and in my case - once the eosinophils were reduced - by the Pred - I got better quite fast, and the mucus became much less pronounced within a week or so. So I’ll be trying Pred without the ABs next time, but will still keep the ABs in reserve, as Pred does weaken the immune system, and the ABs can help prevent that weakness (from exposure to any opportunistic infections hanging around) leading to more problems.
I understand from earlier comments in this Thread, that (in your case) a sputum test has been done and you’ve been advised you have a Bacteria Infection (not a viral one that antibiotics won’t shift). So - in that scenario -ABs may obviously help. I’ve used Doxycycline several times and understand it’s a very good AB, generally well tolerated. I do, however, personally prefer Clarythromycin. One point with Doxy is that it’s important you don’t drink booze at all, in any quantity, while using it, as doing so impacts its effectiveness. Booze might also be a factor where UTI / GI issues are concerned, if consumed along with certain ABs.
As you probably know, when infections cause asthma exacerbations, over 80% of those infections are viral, not bacterial ones, so you're in the unlucky minority if yours has been triggered by a bacterial infection, that require ABs.
I think you might have said that - when you had your prior issue with UTI / GI - you had either two antibiotics (or one AB plus a second treatment) so maybe that two-drug combo was part of the problem that gave rise to the previous UTI / GI.
Hi, thanks for your post, I initially tried holding off from all extra treatment as this year has been so crappy for my chest and I've already used more of each than I'd to (and I absolutely hate steroid treatment!) but when it wasn't shifting after a week and additional symptoms it was obvious I needed to get a sample in.
I know that with eosinophilic asthma it is a constant battle with infections and/or the symptoms of, I will always try and fight it without anything initially.
I don't drink any alcohol so that wouldn't be the cause for the upper GI issues or the fact they may or may not be working (I feel they are, but it's only day 3) and it does say to avoid alcohol too.
It's most likely me being paranoid following the previous experience I had using AB that I'm probably over reacting, although today hasn't been much better - but I'm not in bed vomiting this time - yay lol!
Il see my specialist soon and hopefully she can help me out with a bit more information and swap them if needed for future use.
Can I ask what helps your eosinophilic asthma? I was advised about biologic meds at my last visit as nothing seems to be bringing my "numbers" down regardless of how religious I am with usual meds (sob) I've been hoping to avoid these as I know so little about them and everything is so fast paced at her clinic, I was so hoping a change in other meds was going to reduce issues alone but so far it hasn't, even when I'm feeling great the bloods seem always against me - sucks!
Hey, Ye I've managed to almost finish the course and it has got easier each day so long as I remember to take them with food - which is really easy seen as the 8 steroids a day has made me sooooo hungry! (I'm glad it's almost Christmas lol!) I haven't needed to ask the GP for an additional one due to this although I'm still having symptoms which is not great but I still have another week of the steroids left so hopefully I'll be fine by the end of it, I despise going back and forth when they're not working, I'm defo better than I was so overall I'm happy and am due to see specialist again in few weeks so if it needs to be amended I'm sure she will do it then, hope you're feeling better soon too! Xx
Hi sorry to hear your suffering with the antibiotics....I’m the same never had a problem with them until about 5 yrs ago...I swear they have done something to all antibiotics...the only one that doesn’t make me ill is Amoxicillin. 500 ...they take a fortnight to work completely but at least I’m not feeling like I’m dying like I do on other antibiotics...I suggest you ask your doctor for those...Good Luck
Hi, yes I'm fine with amoxicillin too but had co amoxiclav recently for something else and I was violently ill throughout the course, had to abandon half the pack but thankfully I recovered lol! I've managed without changing them but will mention it at my next visit. Amoxicillin are so good for other infections too I wouldn't want to need them regular in fear of increasing resistance though
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