Reaction between thyroid meds and antibiotics and increased sensitivity to prescription drugs

[dizzy864]

I have really been suffering with a sinus infection following Covid in December last year.

My gp prescribed Doxycycline 100 mg capsules. This was at my request. I had suffered with a sinus infection for almost eighteen months following a previous bout of Covid. The side affects were not pleasant but I did manage to take it for two weeks. It did clear up the sinus infection. Unfortunately less than a week after finising Doxycycline, I caught Covid again.

I had an extreme reaction. I took two capsule at 11.30 am when I collected them. I immediately felt really nauseous. I took the next capsule the following night thinking I could sleep through the nausea. It didn’t work – I was awake most of the night. In the morning I had very severe chest pains – like really bad indigestion. This lasted twenty four hours. I had a really bad head ache and I was extremely nauseous. I was very sick about six pm. I felt very unwell for three days.

As I still had the sinus infection, I contacted my gp. This time. I was given Phenoxymethylpenicillin 250mg tablets. I was instructed to take two tablets, four times a day for five days. By the end of the first day, I was feeling really sick and very unwell. I reduced the tablets to one, four times a day. I became increasingly ill. Really tired, bad headache, nausea and unable to think straight. I was unable to take the last five tablets. It was only a couple of days after stopping the tablets, that I realised that I was very hypo. I should have realised sooner but I didn’t!!

I googled reactions with thyroid meds again – I don’t take anything without first using google!! First it stated there is no interaction with thyroid meds as I had first found. But on reading a couple of articles more thoroughly that is not always the case. It said there is not normally a reaction but there can be! In my case there definitely was. It advised taking the tablets at least two hours away from thyroid meds. I wasn’t told this but I could not have done so anyway – tablets must be taken on an empty stomach, at least two hours before and an hour after food. I, like a lot of thyroid sufferers eat little and often so there are not enough hours in the day.

I was also given a prescription for Mometasone nasal spray with instructions to use this “long term”. On googling this it has the same wording as the penicillan – doesn’t normally react with thyroid meds!! How can I trust it won’t in my case?

I was very surprised at my extreme reaction to Doxycycline as I had managed two weeks of it only last November. Apparently increased sensitivity to prescription drugs is now a thing. It’s thought to be caused by the combination of drugs given to Covid patients in hospital. However, I had very mild doses both times and took no drugs.

I am still really suffering with my sinus infection – constant really bad headache, feeling nauseous, very tired, bad sore throat and coughing a lot. I don't know if it's the sinus infection or still reacting to the anti biotics. What do I do? Is there anything I can take? Are any antibiotics safe for thyroid sufferers?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

[Jaydee1507 Administrator]

I've also had nasty reactions to antibiotics but I realise now that my FT3 was low at that time and I wonder when you say you were very hypo if it was actually due to being hypo as opposed to a direct interaction between thyroid meds?

I'm also thinking that sinus issues can be due to being hypo, also dairy intolerance. Are you gluten and dairy free?

What were your last thyroid blood results, also vitamins - ferritin, folate, B12 & D3?

[dizzy864 in reply to Jaydee1507]

Thank you for your reply. I was not hypo prior to starting the first antibiotic. I was prescribed liquid levo last July. It's made a huge difference to me. After years of struggling I am so much better. I have not been tested since September. I am due mid May - my gp now only tests annually the month prior to birthday so I will wait until then. Hypo was definitely caused by antibiotics as I started to feel better in a few days after stopping them. I stopped taking them on the 11th and still feel a bit hypo. It is known that at least some anti biotics can interfere with thyroid meds. I was surprised that I was not warned.

Sinus issues are extremely common after Covid. My husband is suffering too as is my daughter and her friend who had covid just after us. I do not have a history of sinus problems - it happened after I got covid the first time and now again.

I am not dairy or gluten free. I did try for three months a few years ago and it made no difference at all to me either whilst avoiding them or on reintroducing them. I've been supplimenting for many years with Bs and Ds so they are well up. I struggle with ferritin and folate as I'm vegetarian but I have raised them quite a bit on what they once were. I will get them tested again in May to make sure.

[Charlie-Farley]

Hi dizzy

I can only speak to how much better my life has been since I stopped asking and using ABs a few years ago prior to my hypothyroidism diagnosis.

So for repeated urine infections I took trimethoprim - now use D-mannose.

Then sinus infection some other AB which didn’t clear the infection anyway. My face felt like it was falling off and went to cupboard for menthol crystals- to steam head - but was out. It was late , I was desperate and tried tea tree into a bowl of hot water instead. Blow me, it worked! I steamed head that evening- the most volatile fractions and I suspect the most effective evaporate first so did a couple drops at a time with head over bowl and towel over head. Got a good nights sleep. Repeated in morning and then again evening and I was sorted.

[dizzy864]

Thank you for your reply. I ve ordered some menthol crystals. They re arriving tomorrow so I ll try it before bed. Hopefully, it will do the trick, if not I ll buy some tea tree oil.