Guys I need a bit of advice / your experiences with the above antibiotics.
If you've ever taken them, did you find it triggered your Lupus or worsened your symptoms?
I have sinusitis and took the co-amoxiclav 500/125. I only took the first 3 (one 3 times a day). By that evening my fingers were swollen. But by the end of the next day I couldn't even lift my leg without physically lifting it with my hands. Ouch!
Now this is the odd thing - up until then I was contemplating asking my consultant to reduce my preds from 5mg to 2.5mg, that's how good I was feeling. Now I'm back up to 20mg!!! Absolutely gutted.
Now to make matters worse, I also have an ear infection for which I've been prescribed Flucloxacillin 500mg. I haven't taken these yet as incredibly fearful after the previous experience with the Co-amoxiclav.
I have my consultant appointment in 2 weeks so will ask them what I should do.
Any shared experience is welcome
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SurferGuy
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Hi SurferGuy, sorry to hear about your lupus flare with the Co-amoxiclav. If you’re asking about others reacting to Amoxicillin or Co- amoxiclav then yes, I do, hand and foot inflammation. I think it’s not uncommon to get a lupus flare with them. I can manage a few days before symptoms start and can get to the end of a course if I need to but I usually ask for Clarithromycin for sinusitis now. It gives me a few stomach cramps within the first few days but then it’s fine.
In my case, I have been treated with both for abscesses in the vagina (infected cysts due to lack of drainage of the glands) the same happens with the glands in my eyes and I get chalaziones. The Flucloxacillin antibiotic did not clear up the infection and I was given Co-amoxiclav. I have been quite tired and unwell but above all it has given me a severe Candida infection and after that, I have been on Fluconazole treatment for antother 14 days.
I don't know if it has come back to you but I recommend taking probiotics, kefir yogur, while taking antibiotics to try to replace the good bacteria that kill the antibiotics. I don't know if this happens to anyone else.
No you're right. Most other European countries prescribe antibiotics with pre and.probiotics alongside. They easily upset the tummy, displacing the good bacteria, leading to a frequent overgrowth of the bad and another problem on your hands.
Sorry to hear it flares your lupus, I'm the same with Abx, but I prefer flucloxacillin or clarithromycin personally, they seem to affect me less. You'll have to find which ones work best for you
Thank you for your reply. I am in UK. The issue is that after treating me with Flucloxacillin, the cysts grew instead of draining, so I was told to change to a stronger one Co-amoxiclav.
Stuck between a rock and a hard place. So often the case with these things. It's sometimes a trade, at least it cleared the initial infection up with the co amox albeit you have the other infection, which I do hope is improving.
Hi Surfer Guy , My GP dreads me coming into the surgery for antibiotics , she very kindly went down the list for Lupus patients on what can be prescribed , with me its trial and error as I am very sensitive to all meds , but it is individual , but any penicillin , and any meds containing penicillin , subjected me to vasculitis , was not pleasant , hence I keep away from those meds .On the Lupus website for St Thomas Hospital London , it does give you a insight into what can be prescribed , but as I said we are all individual , and unfortunately it is "trial and error " and seeing what works best for you.
Once. Many years ago (about 15 years ago) there was indeed a suspicion I got a flare after taking the generic of augmentin. Which I think is co-amoxiclav? The suspicion was though that there may have been something in the binding agent not in the actual medicine that may have been the trigger. For many years after I was always prescribed the ethical rather than the generic. After I arrived in UK in 2014 I was looked at funny when I explained this and was given amoxi despite my concern. However was not an issue at all and didn't cause a flare. I have had floxi recently for skin infection without issue.
I'm at the stage where I'm going to just bite the bullet that is co-amoxiclav and give it another try tomorrow as my ear infection is becoming more and more painful. Hopefully this will work for both my sinusitis and ear infection.
The Flucloxacillin I'll give a miss for now as don't think it's wise to take 2 antibiotics simultaneously.
If I flare up again I'll just have to deal with it with pain killers. I'll also eat yogurt alongside the meds.
I was prescribed Flucloxacillin many years ago and after 1-2 days I had some kind of flare up with excruciating painful joints where I couldn't stay still as the pain was unbearable. It felt like somebody was pulling my veins out with electric shock sensations in my joints. I had been undergoing biopsies and blood tests back then for possible Lupus. I have ONLY just been diagnosed with Lupus last year. I telephoned my doctor Friday evening and she unexpectedly came to my house on the way home as she was worried about me. She looked down at my legs and they had both swollen up twice their usual size which I hadn't noticed. I was admitted into hospital as an emergency. I had a team of doctor's observing me around the clock and I couldn't even lay on the bed due to the intense joint pain. The team of doctor's took bloods every so many hours and couldn't find out what was wrong with me. They even wired me up to a heart monitor as they were really worried about me. After 36 hours of getting nowhere I was still screaming and crying in pain and unable to lay down so I discharged myself as I couldn't take anymore. Despite not finding any answers, my doctor diagnosed me with being allergic to Flucloxacillin. The swelling in my legs disappeared a couple of days after I left hospital. The joint pain lasted for 3 weeks making it unbearable. I continue to get flares every so many months but not as long or as bad as when I took flucloxacillin. I hope nobody ever experiences these episodes. I hope you get some answers to your problems. Good luck.
I had a telephone consultation with a GP today and was advised to take the Flucloxacillin rather than the Co-amoxiclav as he thinks it's definitely an ear infection and this Flucloxacillin will work best.
I then received a reply this evening to an email I sent the GP yesterday saying I could take both antibiotics simultaneously. A bit risky so will go with the advice from my appointment earlier.
I'm into my second day of taking these and so far all's well. No signs of swelling Like with the Co-amoxiclav. And no more than the usual aching joints in the evenings and mornings.
It is only my second day now, but with the Co-amoxiclav I didn't even get past the first day! Hoping it stays this way 🤞
It went swimmingly - up until 9pm! After that my day was over. I fell asleep on the sofa. I wanted to finish off a film I'd stated the night before, but just couldn't do it.
Then woke up 3 times in the middle of the night to go for a wee. Then woke up again with the dreaded shoulder pain, which I haven't had for a good couple of years. But a couple of paracetamol has resolved that for now. Hopefully it lasts as promised my youngest I'll play tennis with her later.
The Flucloxacillin it seems also affects me but thankfully not as much as the Co-amoxiclav.
Apologies for the lack.of updates. I've had a manic week - work and home.
Well I've finally finished my dose of Flucloxacillin. Unfortunately the ear infection and sinusitis persist.
I had another appointment with my GP who gave me a nasal spray (non steroidal) and asked me to finish this. If this didn't resolve the infection, he gave me Amoxicillin to take but only as a last resort.
Thankfully I didn't have many more pains after taking and finishing the Flucloxacillin. But still feel a lot worse than before I started both the meds.
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