For nearly 3 years since being diagnosed with cirrhosis , I have been very healthy, my bloods are excellent, my fibro still very high 40kpa and I've not taken one pain killers or tablet. but I'm good and healthy except now, when I have a chest infection , my young doctor prescribed me amoxicillin 5 day course then 1 hour later messaged me to say she has changed the prescription to Erythromycin , I'm reluctant to take either to be honest especially the later.
Has anybody to taken antibiotics ? What did they give you or any general thoughts, appreciate you are not doctors just interested
Thank you Paul.
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I have asthma and COPD so I would never myself risk a chest infection getting worse. Having had pneumonia earlier this year (while on drugs for Hep C) I can tell you that it is not an experience I would recommend. The antibiotics did not cause me any problems I know of, liver-wise, and I ended up in hospital on IV antibiotics, so I had plenty! I assume your doctor knows your liver condition but if you are reluctant to take the drugs I would suggest you check back with her. My personal view is that the drugs may be the lesser of two evils. Hope you feel better soon.
If you need antibiotics to clear an infection then you need them or else you risk serious deterioration in both the chest infection but also potentially your liver. Infection can quickly destabilize a cirrhotic liver.
My hubby is on Penicillin for life as he has a non-viable spleen. Been on them since June 2014 and continues now even post transplant.
I had a UTI early this year and I was prescribed Nitrofurantoin by my GP.
Obviously a different antibiotic to yourself.
The UTI symptons cleared up successfully within a several days, but anecdotally after about 4/5 days of the Nitrofurantoin I started feeling generally really very unwell. This horible malase persisted for several weeks only very slowly abating.
After about 10 days of feeling awful, I contacted the BLT helpline for any appropriate advice.
They informed me that Nitrofurantoin was one of the "known" medications that in ideal situations is better to be avoided if you have cirrhosis.
They suggested I let my surgery know.
So I have now learned a lesson when being asked to start new medications by the Dr.
Always check if it's OK for a cirrhotic patient with my particular history.
On a personal note, I also have had pneumonia in the past, and it hospitalised me for a week. It's not to be recomended.
Best wishes which ever way you decide to go with regards to your antibiotics.
Hi, O Boy do I have an almost permanent UTI., for a long time I was on a daily dose to prevent my almost recurrent sepsis, one time very serious, lost speech unable even to gesture to the 'phone. Stopped taking the nitro. as things eventually cleared, then a few weeks ago, got a uti, nitro worked, then got a chest infection, so was given something for that. I have stage for cancer in lungs and liver now, yet, last scan showed tumours not growing? My nurse, paramedic did question wether anti biotics would affect liver, oddly, they have not been affected! Gd, I am sorry this is so long-winded, Jon
I had oral surgery and liver dr said Z pack, seemed to be ok. I had strep throat years ago and was prescribed cefdinir and that messed me up badly resulting in chronic right sided pain that got slightly better when gall bladder was removed.
Hi, my husband takes Rifixamin antibiotics every day prescribed by his liver consultant following his Hepatic Encephalopathy. He is, touch wood, doing well. 🙂
Hi Lisa, he hasn't had any change to his bathroom habits due to Rifixamin and he's been on it for nearly 2 years now😂 but it did sort out his HE, which was a blessing. He takes 100mg per day. Liz x
My hubby was on Rifaximin from 2014 to his transplant this year and no it didn't give him urgent toilet need but his Lactulose that he took along with it very definitely did - sadly leading to several accidents and incidents. We always needed to know where there was a loo handy (or a hedge back). If this is proving debilitating when out and about did you know you can get a 'Just Can't Wait Card' from Bladder and Bowel UK that you can show to sometimes get access to loo facilities in shops etc. bbuk.org.uk/just-cant-wait-... You can also get a RADAR Key for a few pounds (buy on Amazon, Ebay etc) to get access to disabled loo facilities.
My hubby was on both Lactulose and Rifaximin and eventually also L'ornithine l'aspartate (LOLA) for his H.E. Towards then end nothing worked and it was eventually the H.E. that lead to transplant.
Hello, my husband likewise didnt take a single tablet other than what was prescribed for his cirrhosis. Over the 4 years, he had various infections and took antibiotics when prescribed. We found he had a spike in bilirubin both when he had antibiotics but also when he had a virus, covid, head cold etc where he had no antibiotics. It usually settled down again within a few months - but it was the food poisoning which saw his final deterioration.....and he had no medication for this - so proves that infection can be as bad as antibiotics for the liver.Trust your Dr but if you are still worried, check with a liver nurse.
I’ve always taken the drugs doctors prescribe. Liver disease makes you particularly susceptible to infection and it’s important to take antibiotics to help clear those infection. There are very high stakes as the body doesn’t clear infections as well with an underperforming liver and chest infection have a nasty habit of getting more serious. You even risk sepsis. If you are really worried, most surgeries now have dedicated pharmacists if you can’t get hold of the GP. If you are really struggling to get hold of someone in the surgery, speak to whoever dispensed the prescription to check it.
Thank you for explaining this. I have stage 4 ( Spread to liver and lungs) colorectal cancer and needed a/b's for, firstly a chest infection (was given this very quickly) then secondly for a U.T.I, Thank you, because this has forewarned me. Btw, I have had sepsis three times, themost recent caused me to lose speech, nor was I able to pick up a pen! God help us all and both of you!
Back in Jan 23 I had a liver biopsy that bled and had a coil embolism to stop it. One week later I was back in hospital with an abscess on liver and I had five days of IV antibiotics and then home with six weeks of tablet antibiotics. My liver specialist team prescribed those.
Hi, none of us like having to take extra tablets that our livers need to process, so I don’t rust to take them, but I have had to take antibiotics a few times since being diagnosed. My main issue with them is that I often just have significantly less energy and don’t feel great whilst on them, feels like my liver is using more of its effort to process them and fight the infection, leaving the normal day to day functions of running of my body a bit under supported!! However I generally get back to normal quite soon after stopping them. Hoping all goes well for you.
Hi, O Boy do I have an almost permanent UTI., for a long time I was on a daily dose to prevent my almost recurrent sepsis, one time very serious, lost speech unable even to gesture to the 'phone. Stopped taking the nitro. as things eventually cleared, then a few weeks ago, got a uti, nitro worked, then got a chest infection, so was given something for that. I have stage for cancer in lungs and liver now, yet, last scan showed tumours not growing? My nurse, paramedic did question wether anti biotics would affect liver, oddly, they have not been affected! Gd, I am sorry this is so long-winded, Jon
I have folliculitis as well as fatty liver/cysts and advised not to have antibiotics without checking they are not the ones which affect the liver. Trouble is doctors don't want to give antibiotics and will avoid it if they have the slightest excuse. It's easy for you or your clinician to check which ones are compatible.
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